The Faith OF Christ - A Doctrine...
The Faith OF Christ - A Doctrine...
And how does one study out a Doctrine?
In - the - Word; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17, rightly divided, 2 Timothy 2:15.
My understanding as to "the faith of Christ" is the Word.
All one need mostly do is apply that basic, what is it; third grade elementary school rule of reading - "we arrive at the author's intended sense by how they are using words, where, and how they are, etc.."
My basic approach is to keep my nose in my KJV; running the passages, comparing them, applying the Mid-Acts Hermeneutic that is the question 'okay, how does this work in light of God's Two-Fold Purpose?'
'And how is the Apostle Paul using words here? How do other writers, in the Word?'
In this, I find that "the faith of Christ" is a reference to His fidelity - He came to die for sin, and was faithful to that.
Again; Luke 22 illustrates what the Apostle Paul is referring to in his use of the phrase:
41. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
42. Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Galatians 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.
Not by the works of the Law that man had been unable to be faithful to keeping; but by the faith of Christ - by the work He had been faithful to see thru - the work of the Cross.
Ours is but to believe - place our faith in - His faithfulness to what He came to do and "finished... unto death; even unto the death of the Cross."
Galatians 2:
19. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20. I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave
himself for me.
21. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Philippians 3:
8. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
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:
10. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
"...through the faith of - Christ" through what He was faithful to see through to - "his death."
Romans 3:
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:
It is a Doctrine...
Romans 5:
7. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Galatians 3:
21. 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.
22. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Something happened - the faith of Christ came - He came to die for sin and was faithful to that - unto - death!
Galatians 4:
4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
That word "adoption" is not our Modern Day understanding of that word. Even its wording reveals this. But that's another subject.
Ephesians 3:
12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Ephesians 2:
13. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Much more could be said on this. Suffice it to say for now, "as it is written" - in 1 Thessalonians 5:
23. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.