Whose Faith Saves Me? Faith of Chirst or Faith in Christ?

• Jesus the Author and Finisher of Faith - Salvation is the one arena that is absolutely inaccessible to human achievement; yet many a proponent of man’s so-called “free will” vehemently disagree with this point. But in Mark 10:27, the Lord Jesus succinctly answered His disciples’ question of “who then can be saved?”: “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible”. Faith is a work as we read in 2 Thess 1:11: “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power”. The question needs to be asked, “Whose ‘work of faith’ is it?” Can a person’s works, or efforts, make some type of contribution to his eternal salvation? Absolutely not! The answer is very clear from the Scriptures in Titus 3:5-7: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified [or saved] by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life”. Speaking of man’s works, Rom 11:6 adds, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work”. The reason man is incapable of doing anything to alter his eternal destiny is because he is spiritually dead, as Eph 2:1-3 describes. When God uses the word faith in conjunction with salvation, He is speaking about the saving faith, the faith of Lord Jesus Christ, whose Name is Faithful. This is referring solely to the work and faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who came to fulfill the righteousness of the Law of God – the Bible – for all of the elect. “Faith” is synonymous with the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is called “Faithful” or “Full of Faith” in Rev 19:11, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war”.

Eph 2:1-3 “And you [the true believers] hath he quickened [or made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation [or lifestyle] in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

Eph 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

Gal 2:16 [KJV] “Knowing that a man is not justified [saved] by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed [faith in Christ] in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

• One is Saved by the Faith OF Christ - Faith is the distinct property of the Savior. It is His personal possession. Keep in mind that Christ obeyed all of God’s Laws, the Bible, perfectly in thought, word, and deed, as Ps 40:7-8 indicates: “Then said I [Jesus Christ], Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart”. In John 10:17-18, please note very carefully here that Jesus is asserting that this power to lay down His life and take it again is a commandment that He has received from God the Father. The reason this statement is so significant is that throughout the Bible God closely associates love with obeying the commandments (John 14:15). God is only pleased with His work. What was the “work of faith”, or rather, “the work of Christ” that He so faithfully performed ? Isa 53:11 reveals: “He [referring to the Father] shall see of the travail [or work] of his [Christ’s] soul, and shall be satisfied: by his [Christ’s] knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he [Christ] shall bear their iniquities”. The “travail”, or “work”, that Christ had to endure was eternal damnation, which the Bible calls the “second death” in Rev 21:8. In John 4:34 we also find this statement, “Jesus saith unto them, My meat [food] is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work”. His perfect work was completed while on the Cross he uttered the words of John 19:30, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost”. What was accomplished was the Atonement for the sins of all the elect. God is pleased with His salvation program that is centered around the faith OF the Lord Jesus Christ, as Gal 2:20 insist: “I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”. The way that Christ “loved” the believers and “gave himself” for them is outlined in Isa 53:11 as seen above. 2 Pet 1:1 gives yet another description of this God-given righteousness, by the faith of the Lord Jesus: “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

John 10:17 “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”

Gal 2:16, 20 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified [saved] by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified… I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”

Col 2:11-12 “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”

Php 3:9 “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

Rom 3:3 “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?”

Rom 3:22 “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe [Faith in Christ]: for there is no difference:”

• The Faith OF Christ is a Gift - What one sees physically does not produce Faith. Moreover, believers are exhorted to “walk [or live] by faith, not by sight”, as 2 Cor 5:7 admonishes. God’s salvation includes the fact that He would impart His saving faith – known as the faith of Christ – to each of the unworthy recipients of His grace. There is also a very relevant statement found in the parable of the rich man and the beggar, Lazarus, in verse 31 of Luke 16:24-31: “And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets [the Old Testament or the Bible], neither will they be persuaded, though one [Christ] rose from the dead”. Eph 2:8-9 declares, “For by grace are ye saved through faith [the faith of Christ]; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”. Since faith is “not of yourselves”, whose is it then? It is the faith of Christ that God gives freely to those He chose to save, the Elect, as Gal 2:16 (and many other verses) affirm. Heb 12:2 announces: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith;... ”. Eph 1:13 among numerous other verses, indicate that trust, or belief, is a result of salvation and explains how God saves an individual. First and foremost, God has to give a person “spiritual ears” to hear “the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation”. This also conforms with Rom 10:17, “So then faith [a synonym for salvation] cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. After salvation we are given “faith” along with the other eight fruit (or “products”) of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, according to Gal 5:22-23. Thus, only those who believe (that is, those who have received the faith of Christ) and have been baptized by the Holy Spirit (which, incidentally, is the only “baptism” that has any spiritual value) are true believers. The phrase “perseverance of the saints” means that all whom God chose, redeemed, and saved have been given eternal life. They live by the power of the Holy Spirit working in them and are guaranteed to persevere in the faith of Christ to the end of their lives on this sin cursed earth and to be resurrected into glory on the Last Day. Eph 3:12 testifies, “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him”. The Christian has “boldness in the day of judgment” because his salvation is totally dependent on the work and faith of the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 12:37-40 “But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them”.

Heb 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”

Gal 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Eph 1:13-14 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

• The Source of Faith is “The Word of God” - So, in light of what we have been discussing in the Bible, how does one “get” faith? And this is a both a fair and crucial question. In our discussion of faith I cannot emphasize enough the place of prominence and supremacy that is held by the Bible, the Living Word of God. Rom 10:17 teaches, “So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. The Bible is the setting, or backdrop, by which one can hear with “spiritual ears” the words of eternal life. You might recall how frequently the Lord Jesus made the statement as found in Matt 11:15, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear”. The example of the conversion of Timothy, Paul’s protégé, should reinforce the total preeminence of the Scriptures, not only with respect to salvation, but in every area of our lives. 2 Tim 1:5 mentions Timothy’s upbringing: “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also”. 2 Tim 3:15-17 continues: “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”. In Tim 4:6, we are reminded that our souls require spiritual nutrition: “... nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine ...” and Matt 4:4 affirms, “... It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”. Rev 14:12 connects patience with the faith of Christ given to each believer, which qualifies each child of God to be obedient to the Bible. “Here is the patience of the saints [or believers]: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus”. We are to depend entirely upon the Bible by trusting each sacred word implicitly and by seeking divine motivation to be obedient to what we learn from the Bible.

Rom 10:15-21 “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. 19But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them [the Elect - remnant of Jews and remnant of Gentiles] that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21But to Israel [as a Nation] he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.”

2 Tim 3:15-17 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, [or God-breathed] and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect [or complete] throughly furnished unto all good works”

1 Tim 4:6 “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”