HIS FAITH
Please read Romans chapter 4
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.
THE FAITH OF CHRIST
What is saving faith? Who is it that must exercise saving faith?
A casual reading of Romans chapter 4 would seem to indicate that it was Abraham’s faith that was counted for righteousness. But is this truly so? After all, we want to be absolutely sure that we understand this point correctly; because our understanding of saving faith is going to effect the way that we approach unto God as a sinner desperately in need of a Saviour.
In order for us to properly understand what God is saying in Romans chapter 4 we first have to take a look at what the Bible has to say regarding saving faith. Let’s turn to the book of Galatians, chapter 2:
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.
Clearly, God is stating that it is impossible for sinners to be justified by any work of the law. Many fail to understand that the biblical exhortations to believe in Christ are part of the Bible and as part of the Bible they are also part of the law (the whole Bible is the law of God); also, many fail to understand that any attempt to keep the law of believing in Christ would be a work, and as such many are unwittingly attempting to be justified by the works of the law. Which Galatians 2:16 says will justify no man.
God contrasts the works of the law (which cannot justify) in Galatians 2:16: to the faith of Christ (which does justify the sinner). Therefore, saving faith is exclusively Christ’s.
Show this verse to some and they refer you to Romans chapter 4.
But before we go there let’s take a look at the book of Jude:
3b)….exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
God writes to us in this little epistle regarding "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." And we have to wonder: what faith is being spoken of here? If we think that this reference to faith is referring to the Bible itself, then we have a problem: because the Bible was handed down repeatedly over many centuries. It just simply cannot be said that the Bible has only been handed down "once". But God means what He says and He says here that the faith He is speaking of was only "once delivered to the saints".
Could it be the gospel message itself that believers carry?
No! The message of the gospel has often been carried from father to son; from generation to generation. What "faith" can possibly qualify as being only "once delivered"?
My friends, the only possible answer to this verse: the only possible way of harmonizing this verse with the Scriptures-------is to understand the "faith" spoken of in Jude 3 as being the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
Does not Hebrews 9:28 say that Christ was "once offered to bear the sins of many"? God makes a special point in Hebrews chapter 9 to let us know that Christ was indeed not offered up often; but only ONCE was it necessary for Him to suffer the terrible wrath of God for the sins of His people.
What about the word delivered in Jude 3? Read the gospels and you will find this same word used over and over again in connection with the death of Christ. The Jews delivered Him up to Pilate; Pilate delivered Him to be crucified; etc.
Christ is the faith spoken of in Jude 3 which was "once delivered".
And who was Christ delivered unto?
Our great God and King was delivered for you (if you be a true child of God) and me. He was delivered for the whole company of the saints at the cross. Every saint has had the faith of Christ delivered to them nearly 2000 years ago when Christ paid the penalty for our sins.
Only when we understand that Christ is "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" can we find truth in this verse in Jude. Nothing else properly answers the conditions set forth of being faith only once delivered.
Show this verse to someone who thinks that faith is not Christ but an instrument; and they will again point you back to Romans chapter 4.
But before we go there, let’s turn to Galatians chapter 5:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Let’s think about this fairly simple and straightforward verse for a second: the fruit of the Spirit is----FAITH.
Does this not mean that in order to have the fruit of the Spirit-----one must first have the Spirit?
That is, God saves me and then places His Holy Spirit to indwell me; and THEN, (AFTER SALVATION HAS ALREADY OCCURRED) I begin to see spiritual fruit in my life, such as faith.
But the faith which I begin to see in my life is a result of my salvation. It had absolutely nothing to do with my salvation.
The picture is perfectly clear. The idea is the same as an orange tree; in order for me to see the fruit of the orange tree; and in order for me to eat the fruit of the orange tree; there must out of necessity first be an orange tree. Then the fruit will appear.
How backwards and confusing it is for some to think that one must first have faith-------AND THEN THE SPIRIT WILL ENTER INTO THEM AND THEY WILL BECOME SAVED.
This is nothing but putting the orange tree before the oranges. This is making the Spirit the fruit of man’s faith; rather than faith the fruit of the Spirit. This idea that a sinner must first possess faith and then receive the Spirit is going contrary to the Scripture in Galatians 5:22 which says that faith is a fruit of the Spirit.
Show this verse to someone who thinks that there faith plays a part in salvation and they will quickly direct you back to Romans chapter 4.
But before we go there, let’s turn over to Romans chapter 10:
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
This verse in Romans 10:17 is a very encouraging verse that if only a sinner could come under the hearing of the Bible there is a possibility that they might hear the Word of God and become saved.
But let’s look a little closer at this verse; if we do we will see that it is also telling us something very significant about faith and how it comes to the sinner.
First of all, we read:
"…faith cometh by hearing…"
In order for a sinner to receive faith---he must first hear. Going on:
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"…and hearing by the Word of God."
This is the key: faith comes by hearing. But hearing must come by the Word of God. What Romans 10:17 is saying is that a spiritually dead sinner must come under the hearing of the gospel. Then, if God so chooses, the sinner is made alive. He is given eyes to see and ears to hear. He is given spiritually life; and after that------after he is able to hear-----then faith enters into his life. Again, the order regarding saving faith is that God must first save us by the faith of Christ and then later we will evidence faith as the Spirit develops this within us.
Please read Romans chapter 4
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.
Saying, blessed are they whose inquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
In Romans chapter 4, verse 5, we read that: "…his faith is counted for righteousness." At first glance this verse seems to clearly say that Abraham’s faith was counted unto himself for righteousness. However, we are not interested in casually reading the Bible. If our conclusion on a verse or on an entire passage does not harmonize with other Scriptures then we must dig deeper into the Bible in order to find harmony with spiritual and spiritual.
JUSTIFIED BY……
Without a doubt it is faith that justifies the sinner and makes the sinner righteous with God: Martin Luther was correct that sinners are justified by faith alone. The Reformation believers did a wonderful job of proving this from the Bible; however, they left out one detail-------that the faith that justifies the sinner is not his own faith but the faith of Christ Himself. Let’s turn to Romans 5:
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
There it is, we are "justified by faith"; what more needs to be said?
You know the Bible sometimes re-phrases the same truth and says it in another way: for example, the Bible also speaks about the believer’s justification (and it is always the same justification that is in view: that is our salvation from our sins and hell) over in Romans 3:
Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Notice, that God is telling us once again that we are justified; but this time, in Romans 3:24 God tells us that we are justified "…by His grace". It is not our grace. It is "His grace". The believers contribute absolutely nothing to the grace of God that justifies us. Let’s turn back to Romans chapter 5:
But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being justified by HIS BLOOD, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
How much of the "blood" which justified you dear friend, how much of that blood did you contribute? Was it the blood of Christ which justified you; and a little bit of your own like a tiny pinprick of blood taken by a needle?
No! The blood, which Romans 5:9 says justifies a miserable sinner; that blood is completely and totally the blood (the life is in the blood) of the Lord Jesus Christ.
So, we see that we are justified by "His grace"; and we can contribute nothing to this marvelous grace of God.
And we see that we are justified by "His blood"; which certainly no sinner would dare claim (not even in our evil day) that any part of that justifying blood belonged to them.
But, when we talk about the faith that justifies-----here man thinks to lay claim to some credit. Here we think that because God left out the word "His" (which God did not leave out in Habakkuk 2:4, where we read: "…the just shall live by HIS faith."): that we can boldly rush in and insist that the faith which justifies: is the faith of the sinner and not the faith that belongs to God.
COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
Let’s turn back to Romans chapter 4 and look at the verse that so many want to read who claim that it is not Christ’s faith; but our faith that justifies:
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
The word translated as "counted" in Romans 4:5 is used several times in chapter 4. In verse 6 it is translated into English as: "imputeth"; and in verses 22 through 24 it is also translated 3 times as "imputed".
LET’S ASSUME that the faith mentioned above is the sinner’s faith (and not Christ’s): how can we explain that this faith (which we our assuming is man’s) "is counted for righteousness"?
Many theologians speak of "imputed righteousness"; and truly this is a biblical idea; but I was not aware that the righteousness being imputed was a result of the sinner’s action? Most theologians will say that it is Christ’s righteousness that is imputed to the sinner; but if we understand the faith mentioned in Romans 4:5 to be man’s faith; then this is how the verse would necessarily have to be understood:
"….his faith (the faith of a sinner) is counted (or imputed) for righteousness."
Can you see how imputed righteousness all comes down to the spiritually dead sinner’s faith?
This is an impossible idea that the Bible will not allow. When we understand the faith in Romans 4:5 to be our faith; then we start getting into all kinds of trouble. We start thinking in terms of a spiritually dead sinner exercising faith that apparently can (fantastically) impute righteousness to himself. This message strongly leans to glorifying man himself.
But, when we rightly recognize that the faith in view there is not man’s faith; but Christ’s faith. Not Abraham’s faith; but Christ’s faith which saved Abraham; then we have a gospel message that is God glorifying That gives God all of the credit.
WHAT ABOUT JAMES CHAPTER 2?
In James chapter 2 we read once again about justification; but amazingly, we read this statement regarding Abraham:
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
God is making a very clear statement here that the Old Testament man of God Abraham was justified by works. This statement needs to be answered in order for us to properly understand God’s teaching on saving faith: how can God correctly say that Abraham was justified by works? Doesn’t God say that no flesh shall be justified by works?
Let’s compare a verse we have already read in Romans chapter 4:
For if Abraham were JUSTIFIED BY WORKS, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
We have a contradiction. Romans 4:2 straightly tells us that Abraham’s faith had absolutely nothing to do with justifying himself (as many other Bible passages also teach this same thing: especially Galatians 2:16:" knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law…")------how then can James 2:21 say that Abraham was justified by works when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
The only way we can come to truth and find the answer to this question is when we realize that faith is the Lord Jesus Christ; and that the works which James chapter 2 says must accompany faith-------are also the works of Christ as He died for the sins of His people. As Christ went through the fires of hell paying for your sins (if you are a child of God) and for my sins, He was displaying His works; and His works proved His faith. This is why we read the following verses in James 2:
Even so faith, if it hath not works is dead, being alone.
Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Christ is the Man mentioned in the verse above: and He is talking to you and I. You see my friend, you might say that you have faith; but unless Christ has died on the cross for your sins----your faith is dead-----being alone. You have the profession of faith; but how empty and vain that profession is without the redeeming work of Christ along with it in paying for your sins.
Can you see how Christ did indeed show us His faith by His works?
Incidentally, this is why we read about the demons in this context: let’s read on in James 2:
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble.
Why mention the devils after talking about someone who claims to have faith but lacks works? The answer is because the devils "believe"; or have faith; but what they greatly lack is the work of Christ. That is, Christ did not take on Him the nature of angels. He did not pay for the sins of any of the fallen angels; and therefore, even though they have a form of faith in God-------their belief is dead being alone: without the saving work of Christ.
The work that justified Abraham was not Abraham’s work. Just like the faith which was counted for righteousness in Romans 4:5 was not Abraham’s faith. Abraham was justified by the work of Christ when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar. This means that at the time that Abraham took Isaac to Mount Moriah to offer him as a sacrifice----at that time Abraham was already a saved man justified by the atoning work of the Christ.
The language God is using can be very misleading (by God’s design). But basically, what God is doing is taking a snapshot out of Abraham’s life: He is taking a moment in time and saying: was not Abraham justified by works when….(God also does this a little further on when discussing Rahab).
God could say the same thing about any believer: for example: was not Mrs. Jones justified by works when she did her laundry. Yes, Mrs. Jones was justified by works when she did her laundry; because Mrs. Jones is a saved person and has been a recipient of the saving work of Christ on the cross. Therefore, if you pick any moment in time after Mrs. Jones salvation you can say: was not Mrs. Jones justified by works when…..
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD
3 times in James chapter 2 God says that "faith without works is dead". This is a critical point. Ultimately, it does not come down to what we say about our faith; but it comes down to the work of the "faith which was once delivered unto the saints." Has this saving faith of Christ been delivered unto you? Along with all of its marvelous accompanying works of grace?
May the Lord richly bless you,