How are you born? John 1:12-13

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13. 

Many read these words and conclude that their believing in Christ is a condition of their being born of God. They believe the fable that those not born of God, still in their native state of sin and death, are capable of believing IN ORDER to be born of God. 

There is obviously a clear distinction between the new birth by the will of God and the blessing of given to the power to become God's children, conditioned upon believing.

The problem arises when the two are equated as one and the same thing.

The logic is so simple: those who had been born of God were enabled to believe... and in believing, they were given the right and authority to claim God as their Father!

Verse 12 describes the experiential effect of believing in Christ - given the power (right and authority) to claim themselves as children of God.

Verse 13 describes the basis and ground of that act of believing in Christ - WERE born of God.

One must be made son first by spiritual birth from above before he can ever begin to believe in Jesus Christ. In believing, he certifies and justifies himself as someone possessing eternal life... evidence of having been born by God... thus enjoying the right and authority to claim himself a child of God.

Of course, VERY MANY believe and insist that a person is born by God when he believes. This would amount to 'born of the will of flesh'!

Yes, both the gospel regeneration and decisional regeneration are by the will and the flesh of man. They are both lies.

An illustration:
Little Wong is Big Wang's son, but he would not believe that Wing, Big Wang's eldest son, is his elder brother. In such a case, how could Little Wong have the right and authority to claim himself a son of Big Wang?

A biblical distinction is the essence of sound theology

Are you justified before God
by the faith of Christ, or 
by your faith in Christ?
They are vastly different. 

They are distinct; confounding them will mess up your understanding big time! So, do yourself a favour, get them right.

Let us consider the first passage, Rom 3:28.

"Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

What is the passage saying in its context - what faith, whose faith?

Rom 3
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Let's lay down some basic and self-evident truths:

1. Sin is the transgression of the law.
- Sins bring condemnation of death, Rom 5:12.
- Righteousness brings justification of life, Rom 5:18.

2. Justification is the reversal of condemnation.
- Justification in God's sight requires righteousness.
- This righteousness is either by a man's own obedience to the whole law OR by Christ's obedience to the whole law.
- No man can obtain the needed righteousness through his own obedience to the law, for "by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight."

3. God provided this righteousness that is needed for the justification of His elect people in His sight.
- This righteousness of God's own provision is by the faithfulness of Christ's obedience to the whole law.
- Righteousness is needed in the justification of a man in his native state of condemnation. Sins bring condemnation of death, Rom 5:12. Righteousness brings justification of life, Rom 5:18.
- This righteousness is provided by God ALONE through the faithfulness of Christ ALONE in keeping the whole law perfectly.
- That is the exact meaning of: "EVEN the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ." v22a.

4 The righteousness of God's provision for the justification of a condemned man is NOT NOT NOT by his faith in Jesus Christ.

Faith in Jesus Christ is NOT the righteousness that is needed for the justification of a condemned man before God. ALSO, a man in his unjustified, condemned state is incapable of faith; justification by faith is an impossibility.

It is Christ's faithfulness in rendering perfect obedience to the law that is needed, and this righteousness is by God's own provision, i.e. by the faith of Christ.

Therefore, 'the faith of Christ' and 'your faith in Christ' are very different. One is the good news of God providing righteousness by Christ's faithfulness in rendering perfect obedience to the whole law for your justification by His free grace; your act of believing in Christ is an effect and evidence of your justification by the free grace of God. 

Two different gospels. No mere semantics!

Man's faith is NOT in the equation of his justification in the sight of God - "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

A man's faith MANIFESTS that God has FREELY justified him - "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference."

"All have sinned... and fell under the condemnation of death. Such has no possibility of believing UNTIL justification of life by the faith of Christ has been applied, freely by God's grace.

"All them that believe" - all the believing ones DO SO because the righteousness of God's own provision, by the faith of Christ, has been freely applied to them personally.

It is that elementary... but the wise and prudent in their own eyes are blinded to it.

It is treacherous and scandalous - the mildest adjectives I can think of - to replace the "faith OF Christ" with "man's faith in Christ" as the ground of justification in that Rom 3 passage!

Apostle Paul solemnly pronounced such teachers be accursed!

Yes, let such be accursed! Amen

And remember, believing in Christ is a deed of the law, believing in Christ is obedience to the law/commandment of God; it is a work required by God.

John 6 KJT
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 ¶Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

"Believe on Christ Jesus whom God has sent" is a work God requires of His children. The Judaistic Jews insisted on the work of obeying Mosaic laws.

1John 3 - KJT
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is obedience to God's commandment; obedience to God's commandment is work. 

"The just shall live by faith" - a description or a prescription?

Is the statement
a description of the just, or
a prescription for justification?

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10224204264909804&set=a.10204411521703594

I posted the question on one FB page.
Not one single comment after one whole week.
Is the question obscene?
Is it theologically offensive or ecclesiastically incorrect?

I posted the same on another page, "Scripture Alone” page, but it was not approved by the Administrator. Similarly, on the "Reformed Christian..."

What could be the reasons?
======

Some comments

Ben FmBugante
For me, it is a description.

James Bonner
In my humble thinking, the statement is a description of the just.
Read Hebrews 11. 

Darrel Chambers
The just are already just (justified). This describes how they shall live ( not just exist). "Live" describes quality of life. The Thayer definition of the Greek word translated, "shall live" is:

Thayer Definition: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead)
- to enjoy real life
- to have true life and worthy of the name
- active, blessed, endless in the kingdom of God
- to live, i.e. pass life, in the manner of the living and acting of mortals or character
- living water, having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul
- metaphorically to be in full vigour
- to be fresh, strong, efficient
- as adjective active, powerful, efficacious.

Steve Woods
A declaration. If you have been given faith in the new birth you will live accordingly, walk with your Friend.

Marty-Sandy Smith
The reasons for the silence may be that supporters of the more popular interpretation may find the challenge uncomfortable. After all, it does say, "The just shall live by faith" and not "The just shall obtain life by faith".

Tommy Dennis Taylor
I will take the former. Haven’t seen the post until this morning.

Ann Atwood Fraley
I don’t know enough about the other page. Maybe you have everyone thinking.

Henry Rougeou
If an individual is just, they will be walking by faith

Steve McGhee
It is a DESCRIPTION

Joe Holder
Brother Sing, I don’t spend as much time on FB as in the past. A thought to consider. In the Habakkuk verse you reference, God is speaking. The Septuagint translation of the Old Testament uses a personal pronoun, “…my faith.”

I believe the verse is indeed indicative. It also identifies the “Rule of life,” the basis for a right choice of the guideline for godly living, “The faith way.” Not the “Law way.”

Patrica Winkleman
I agree, Bro. Joe Holder.

Joe Holder
Marty, one more dominant and errant view of the verse, “The unjust shall become just by faith.”

The Septuagint translation of the Old Testament reads (And God was speaking in the verse), “The just shall live by my faith.”

Patrica Winkleman
Description

Rommel Fesalbon Fababeir
https://primitivebaptist.net/Devotionals/morning-thoughts-by-elder-philip-conley-romans-1-17.htm

The interpretation of Scriptures.

This meme has stirred a thought on an important subject, the interpretation of Scriptures.

For example, a babe in Christ will easily see only three numbers 6, 0, and 4; others see four numbers; some perceive 5, and a few can see 6, 8, 9, 4, 2 and 1; all beautifully jived and harmoniously connected.

Let's illustrate this with John 3:16:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,"

He will at least hear the sound of the following:
- God SO LOVED...

- He gave His only begotten Son,

- believing, and

- everlasting life.

Some may be content with the sound of these things, BUT clueless how these are biblically related; in fact, they may be quite wrong with some of their understanding and are oblivious of their errors.

So many end up believing that a man without everlasting life is capable of believing to get eternal life. They see John 3:16 as a prescription on how to get everlasting life. But John 3:16 is a DESCRIPTION of "whosoever believeth" - i.e., every believing one HAS/POSSESSES everlasting life.

It's like saying, "whosoever breathes has life." But many take it as a prescription; what the dead must do to get life! 

This is so basic and elementary, but multitudes of Christ get it wrong. 

Hebrews 5 KJV —
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Those with exercised senses would see a lot more in John 3:16 and in their biblical context.

Think about the matter.

How do the sola fideists cope with these declarations?

 By whose faith? By your faith?
Or by the faith of Christ Jesus?

How do the sola fideists cope with these declarations?

How do the sola fideists ("justification by faith, i.e. their act of believing, alone") cope with these declarations of Scripture? Are they saying one and the same justification?

1. Justification by Christ: the BASIS of Justification
- Ro 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

- Ga 2:16 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 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.

- Ga 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 

Justified by Christ's blood, justified by the faith of Jesus Christ, and justified by Christ... what justification is spoken of here? Are they the same justification by your faith?
- How does Christ's blood and Christ's faith(fulness) justify you?
- How does your faith justify you? 

Justification before God requires righteousness, and this righteousness is either by your own obedience to the law (i.e., deeds or works of the law) or by Christ's obedience to the law (i.e., His faith, or faithfulness in discharging the work of redemption). There is no justification by the works/deeds of the law!

Christ alone kept the law, completely and perfectly.
His righteousness alone meets the demands of God the Judge. 

And do you know that believing in Jesus Christ is a WORK?
Here it is, listen closely. Christ Himself said it.

John 6:28 KJT
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? [i.e. the works appointed of God to be done by His children.]
29 ¶Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. [i.e. this is the work God has appointed for you to work.]

Believing in Jesus Christ is a WORK required of God's children. 
Could this truth be expressed in simpler terms?
Not a few believe God requires this work from those dead in trespasses and sins.

2. Justification by God's Grace: the MANNER of justification
- Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
- Ro 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  [Note: justified freely by his grace, AND NOT THROUGH your faith in Christ Jesus; but through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.]

Justified by God's grace... yes, FREELY by His grace; this repudiate the notion that there is such a thing as a grace that is not free but earned or merited - i.e. through your faith. IF it is through your faith, then your justification is by works! John 6:28-29. 

3. Justification by your Faith: the Evidence of Justification
And even those passages that speak of justification by faith... whose and what is that faith? Is it man's act of believing? Is "faith" and "believing" the same thing?

i. Romans 3:28 Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
- ... justified by the faithfulness of Christ in His work of redemption.
- If it is by your faith, then it is by the deed of the law, your obedience to a command of God's law. 
- 1John 3:23 "And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

ii. Romans 4:2 "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."
- Abraham's faith (his act of believing) was counted to him for righteousness. This is completely different from Christ's righteousness accounted to Abraham for his justification by God. 
- In this passage, Apostle Paul marshalled Abraham to REPUDIATE the Judaisers' error that ceremonial laws must be observed to be accepted by God. Apostle Paul demonstrates that Abraham EXPERIENCED the blessedness of his justified state by faith, and NOT by performing any ceremonial laws like circumcision.  

iii. Romans 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

- Galatians 3:24 "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."

4. And there is justification by works as well as by faith.
i. James 2:21 "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?"

BOTH faith (act of believing) and works of righteousness JUSTIFY EVIDENTIALLY. It is like breath and movement, both give evidence that the man is alive. 

ii. James 2:24 "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."
Works evidence a justified state by the free grace of God. Works and works of the law are entirely different things. Works justify evidentially.

Laws condemn, and no works of the law can justify a man.

Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

May our Lord grant you understanding.