Christian Fellowship Community Group
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THE FAITH OF CHRIST JESUS PART 2
Faith means saying YES to the thoughts of God, without feeling or seeing, yes, even understanding. This simple, weak YES is infinitely precious in the sight of God. It is true faith, the faith of Jesus in us.
There are a number of passages in Paul's letters that speak of this faith of Christ and show us its infinite worth and significance. The above mentioned prophecy of the Lord was right, (Luke 18.8) therefore, because in almost all translations they translated "faith IN Jesus" instead of "faith OF Jesus", which some assert is the same. The difference is as big as the difference between "mine" and "yours", though. When I speak of the faith of Christ, I don't mean my faith, with which I accepted the Lord. This faith we can take for granted, and it is taught in countless passages. THE FAITH OF CHRIST I not my faith, but the faith Jesus, the Son of Man had on this earth, and this faith He transfers to us by His indwelling.
Lets consider some of the verses that deal with this faith. We read in Romans 3.21 to 26 that the righteousness of God - which already was announced in the Old Testament - is now revealed (verse 22) through the faith of Christ by our saying YES to the righteousness of God and receiving it with thanksgiving; just like Jesus was saying YES to the thoughts of His Father, even if they contradicted the visible reality. Christ is our "mercy seat", the source of all grace (verse 25)," through faith in His blood", how it is translated literally in the original. He gives us this faith in His blood, because the same faith constitutes His innermost nature; and "God justifies him who is of the faith of Jesus" (verse 26). In Galatians 2.16 we read twice that we are justified by the faith OF Jesus Christ and Paul proceeds in verse 20: "The life I now live in the flesh I live by the FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD." The promise of the righteousness of God will be granted on the principle of faith OF Jesus, to those who like Him agree with the Word of God, without seeing or feeling. By this faith we confidently have access to the Father (Eph.3.12), because in Christ every believer is sanctified. Through the faith of Christ (Phil.3.9) we have a righteousness of God, and what comes from God is perfect and blameless, like God Himself. We are raised with Him through this faith, which is in itself the effective power of God, not just faith IN the power of God. This faith is also mentioned as HIS faith in Tim. 3.13 and Rev. 2.13. If we prayerfully meditate on these Bible-verses and as weak and ignorant children submit to it, we will be amazed at the simplicity, greatness and glory of the thoughts of God. We strive and torture ourselves because we don't want to let go of our old self, instead of commending ourselves completely in the arms of His grace, which has accomplished all for those who are of the faith of Jesus Christ.
This is the overcoming faith, on the basis of which we are - expressed in divine logic - transformed and raptured; for God made us to sit with Him in heavenly places and our lives are already hidden with Christ in God. How glorious the testimony of the Apostle Paul, when he writes in 2.Tim. 4.7): "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." He wrote these words before his second imprisonment, when he had still hard and terrible things in store. These words confirm that Christ truly lived in him; for he spoke in the Spirit and faith of Jesus. Just like the Lord did, when He said: "I have finished your work, and I am not in this world anymore".
. The strong hand which raises us poor, blind and ignorant creatures to higher form of being, is the faith of Christ Jesus. We must completely entrust and surrender ourselves, even if it is against our natural thinking, for there is no other way to reach the goal.
(by M. von Brasch)
Faith means saying YES to the thoughts of God, without feeling or seeing, yes, even understanding. This simple, weak YES is infinitely precious in the sight of God. It is true faith, the faith of Jesus in us.
There are a number of passages in Paul's letters that speak of this faith of Christ and show us its infinite worth and significance. The above mentioned prophecy of the Lord was right, (Luke 18.8) therefore, because in almost all translations they translated "faith IN Jesus" instead of "faith OF Jesus", which some assert is the same. The difference is as big as the difference between "mine" and "yours", though. When I speak of the faith of Christ, I don't mean my faith, with which I accepted the Lord. This faith we can take for granted, and it is taught in countless passages. THE FAITH OF CHRIST I not my faith, but the faith Jesus, the Son of Man had on this earth, and this faith He transfers to us by His indwelling.
Lets consider some of the verses that deal with this faith. We read in Romans 3.21 to 26 that the righteousness of God - which already was announced in the Old Testament - is now revealed (verse 22) through the faith of Christ by our saying YES to the righteousness of God and receiving it with thanksgiving; just like Jesus was saying YES to the thoughts of His Father, even if they contradicted the visible reality. Christ is our "mercy seat", the source of all grace (verse 25)," through faith in His blood", how it is translated literally in the original. He gives us this faith in His blood, because the same faith constitutes His innermost nature; and "God justifies him who is of the faith of Jesus" (verse 26). In Galatians 2.16 we read twice that we are justified by the faith OF Jesus Christ and Paul proceeds in verse 20: "The life I now live in the flesh I live by the FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD." The promise of the righteousness of God will be granted on the principle of faith OF Jesus, to those who like Him agree with the Word of God, without seeing or feeling. By this faith we confidently have access to the Father (Eph.3.12), because in Christ every believer is sanctified. Through the faith of Christ (Phil.3.9) we have a righteousness of God, and what comes from God is perfect and blameless, like God Himself. We are raised with Him through this faith, which is in itself the effective power of God, not just faith IN the power of God. This faith is also mentioned as HIS faith in Tim. 3.13 and Rev. 2.13. If we prayerfully meditate on these Bible-verses and as weak and ignorant children submit to it, we will be amazed at the simplicity, greatness and glory of the thoughts of God. We strive and torture ourselves because we don't want to let go of our old self, instead of commending ourselves completely in the arms of His grace, which has accomplished all for those who are of the faith of Jesus Christ.
This is the overcoming faith, on the basis of which we are - expressed in divine logic - transformed and raptured; for God made us to sit with Him in heavenly places and our lives are already hidden with Christ in God. How glorious the testimony of the Apostle Paul, when he writes in 2.Tim. 4.7): "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." He wrote these words before his second imprisonment, when he had still hard and terrible things in store. These words confirm that Christ truly lived in him; for he spoke in the Spirit and faith of Jesus. Just like the Lord did, when He said: "I have finished your work, and I am not in this world anymore".
. The strong hand which raises us poor, blind and ignorant creatures to higher form of being, is the faith of Christ Jesus. We must completely entrust and surrender ourselves, even if it is against our natural thinking, for there is no other way to reach the goal.
(by M. von Brasch)
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God Bless You, Walter this is great.
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