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.

Thursday, April 10, 2025

The Faith of Christ, or Your Faith in Christ?

The Faith of Christ, or Your Faith in Christ?
Many are oblivious to the difference.
Worse, they equate the two. 

The Faith of Christ, or Your Faith in Christ?
Do you know the vast difference?

Romans 3 - KJT
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.

The gospel is God Himself providing the righteousness needed to justify guilty condemned sinners by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ in fulfilling the redemption mission.

The righteousness of God is not by your work of faith in Christ.

If the righteousness of God is by your faith in Jesus Christ, then salvation is by your works, and not God's free grace.

Modern translations have obliterated this vital distinction. The "faith OF Christ" has all been replaced with man's "faith IN Christ"!

Christ's redemptive work is attacked, divine grace denied, and man's works exalted.

See if your Bible has perverted gospel truth! Take a careful look, won't you?
 
================

Mark Thomas
Profound point! Graphically illustrated!

Mark Thomas
I do hope someone, somewhere will come to answer the salient points here. The distinctions are clear and have been made. Not just now but for the past 200 years. Bring forth the salient points in refutation or please, finally, for all time, shut the stuff up. I am so over this. And so should any legitimate thinking mind be over it. If you can't go there, fine, do bring it. I am waiting and others and yeah, I got 200 years of studied history backing me, what you have to bring......well, what ever it is, please do bring it. I and those with me are utterly sick of the deceptions you have brought in the past. Bring fresh or go home previously having been shown in error.

Mark Thomas
Spot the difference?

Cheri Thomas
um, well.... one has a bra on, and the other probably should.
both of em need more clothes.

Johnny Davis
There are elements in one of the photos absent the other (a man, and background elements behind the man). I would have to view the photos on the pixel level (can't do it with the quality level available on Facebook photo), to know if: (1) the objects in question were removed from the original digital image; or (2) if the objects in question, were added to the original digital image. The notation covering both, have nothing to do with any difference to be "spotted," yet the use of term "Hard" is unfortunate; perhaps "Difficult," would be more appropriate, in that innuendo, intentional or not, would have been avoided. Have I blabbered enough, Sing. Well, then, some more. I have not read other comments, so as not to be biased when writing my own, so I will now, read the others. Maybe there is something in the photos that I missed, and could learn from those writers. Thanks. Great post.

Johnny Davis
So, now, I have read. It took other writings for me to see the connection of the scriptures, with the photo "differences." And, I suppose I was correct, in the illustration. Adding to, or taking from, the Word, in translations, right? If so, my thought on that is correct. The more translations, in whatever language, Greek, Hebres, etc. were translated from, the better. Comparing the translations, as we read and study. That way, perhaps errors, which occur in all, including the KJV, Tyndale, Wycliff, and earliest of the English translations, the NIV, NASV, ASV, etc., can be realized to the reader. NONE of the translations should be accepted, over the others (as long as they are truly translations, and not commentaries or paraphrases), when they support a previous view. Rather, the view should be CONFIRMED by the others, then, truth is most likely to be revealed. However, if a translation seems to not support a previous belief, after comparison of several, then the reader must pray for guidance. After all, if truly a translation from manuscripts of the original, one is no more inspired than the others. And yes, the lady is the same in both photos, and man appears in one photo (along with background in the man photo, and there is some interest in whether the man should wear more clothes (assuming he is a man), as his body type in the world's view, is more grotesque than her's. She, on the other hand, does not need to remove anything; one who would inappropriately and sinfully lust, would do so, if she were fully dressed, in all likelihood. That is, unless she wore covering for her beautiful face and hair. I don't know why baby blue is a favorite color of mine, but it is, here, and on 1957 Chevrolets, where were never thought to be "sexy" until that term is no overused, and applies to EVERYTHING.

Sing F Lau
Johnny, you do bubble [sic] too much!

The point is very simple:
Is there no difference between the faith of Christ, and your faith in Christ concerning God's provision of righteousness for your justification?

If there is no difference, then there is no difference between the two pictures.

Mike Reeves
May The Grace and Peace of The Lord Jesus, The Christ be with you and in you by His Holy Spirit, now and forever. By the only Holy name of Jesus of Nazareth I pray.

Mike Reeves
May this be encouraging and uplifting to us all.

C. The revelation of the righteousness of God.
1. (21) The revelation of righteousness.
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

a. But now provides the most glorious transition from the judgment of Romans 3:20 to the justification of Romans 3:21.

i. But now speaks of the newness of God’s work in Jesus Christ - it really is a New Covenant. Being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets reminds us that there is still continuity with God’s work in former times.

b. Apart from the law: The law cannot save us, but God revealed a righteousness that would save us, apart from the law. This is the essence of God’s plan of salvation in Jesus Christ: it is a salvation that is offered apart from the law, apart from our own earning and deserving, apart from our own merits.

c. Being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets: This righteousness is not a novelty. Paul didn’t “invent” it. It was predicted long ago, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. The Old Testament said this righteousness was coming.

d. Apart from the law: It isn’t that the righteousness of God is revealed apart from the Old Testament, but that it is revealed apart from the principle of law. It is apart from a legal relationship to God, based on the idea of earning and deserving merit before Him.

i. “The Greek puts to the very front this great phrase apart from law (choris nomou) and this sets forth most strongly the altogether separateness of this Divine righteousness from any law-performance, any works of man, whatsoever.” (Newell)

ii. God’s righteousness is not offered to us as something to take up the slack between our ability to keep the law and God’s perfect standard. It is not given to supplement our own righteousness, it is given completely apart from our own attempted righteousness.

2. (22) How this righteousness is communicated to man.

Even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

[
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. KJT. See the vast difference? 
- One declares that the righteousness of God comes to a condemned man by his faith in Jesus Christ.
- The other declares that the righteousness of God comes to a condemned man by the faith[fulness] of Christ in His work of redemption.     sing.]

a. To all and on all who believe: In Romans 3:21, Paul told us how this righteousness does not come. It does not come through the deeds of the law, it is apart from the law. Now Paul tells us how this saving righteousness does come. It is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe.

b. Through faith in Jesus Christ: The righteousness of God is not ours by faith; it is ours through faith. We do not earn righteousness by our faith. We receive righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ.

i. Through faith “points to the fact that faith is not a merit, earning salvation. It is no more than the means through which the gift is given.” (Morris)

ii. “But faith is not ‘trusting’ or ‘expecting’ God to do something, but relying on His testimony concerning the person of Christ as His Son, and the work of Christ for us on the cross . . . After saving faith, the life of trust begins . . . trust is always looking forward to what God will do; but faith sees that what God says has been done, and believes God’s Word, having the conviction that it is true, and true for ourselves.” (Newell)

c. For the there is no difference: There is no other way to obtain this righteousness. This righteousness is not earned through obedience to the law; it is a received righteousness, gained through faith in Jesus Christ.

i. “There is a little book entitled, Every man his own lawyer. Well, nowadays, according to some people, it seems as if every man is to be his own saviour; but if I had, say; a dozen gospels, and I had to sort them out, and give the right gospel to the right man, what a fix I should be in! I believe that, oftentimes, I should be giving your gospel to someone else, and someone else’s gospel to you; and what a muddle it would all be! But now we have one universal cure . . . The blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ will save every man who trusts him, for ‘there is no difference.’” (Spurgeon)

http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/4503.htm

Sing F Lau
Mike Reeves. 
Question asked: 
"How this righteousness is communicated to man."
Scriptures quoted: "Even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference."

May I ask: which Bible did you quote the passage from?
Which translation of the Bible do you use?

Question answered:
"... it is through faith IN Jesus Christ."
"... we receive righteousness through faith IN Jesus Christ."

These sorts of answers are plain FOOLISH. Why?
They promote the STUPID idea that those without righteousness already communicated to them by God's free grace is capable of believing! Those without righteousness applied to them personally at effectual calling out of their native state are still in the condemnation of death, i.e. dead in trespasses and sins... THEREFORE with ZILCH ability to believe.

The PRIOR communication of the righteousness is necessary for the ability to believe. Righteousness is communicated to a man by God's free grace when he is still dead in trespasses and sins.

Righteousness is secured by Christ and IMPUTED LEGALLY to all elect at the cross.

Righteousness is APPLIED PERSONALLY to each elect at his effectual calling out of the native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation... obviously by God's free and sovereign grace! What was LEGAL now becomes PERSONAL.

Righteousness - already IMPUTED LEGALLY and APPLIED PERSONALLY - is EXPERIENCED PRACTICALLY through faith IN Jesus Christ at conversion, and throughout life on earth.

Therefore, Morris, Newell and Spurgeon are speaking NONSENSE on this particular point!

Sing F Lau
@Mike Reeves, There are three sets of distinctions in the doctrine of justification. Unless a man appreciates them, he has not begun to rightly divide the word of truth on justification.

https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2011/05/three-distinct-sets-of-contrast-in.html

Things New and Old: Three Distinct Sets of Contrast in the Biblical Doctrine of Justification

Johnny Davis
@Sing. As Elvis would say, "Thank you. Thank you, very much." Maybe I'll try speaking in tongues, that even I don't understand. I'll confess, my rambling was intentional. But, for a purpose, which if considered rambling, then certainly will not be looked upon for purpose. The question asked about the difference in the photos. This, I described to the best of my ability, considering that you where asking "WHY" the photos were different, because they obviously are different characters in them. So, that was the literal, ask the question asked, "speak where the scriptures speak" answer, because heaven forbid, if an answer was not in agreement with pre-conceived notions or beliefs. But, just in case, I took a shot at the lesson-teaching intent of the question (not the literal, mechanical differences as the question literally asked), and suggested two things, that I thought you might have had in mind, for me, your loyal Facebook friend, to come to. No. 1. "Add to, or take from" the word. Evidently, that was not it, as not only did you not comment on the error made, you didn't comment at all (except the rambling bit, of course). So, I suggested another. Outward appearances. Then, the sexual inhibitions removed by the world, with the lady wearing a bikini. And maybe a couple of others (I, too, grow weary in reading my responses, when they are not considered). So, the reason for the two pictures has something to do with "faith" and "righteousness." I'm going to have to place myself in the mindset of the apostles, on that one.

Sing F Lau
@ Johnny, you are way too wordy and sophisticated for me.
Who is Pelvis? I am not sure if I know him. Sorry for my ignorance!

Johnny Davis
An American rock and roll icon, of the 50-70, would have had to have "been there" for that one to come through. He said that often. Very shallow attempt at humor, and by the way, I am the chief, when it comes to being a novice, in just about everything I try to do. There is nothing sophisticated provided for being at the milk level, where I am. And I do appreciate what you teach me, through Him, of course. I have found though, in several status comments from various ones, that they are happy to do one of two things, when it comes to comments made about THEIR comments: (1) accept praise and good words, when nothing is said in return other than that; or (2) counter, if something said is not in line, and I mean, the identical of geometric points making up that line, with extreme disagreement. Otherwise, nothing is said. At least, you are not in the far majority of writers, yet I suspect, that rather than attempting to absorb the rationale, or even scriptures given, you pass it off, as wordy, or "over your head." The first one, I accept as reason, the second one, nope, I could not be over your head in spiritual thought, or anything else, most likely.

Johnny Davis
Oh, and just in case you intended to write "Pelvis," for Elvis, that's a good one. If you didn't know, he was denied from TV, as he wiggled his butt, facing the audience, and was banned for that. Imagine that. He would have been shot, had he grabbed his crotch, as Michael Jackson, and many American entertainers, back then.

Sing F Lau
I grew up in a remote little village... quite ignorant of what went on in the world beyond the little village. I did have an old copy of the KJT... (its English was quite hard for me then) and attended a Methodist Mission school. Never had any interest in such entertainers... no exposure to them anyway. Don't even know who MJ is. The only thing I heard is that he was a black man who bleached himself into a white man! Black sure loves to become white.

Chasity Hughes
Sing, off topic I know but you have no ideal how much I wish I could raise my children in a remote little village away from this horrific world...