My position is that the phrase "faith of Christ" is referring to Christ's faith. There are dozens of verses that
say that Christ is "faithful", both in the Old Testament and in the
New. When the Bible says that Christ is "faithful", I take that to mean
He always keeps His word. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 and 2 Timothy 2:13
state how He is faithful to His promise of eternal security for the
members of the Body of Christ. When Christ is said to be "faithful" it
means that He is true to accomplish His word.
Faith
itself is believing the word of God (Rom. 10:17) and it is clear that
Christ did that (Matt. 4:3-4). Christ did need faith, without it He
could not have pleased the Father and He would not have been displaying
the fruits of the Spirit.
John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith," (Gal. 5:22)
The
Father said "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matt.
3:17) and the Bible says "without faith it is impossible to please him"
(Heb. 11:6).
Christ providing eternal life for all those who believe (by the cross) was promised before the world began, it was the word of God, His eternal purpose. However, man did not have access to that eternal purpose until Christ came to earth and obeyed the word being faithful to the promise of the Godhead.
Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Hebrews 5:
[8] Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
[9] And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Hebrews 5:
[8] Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
[9] And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
The
Godhead predetermined that Christ would go to the cross in eternity
past (Acts 2:23, Titus 1:2) and Christ came to earth and was faithful to
the promise. He is said to have obeyed and been made perfect. He
"became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:8).
He lived a completely sinless life in constant faithfulness to the
Father, enduring to the end so that we could be saved. [Dispensational
side note: The believers in Daniel's 70th Week are going to have to have
that same enduring obedience unto death, which is why they are told to
"keep the faith of Jesus" (Rev. 14:11-12).]
Christ was faithful unto death so that we would not have to be. Once we put our faith in Christ, His faith is what keeps us justified before God since we are members of His body, even if we were to stop believing.
Christ was faithful unto death so that we would not have to be. Once we put our faith in Christ, His faith is what keeps us justified before God since we are members of His body, even if we were to stop believing.
2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
In
other dispensations God justified a man on the basis of man's faith.
Man's faith is weak and wavering (Heb. 10:23, 38), which is why they had
to endure to the end and prove their faith by their works (Jam.
2:14-26, Matt. 24:13-14). However, Christ's faith has been proven and is
already perfect (Heb. 5:8-9, Phil. 2:8). We do not have to make our
faith perfect by our works under Grace because we are in the Body of
Christ and are justified by His already perfect faith when we
believe on Him (Rom. 3:22, Gal. 2:16-20, 3:22-25, Phil. 3:9). After we
believe on Christ, it is not our faithfulness to Him that keeps us
saved, it is His faithfulness to us.
--Eli Caldwell
