The Faith of Christ ≠ ≠ ≠ Your Faith in Christ

Justification involves the imputation
of Christ's righteousness to an elect
in the state of condemnation and death;
he is justified FREELY by the grace of God.
In his state of condemnation and death,
he is INCAPABLE of believing/faith.

#thefaithofChrist

The righteousness which is through the faith of Christ.

Phi 3: 9 ¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that [righteousness] which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.

The righteousness necessary for the justification of an unjustified man, in his native state of sin and condemnation, before God is either:

- by his own righteousness through his obedience to the law, or

- by Christ's righteousness through His faithfulness in obeying the same law.

Righteousness, the obedience to the law, is a prerequisite for the justification of life. Sin, the transgression of the law, is the cause of the condemnation of death.

Ro 5:18 "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation [of death]; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."

The plain truth stated by Paul is:

The sin of Adam brought the condemnation of death.

EVEN SO...

The righteousness of Christ secured justification of life.

Very many smooth preachers teach you this LIE:

Your faith in Christ >>> justification of life.

The righteousness which is through the faithfulness of Christ in obeying the law is of God's provision for His people.

And this righteousness, provided FREELY by God for His people, can be experienced by faith alone in Jesus Christ. 

Rom 3:24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Note closely two important matters:
1. Justified FREELY by God's grace; not by faith, man's act of believing. 
- The latter is the POPULAR fable 

2. Justified FREELY (the MANNER of justification) THROUGH the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (the BASIS of justification) 


May our gracious Lord grant you understanding. 
Amen.

The Righteousness Needed for Your Justification

"... but that [righteousness] which is through the faith of Christ."
It is "through the faith of Christ",
It is NOT through your faith IN Christ.
Your fickle faith plays NO role in your justification by God.
Only the righteousness of Christ through His FAITHFULNESS
in rendering perfect and complete laws of God does. 

Phi 3: 9 ¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that [righteousness] which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Righteousness needed for man's justification before God is either:

- by his own righteousness through his obedience of the law, or

- by Christ's righteousness through His faithfulness in obeying the same law.

Righteousness, the obedience to the law, is a prerequisite for the justification of life.

Sin, the transgression of the law, is the cause of the condemnation of death.

Ro 5:18 "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation [of death]; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."

The plain truth stated by Paul is:

Sin of Adam >>> condemnation of death.

Righteousness of Christ >>> justification of life.

Very many smooth preachers teach you this LIE:

Your faith in Christ >>> justification of life.

The righteousness which is through the faithfulness of Christ in obeying the law is of God's provision for His people. And this righteousness applied FREELY by God to His people can be experienced by faith alone in Jesus Christ. 

Regeneration, and Conversion - 1689.20.4

 Regeneration, and Conversion - 1689.20.4

"Although the gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and is, as such, abundantly sufficient thereunto; yet that men who are dead in trespasses may be born again, quickened or regenerated, there is moreover necessary an effectual insuperable work of the Holy Spirit upon the whole soul, for the producing in them a new spiritual life;(8) without which no other means will effect their conversion unto God.(9)

(8) Ps 110:3; 1Co 2:14; Eph 1:19-20. (9) Jn 6:44; 2Co. 4:4,6.

These truths are distilled out of the Holy Scriptures by the ancient Old School Baptists in their statement of faith:

1. The specific function of the gospel is to reveal Christ and saving grace.
- It plays no role in the regeneration of a man; it only reveals the regeneration that has already taken place in the man.

2. Regeneration by the direct work of the Spirit of God is clearly distinguished from conversion through the outward means of the gospel ministry.

3. Regeneration is BOTH independent and before the gospel as the outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace.

4. Regeneration - the insuperable work of the Holy Spirit - is absolutely necessary before conversion through the gospel is even made possible.

5. Regeneration - producing in the dead in trespasses new spiritual life - is the direct and insuperable work of the Holy Spirit; no instrumentality is involved.

6. Regeneration BESTOWS/APPLIES Christ and saving grace to a man dead in trespasses and sins; conversion REVEALS/MANIFESTS Christ and grace that have been bestowed.

7. Regeneration produces spiritual life in men dead in trespasses and sins; Conversion reveals the spiritual life that has been produced by the prior divine work of regeneration.

You may draw out more from the above statement.

What is your statement of beliefs on the same subject?

You don't like theirs? Give us yours.

Too many who claim to be children of those who made the above statement have rejected the truth expressed and summarised therein.

Such are illegitimate (KJ translators use "bastards"), for example, the new school reformed Baptists. They subscribe to the 1689 CoF, but repudiate the truths so plainly summarised in the single paragraph above. They are gospel regenerationists - i.e. the preaching of the gospel is the necessary means in the regeneration of those dead in trespasses and sins. 

Ephraim feedeth on, and followeth after the east wind

Fables are like "east wind"
- hot, dry, withering, blistering wind from the desert!

The LORD's words of rebuke to His people:

Hosea 12 KJT
1 ¶ Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.
2 The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

God's people feeding on wind, and following after the east wind - hot, dry, withering, blistering wind blowing from the desert!

What an indictment!

What foolishness and stupidity!

And this is what God's children are capable of.

In fact, they are bent on backsliding!
Ho 11:7 "And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him."

What about this present generation?

The LORD's words of warning to His people:
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Fables are like "east wind" - hot, dry, withering, blistering wind from the desert! And yet so many follow such fables.

When the people of the world do that, it is to be expected! But the LORD was addressing Ephraim and Judah!

The context is NOT the WORLD.... it is the evil going on within the CHURCH!!! 

A child is born into a family

Only in tragic circumstances
is a child not born into a family! 

 The new birth, by the free and sovereign and immediate act of the Spirit of God, quickens a man from his native state of spiritual deadness; he is brought into a state of grace and salvation in Jesus Christ.

Hearing and believing the gospel of Jesus Christ, and confessing Him as Lord and Saviour in water baptism, makes the child of God a Christian.

A child of God that is baptised is added to the membership of an NT church that he may be nourished and edified, i.e. to be taught to observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded His Apostles.

Churchless Christian is a monstrosity foreign to and unknown in the Holy Scriptures.

The Apostolic practice set the precedent once and for all.

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptised: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Acts 2.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the sole Head of His church, must have good reasons why He commanded those who confessed His name to be members of His church. When you have become invisible, then speak of your invisible church, 😉.

Only in tragic circumstances is a child not born into a family!