Faith; What it Aint
Sometimes we can acquire a better understanding of a thing by understanding the antithesis of a thing. When it comes to faith in God, people have differing opinions of what this means, and those of us who were, and presently are, members of the Armstrong legacy, have/had a particular spin.
Faith is seen coupled to, and indeed chained to keeping the law, or at least the ten commandments of the old covenant. Works are defined as works of the law when it comes to the statement in Scripture that faith without works is dead. (A simple examination of James chapter 2 bears this out to be false, but that has been too much of a bother for many, especially since said examination has the potential of exposing one’s beliefs as false; something to be avoided at all costs!)
I have shown previously that the sin of Adam and Eve, and the sin of Satan were the same; an abandonment of faith in God.
This understanding helps us to take a look into what faith is not.
Adam and Eve partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This tree’s fruit was described by the serpent as having the potential to make them over into beings who would know good and evil even as God knows good and evil:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. – Genesis 3:5
The fruit / tree had one other quality:
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. – Genesis 3:6
There was a wisdom associated with partaking of that fruit.
Faith in God is a total reliance on God. It incorporates belief, trust, and assurance in God and that what He says is true.
When Christ and the apostles proclaimed the gospel, it was a message of salvation through faith in God and Christ:
It is a simple gospel message, that can be understood by anyone; salvation through faith alone. There are examples of many in the Scriptures whose righteousness was based in faith. From the Scriptures we also learn that our “righteousness” derived through the law, is not going to cut it in the long run:
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: – Philippians 3:9
It is God’s righteousness we are to seek, and it is acquired through faith:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; – Matthew 6:33a
What then is the opposite of faith in Christ?
Faith in oneself. Self-reliance. Self righteousness. Where is this self righteousness derived from? Read again Philippians 3:9.
God provided the “standard” for those who put their reliance in themselves. God provided the alternative to faith in Him for those who felt there was more to it; that tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God provided that law that was established as the standard by which His justice was served through the sacrifice of Christ.
There seems to be this inherent belief that, if you live a good life, God will reward you with eternal life. This standard is designed to show mankind that man will never, based on his own efforts, be good enough to God.
So a logical question arises. Why would God enable you, through His Spirit, to keep that law so you could prove yourself worthy of eternal life based on what is still your efforts? And if it were the function of the Holy Spirit to so enable you, then how is it those that believe this still transgress that law?
No, God wants to make sure you come to realize that, based on your own effort, you will never measure up. He wants you to understood that, the only reason you will have eternal life is as a gift to you in response to your faith in Him. You seek the kingdom via God’s righteousness, and not yours.
And yet, there remains a plethora of argumentation for trying to keep that law you cannot keep, as though you are required to try, knowing ahead of time you will fail over and over again. Does this prove anything to God? To God, it proves a lack of faith in Him and salvation being a gift. It engenders frustration in the one trying to keep that law. It is a doctrine of failure; a belief you have to strive to do the impossible.
I cannot emphasize enough that you can not possibly measure up to that standard set by God. God wants you to understand, you are not like God, and you never will be like God. You will come to understand that, like Satan, taking your faith, trust, and assurance off of God and transferring faith to yourself, will have disastrous results. This is the unpardonable sin.
You will have learned the results of the knowledge of good and evil. God is good, and you are evil, unable to be good like God is good. Only by having Christ’s righteousness applied to you are you made acceptable to God. This is about being under grace; the result of faith in Christ and His righteousness. This is about God justifying the “ungodly.”
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. – Romans 4:4-5
Do you honestly think any person will have eternal life because God owes it to him?
There is one last observation:
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. – Galatians 3:11-29
1. No one will be justified by the law.
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident:
2. The law is not of faith; the one who lives by the law does just that; lives by the law and not faith
for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
3. Christ has redeemed men from the curse of the law; the penalty for not keeping it perfectly, as required. Christ did this through His sacrifice. Those who believe they are still required to try and keep it will still fail, unaware that you can only sacrifice Christ once.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
4. The blessing of Abraham which was that he would inherit the world and his progeny would be like the stars of heaven, now comes upon the Gentiles who were formerly not a party to that covenant of promise. Neither were they a party to the covenant law, unless they underwent circumcision and entered into that old covenant with Israel. They are accepted into Abraham’s covenant without having to first come under the covenant of law, thereby becoming an Israelite and offspring of Abraham in that way. Their entry into the covenant of Abraham is via Christ, and not the law.
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
5. Abraham’s covenant was a covenant of promise, and the promises extended out to the offspring of Abraham. This cannot be changed any more than the old covenant of law can be changed by adding gentiles to it without the requirement to undergo circumcision, which these gentiles did not have to undergo. They entered into Abraham’s covenant of promise through faith; through Christ who is the seed, and gentile Christians are in Christ.
Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
6. The old covenant of law therefore cannot affect the covenant God made with Abraham previously. These promises made to Abraham and his descendants are promises that cannot be affected by that law. This “inheritance” promised to Abraham, entails eternal life and salvation (for Abraham did not receive in his lifetime the promises (Hebrews 11:13)).
And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
7. Seeing as the law has nothing to do with the promises and salvation, what then was the purpose of the law? It was added because man is sinful. Added to what though? It was added to the offspring of Abraham who were sinful, and it was to have a limited time that it would be extant or in force. It was a mediated law between God, who is “one” and the Israelites who were many, with Moses as the mediator. Understand. The Israelites were given that law because they were faithless and sinful. Christ came, bringing the faith to be revealed, at which point, they would then live by faith, and no longer need to be under the alternate; the law designed for the faithless and sinful ( I Timothy 1:9-10)
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
8. Does that law negatively affect the promises God made with Abraham? No, for the law has nothing to do with the promises that included eternal life through faith. The law, and keeping the law, does not result in this righteousness derived through faith. The law is not in competition with the promises or eternal life. The law was there to bring all under sin, so all would see the need to live by faith in order to attain to the promises. The law kept the people under the rules and requirements of the law until faith was to be revealed to the people; the way out from under the law and the condemnation of the law, when faith is embraced. The law made sure people understood that, based on their own efforts, salvation is not an option. Their natures are sinful, and the law reinforced that assessment (Romans 5:20; Romans 7:13)
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
9. Schoolmaster: A paidagogos. A person, usually a slave, who accompanied a child of the household around, guiding and even punishing the child should he misbehave, until such time the child comes of age and is mature; in this analogy, a Christian guided by the Holy Spirit and the accompanying faith. The law is dismissed, its purpose having been served.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Sometimes we can acquire a better understanding of a thing by understanding the antithesis of a thing. When it comes to faith in God, people have differing opinions of what this means, and those of us who were, and presently are, members of the Armstrong legacy, have/had a particular spin.
Faith is seen coupled to, and indeed chained to keeping the law, or at least the ten commandments of the old covenant. Works are defined as works of the law when it comes to the statement in Scripture that faith without works is dead. (A simple examination of James chapter 2 bears this out to be false, but that has been too much of a bother for many, especially since said examination has the potential of exposing one’s beliefs as false; something to be avoided at all costs!)
I have shown previously that the sin of Adam and Eve, and the sin of Satan were the same; an abandonment of faith in God.
This understanding helps us to take a look into what faith is not.
Adam and Eve partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This tree’s fruit was described by the serpent as having the potential to make them over into beings who would know good and evil even as God knows good and evil:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. – Genesis 3:5
The fruit / tree had one other quality:
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. – Genesis 3:6
There was a wisdom associated with partaking of that fruit.
Faith in God is a total reliance on God. It incorporates belief, trust, and assurance in God and that what He says is true.
When Christ and the apostles proclaimed the gospel, it was a message of salvation through faith in God and Christ:
It is a simple gospel message, that can be understood by anyone; salvation through faith alone. There are examples of many in the Scriptures whose righteousness was based in faith. From the Scriptures we also learn that our “righteousness” derived through the law, is not going to cut it in the long run:
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: – Philippians 3:9
It is God’s righteousness we are to seek, and it is acquired through faith:
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; – Matthew 6:33a
What then is the opposite of faith in Christ?
Faith in oneself. Self-reliance. Self righteousness. Where is this self righteousness derived from? Read again Philippians 3:9.
God provided the “standard” for those who put their reliance in themselves. God provided the alternative to faith in Him for those who felt there was more to it; that tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God provided that law that was established as the standard by which His justice was served through the sacrifice of Christ.
There seems to be this inherent belief that, if you live a good life, God will reward you with eternal life. This standard is designed to show mankind that man will never, based on his own efforts, be good enough to God.
So a logical question arises. Why would God enable you, through His Spirit, to keep that law so you could prove yourself worthy of eternal life based on what is still your efforts? And if it were the function of the Holy Spirit to so enable you, then how is it those that believe this still transgress that law?
No, God wants to make sure you come to realize that, based on your own effort, you will never measure up. He wants you to understood that, the only reason you will have eternal life is as a gift to you in response to your faith in Him. You seek the kingdom via God’s righteousness, and not yours.
And yet, there remains a plethora of argumentation for trying to keep that law you cannot keep, as though you are required to try, knowing ahead of time you will fail over and over again. Does this prove anything to God? To God, it proves a lack of faith in Him and salvation being a gift. It engenders frustration in the one trying to keep that law. It is a doctrine of failure; a belief you have to strive to do the impossible.
I cannot emphasize enough that you can not possibly measure up to that standard set by God. God wants you to understand, you are not like God, and you never will be like God. You will come to understand that, like Satan, taking your faith, trust, and assurance off of God and transferring faith to yourself, will have disastrous results. This is the unpardonable sin.
You will have learned the results of the knowledge of good and evil. God is good, and you are evil, unable to be good like God is good. Only by having Christ’s righteousness applied to you are you made acceptable to God. This is about being under grace; the result of faith in Christ and His righteousness. This is about God justifying the “ungodly.”
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. – Romans 4:4-5
Do you honestly think any person will have eternal life because God owes it to him?
There is one last observation:
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. – Galatians 3:11-29
1. No one will be justified by the law.
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident:
2. The law is not of faith; the one who lives by the law does just that; lives by the law and not faith
for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
3. Christ has redeemed men from the curse of the law; the penalty for not keeping it perfectly, as required. Christ did this through His sacrifice. Those who believe they are still required to try and keep it will still fail, unaware that you can only sacrifice Christ once.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
4. The blessing of Abraham which was that he would inherit the world and his progeny would be like the stars of heaven, now comes upon the Gentiles who were formerly not a party to that covenant of promise. Neither were they a party to the covenant law, unless they underwent circumcision and entered into that old covenant with Israel. They are accepted into Abraham’s covenant without having to first come under the covenant of law, thereby becoming an Israelite and offspring of Abraham in that way. Their entry into the covenant of Abraham is via Christ, and not the law.
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
5. Abraham’s covenant was a covenant of promise, and the promises extended out to the offspring of Abraham. This cannot be changed any more than the old covenant of law can be changed by adding gentiles to it without the requirement to undergo circumcision, which these gentiles did not have to undergo. They entered into Abraham’s covenant of promise through faith; through Christ who is the seed, and gentile Christians are in Christ.
Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
6. The old covenant of law therefore cannot affect the covenant God made with Abraham previously. These promises made to Abraham and his descendants are promises that cannot be affected by that law. This “inheritance” promised to Abraham, entails eternal life and salvation (for Abraham did not receive in his lifetime the promises (Hebrews 11:13)).
And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
7. Seeing as the law has nothing to do with the promises and salvation, what then was the purpose of the law? It was added because man is sinful. Added to what though? It was added to the offspring of Abraham who were sinful, and it was to have a limited time that it would be extant or in force. It was a mediated law between God, who is “one” and the Israelites who were many, with Moses as the mediator. Understand. The Israelites were given that law because they were faithless and sinful. Christ came, bringing the faith to be revealed, at which point, they would then live by faith, and no longer need to be under the alternate; the law designed for the faithless and sinful ( I Timothy 1:9-10)
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
8. Does that law negatively affect the promises God made with Abraham? No, for the law has nothing to do with the promises that included eternal life through faith. The law, and keeping the law, does not result in this righteousness derived through faith. The law is not in competition with the promises or eternal life. The law was there to bring all under sin, so all would see the need to live by faith in order to attain to the promises. The law kept the people under the rules and requirements of the law until faith was to be revealed to the people; the way out from under the law and the condemnation of the law, when faith is embraced. The law made sure people understood that, based on their own efforts, salvation is not an option. Their natures are sinful, and the law reinforced that assessment (Romans 5:20; Romans 7:13)
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
9. Schoolmaster: A paidagogos. A person, usually a slave, who accompanied a child of the household around, guiding and even punishing the child should he misbehave, until such time the child comes of age and is mature; in this analogy, a Christian guided by the Holy Spirit and the accompanying faith. The law is dismissed, its purpose having been served.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom.
Acts 17:11
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We can diverge to many other subjects, but this is the crux of the matter;the heart beat of the gospel is faith.
ReplyDeleteNot understanding this crucial concept is what generates concern for so many of our friends and family that think that they have received the message of the New Covenant, but clearly have not.
James 2:24 is always the primary referenced to advocate 'works'. It seems not to dawn on some that they may have the cart before the horse, as good works come after faith.
"Faith in God is a total reliance on God. It incorporates belief, trust, and assurance in God and that what He says is true." Amen.
Abraham stepped out on faith, and our works may be to remain confident that God is in control in spite of everything that appears threatening.
Our acts of faith may be to praise God, thanking him for eternal life that is ours, even though current circumstances may seem to indicate that God's promises are some Pollyannish delusion.
I just wanted to add; I'm always happy to see my brothers and sisters in Christ, from everywhere on this planet, come and visit us here at ABD. It is my act of faith to believe that I shall have eternity to get to know every one of you.