The Faith of Christ and Your faith in Christ

Initially posted here on 25 May, 2011.
https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/1755187914982

Your faith in Christ, and the faith of Christ - are they just semantics, or do they touch the very heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Some reformed men dismiss them as just mere semantics! And worst still, they start kicking KJV like they kick a can on the road because KJV distinguishes the two.

Have your say - but please put on your mind first before you start. Go!

Sing F Lau

Oh them arrogant and haughty brethren, oh yes, they are brethren, but they are brethren ignorant of the stake involved!

First, let us look at the passages where these important phrases occur:

Ro 3:22 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:

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 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

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:

The modern translations (NKJV, NASV, NIV, ESV) have replaced all the "faith of" with "faith in" in the above passages. And modern bible students, both of the reformed group and those whom they considered as deformed insist that "faith in" and "faith of" are just semantic!

Doesn't common sense and plain meaning of words tell you that your faith in Jesus Christ is a whole world of difference from the faith of Jesus Christ? The former is your act of believing; the latter is something remotely related to your believing!

Modern theology has completely lost the precious truth embodies in those few words, "the faith OF - OF - OF Jesus Christ."

Modern theology is completely obsessed with their act of believing in Christ as the instrumental means of their salvation! Anything archaic can easily be accustomed to and mastered with sufficient usage. Just a lame excuse to hide that itchy hot lust for fables!

Let us consider the first passage, Rom 3:22

What is the passage saying in its context?

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 truth:

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, " 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 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 by 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." The righteousness of God's provision for a condemned man's justification is NOT NOT NOT by his faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ is NOT the righteousness that is needed in the justification of a condemned man before God.

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

Therefore 'the faith of Christ' and 'your faith in Christ' is 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, the other is your justification by your act of believing in Christ!

They are 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."

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 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 adjective I can think of - to replace the "faith OF Christ" with "man's faith in Christ" as the means/instrument of justification in that Rom 3 passage!

Apostle Paul solemnly pronounced such teachers are accursed!

Yes, let such be accursed! Amen.