People of Faith

Followers of Jesus are often referred to as "people of faith".
Let's explore what is meant by this description.

Most Christians I have met believe that it is their faith in the sacrifice of Jesus for their sins that saves them. Indeed, this is preached in many evangelical circles.

Some admit they were desperate enough or fearful enough to choose Jesus and thus become saved from what they had feared.
Some even boast they were smarter than others by using their free will to invite Jesus into their hearts and thus become saved.

Let's explore this faith thing (Biblically, of course).

1. Faith OF Christ
Firstly, a correctly translated Bible declares that it is the faith or faithfulness of Christ that has saved us.
Consider Galatians 2 : 16 as an example.

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.
[KJV]

having perceived that a human is not being justified by law works, but through Christ Jesus's faith, we also believe in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by Christ's faith and not by law works, seeing that by law works no flesh at all shall be justified.
[CLV]

2. Faith IN Christ
On the other hand, my faith in Christ, my believing in what Christ has done for mankind by his faithfulness to the plan of his Father, allows me to experience and enjoy my salvation.

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 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.
[Romans 3 : 21 - 22  KJV]

Yet, now apart from law, God's righteousness is manifest (being attested by the law and the prophets), yet God's righteousness through Jesus Christ's faith for all, and *on all who are believing*, for their is no distinction.
[Romans 3 : 21 - 22  CLV]

The righteousness "condition", which is for all, is already being enjoyed by believers. Believers are beginning to experience life in God's kingdom.

My faith doesn't cause or enable me to be saved or to be righteous in God's sight. My belief is in something that has already been achieved - the salvation gained by Jesus on the cross, which I can enjoy once I am given the faith to believe it.

Let's use a familiar illustration like the force of gravity.
I believe in gravity.
But my believing in gravity doesn't create that gravitational force. I am believing in something that already exists.
My believing enables me to understand why objects fall when dropped, and to use it advantageously or to take steps to avoid it causing me distress.

Again, looking back to Israel and the Law, we see that the law was not going to make people sin more - but it did make them know what sin was.

In a similar way, faith is not going to make people saved (Jesus' death did that) - it lets us know what salvation is - our sins have been paid for and we have been saved (rescued) from the death that Adam gave us.

3. Faithfulness TO Christ
Is faith believing in God, or believing God?
Is faith trusting in God, or trusting God?
Is faith trusting in God's promises, or trusting God's promises?

For me, the second option in these sentences is more active, requires doing rather than just giving intellectual ascent; evokes obedience, rather than just agreement.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
[James 1 : 22  NIV]

Obedience in faith is a dynamic and essential aspect of the Christian life. It is through obedience that believers demonstrate their love for God, reflect the character of Christ, and participate in the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. As such, obedience is not merely a duty but a joyful expression of faith and trust in the living God.

So faithfulness to Christ is an active expression of trust in God's promises and commands. It demonstrates the freedom (peace) we now enjoy in Christ and the willingness to obey God's call on our life.

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
[Ephesians 2 : 10  NIV]

And God himself, through his indwelling presence, is my enabler in this journey.

It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his grand purpose.
[Philippians 2 : 13  NIV]

And I live no longer, but the Anointed lives within me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faithfulness that is of God's Son, who loves me and delivered himself up on my behalf.
[Galatians 2 : 20  DBH]

Those of us who have already received the faith to believe the salvation God has given us in Christ Jesus become people of faith when we live this way, when we follow the "faith-obedience" model Jesus did in his life. (described in the previous post "The God of Faith").

You will remember how we dealt with each one of you personally, like a father with his own children, stimulating your faith and courage and giving you instruction. Our only object was to help you to live lives worthy of the God who has called you to share the splendour of his kingdom.
[1 Thessalonians 2 : 11 - 12  Phillips]

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
[Matthew 7 : 21  NIV]

Blessings, Barry
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Other published Writings at https://www.ibtechservices.com.au
 

The God of Faith

We don't use this description of God very often; more frequently using terms like the God of Love, Almighty God, etc.
But let's explore this aspect of our Heavenly Father.

We shall begin by looking at the Greek word that we often translate as "faith" in English translations.
It is the word "pistin" or "pistis" - which can also be translated as "faithfulness", or even "fidelity", as well as "faith".

Often these alternatives can be very helpful in understanding what has been written for us in the Word of God.
Take for example Romans 3 : 2 - 4a, which is part of a discussion on God's promises to Israel.

... chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
God forbid.
[KJV]

What does the "faith of God" mean?
Several other translations will help us to answer that question.

In the first place, God trusted his message to the Jews.
But what if some of them were not faithful? Does this mean that God will not be faithful?
Certainly not!
[GNB]
First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
What is some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God's faithfulness?
Not at all!
[NIV]
Firstly, indeed they were entrusted with God's oracles.
What then? If some were unfaithful, will their infidelity annul God's fidelity?
Let it not be so!
[DBH]

These help us see that it is the faithfulness of God that guarantees the promises to Israel will be kept.
So let's agree to use faith or faithfulness - whichever provides clarity for us English readers.

The conclusion from above is that God will remain faithful to Israel even though some of them are unfaithful.

So what about God's faithfulness to his creation as a whole?
What has he promised?

[God] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
[Ephesians 1 : 9 -10  NIV]

and

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him (Jesus], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
[Colossians 1 : 19 - 20  NIV]

What role was Jesus to play in the implementation of the Father's will?
Jesus made it clear in several conversations recorded in the Gospels.

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
[John 6 : 38  NIV]

What about Jesus' commitment to this?

"When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.”
"I came, not to judge the world, but to save it. "
[John 12 : 32, 47b  GNB]

Jesus' faithfulness to the Father's plan to save the world was surely tested in the Garden of Gethsemane.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
[Luke 22 : 42  NIV]

Christ's humanity produced such agony that he perspired drops of blood, but his faithfulness to his Father, and submission to the Father's will, prevailed.
Indeed he said,

"My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work".
[John 4 : 34  NIV]

And what did Jesus say on the cross just before he died?

Jesus said, "It is finished". With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
[John 19 : 30  NIV]

My appreciation of God's master plan, and his faithfulness to his promises, together with Christ's faithfulness to his Father, assure me that Christ Ultimately Rescues Everyone by the end of time, ensuring all will be reconciled to God and ready to step into eternity.

Blessings, Barry

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Other published Writings at https://www.ibtechservices.com.au

Jesus is the CURE

One of the little habits I have developed over the years is the use of acronyms. I invent them to assist my memory, even for daily chores and brief shopping lists.

Readers will have noticed me use UR for Universal Reconciliation quite often, an acronym I have sprinkled down the margins of many pages in my Bibles (along with several others).

I have recently altered that to CURE, standing for Christ Ultimately Reconciles Everyone, to make it clear that it is only because of Christ that we have universal reconciliation or universal salvation.

Some people are universalists who believe that everyone gets "there" no matter what route they take, wherever "there" might be.
But that is not me.
To leave Jesus out of the equation is criminal, IMHO. 😀

As the great Karl Barth once said,
"I don’t believe in universalism, but I do believe in Jesus Christ, the reconciler of all."
And that is me.

I have even more recently re-defined CURE again to mean Christ Ultimately Rescues Everyone, to include a slightly more dramatic word, in the hope of sending the message that everyone needs to be rescued, saved, and that Jesus is the Saviour of the world.
As John the Baptist declared:

"Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world".
[John 1 : 29  NIV]
"And all people will see God's salvation".
[Luke 3 : 6  NIV]

So, when you begin to see CURE in future posts, you'll know what I am trying to convey.
Blessings, Barry

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Other published Writings at https://www.ibtechservices.com.au

Job Description

Most of the objections I receive challenging the belief that God is the Saviour of the whole world through Jesus come from mainstream Christians who have been taught that the fate of unbelievers is eternal torment in hell.

Years ago, when I thought I was all alone in this Universal Reconciliation space, I was never eager to press the point, just gently mention it and let it fall and take root wherever and whenever it might.

But these days, I am much more confident (have even been asked to not attend two churches while holding such a belief in case I infected others) and have answered all challenges offered (so far) using the Biblical evidence with which readers of this BLOG have become familiar.

And I have written a structured essay answering these objections and published it in the Downloads section of my website https://www.ibtechservices.com.au.
 
I have also taken seriously Paul's admonition to become Christ's ambassador of this wonderful news:

For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.
[2 Corinthians 5 : 19, 20  NLT]

Clearly, to be faithful to my calling, I am to be Christ's ambassador with this wonderful news of Jesus' success on the cross 2000 years ago.
That's an interesting job description, isn't it?
What a privilege ... and what a responsibility!
Blessings, Barry
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Other published Writings at https://www.ibtechservices.com.au