Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

The Faith of Christ, and Your Faith in Christ

Is it sunrise or is it sun set?
Is it the Lord's faith, or your faith in him?


On May 24, 2010, at 3:42 AM, HART wrote:

KJT (Galatians 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."

The Bible contains 338 verses containing the word, "faith". God's children must rightly divide the word of truth for a proper understanding.

Galatians 2:16, as any Bible verse must have a correct application which is variable for a proper understanding biblical references. Whenever the Bible repeats a phrase, it's for emphasis! .......

Whose faith? ...... Here it is the LORD's faith!
two phrases: "the faith of Jesus Christ"
"the faith of Christ"

NASV (Galatians 2:16)
"nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified." .......

Whose faith? ..... Here it is man's faith!
two phrases: "faith in Jesus Christ"
"faith in Christ"

New American Standard ( and all the new perversions) changes "the faith of" to "faith in".

By now we should realize that our faith is a fruit of the Spirit. Someone dead in trespasses and sins has no faith. The justification of AMS is man believing and exercising faith for justification.

The gospel gives light to those already eternally saved by the power and faith of Jesus Christ alone. Man cannot justify himself! The gospel does not give eternal life to anyone.
=========

Dear Brother HART,

You have touched upon something most important - it touches the VERY HEART of the gospel, and I would like to make some comment.

The 'faith of Christ' and the believers 'faith in Christ' is as different as the east is from the west, as different as free grace is from works of the law.

Let me put this issue involved very simply.

Condemnation comes by sins, transgression of God's law.
EVEN SO,
Justification comes by righteousness alone, obedience to God's law.

I hope there is no dispute concerning this simple and major premise.

So, our justification before God MUST be either by our own righteousness from our perfect and complete obedience to the entire law of God, OR by the righteousness of a SUBSTITUTE.

It is the LIE of the devil that justification before God is by something else, like faith, man's act of believing! And this is the reason why many LIARS have changed ALL "the faith of Christ" in the KJV into 'faith in Christ' in so many of their new PERversions, I didn't say translations!

Let us look at the passage you have raised:

KJT "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."

A contrast is made between a man's works of the law and the faith of Jesus Christ as the ground of justification before God. The contrast deals with the same kind - both speak of righteousness - either righteousness through man's own works of perfectly obeying the law of God, or the righteousness through Christ's perfect obedience of the law. The 'faith OF - OF - OF Christ' speaks of His faithfulness in His work as the Redeemer and Saviour of His people through His perfect and complete obedience to the entire law of God.

This is confirmed and established by this plain passage: 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.
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:

Why is a man not justified by works of the law? Ans: 'For by the law is the knowledge of sin!
So, man DOES NOT, and CAN NOT have any righteousness of his own, and remains under just condemnation! Very many then say, 'O instead of righteousness, of which we are utterly bankrupt, God is willing to justify us if we have faith in Christ.' All I can say is that it is a big LIE from the pit of hell. Such seemingly benevolent idea has just repudiated the necessity of perfect righteousness in justification... such notion has just attacked and repudiated the necessary works of Jesus Christ to secure the righteousness for our justification.

If faith in Christ can justify, then there is no longer need of the faith OF -OF - OF Jesus Christ! In light of this, to say that the idea of faith IN - IN - IN Christ justifies a condemned man is a hellish and satanic idea is to put it in the mildest term!

God Himself provided the righteousness, which is absolutely necessary for our justification before God and which we do not have any at all, BY - BY - BY the faith OF - OF - OF Jesus Christ. This righteousness which is by the faith of Jesus Christ is none other than the righteousness by His perfect obedience to the law of God.

The one thing necessary for justification is righteousness... it is either your own righteousness or someone else righteousness. Many misguided sheep substitute it with faith, their act of believing. Someone under the condemnation of death CAN'T possibly exercise faith in order to be justified, i.e. in order to have that condemnation of death removed, and declared righteous and given eternal life!

Faith plays no role in our justification EXCEPT to evidence and certify that justification by God's free grace, while we were under the condemnation of death, has TAKEN PLACE.

"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 them that believe do so because the righteousness of God's provision has been unto all and upon all them that believe. This is true of all them that believe... there is no distinction. Faith is the fruit of justification, it evidences justification that has taken place!

And the issue is actually very simple and obvious to a sound mind that has not be prejudiced. Having said this, I always remember these words of Leo Tolstoy, ""The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him."

So, plain and simple things would still be rejected because peoples' mind has been poisoned and is accustomed to errors. I would put the words of Apostle Paul alongside these words of Tolstoy, "But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant." 1Cor 14:38

sandy thoughts from the south seas,
sing
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