Abraham's Faith - Works required under the Law of Moses

Abraham’s Faith:

Comments and feedback including divergent opinions are appreciated and today’s study is based on an observation from a reader regarding the last Faith Study (Vol. 4, No. 8). He wrote in part: “... Paul states in Romans 4 that justification is by faith - as evidenced in how God dealt with Abraham, the father of faith. I don't think salvation from the penalty of sin was ever by faith and works. Salvation from the unbelieving nation's condemnation required baptism and repentance.” I wrote back asking where in the study he is referring and he answered: “In the 5th paragraph you mention that a secret never revealed by God before was revealed to Paul - of salvation by faith alone apart from the Law. I guess that caught my eye. Maybe I misunderstood your point, but it sounds like faith plus works. Also, it was told directly to Abram that he was reckoned righteous just on faith alone...”

As you can see, my friend read something into the study that was not there. However, his observation is worth examining. First, I’ve written before that it’s clear the only way any man or woman could ever be saved from sin and have a relationship with God has been by faith in His Word - “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:66 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

. Believing God’s Word is what man does and faith is the result - “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:1717 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

. That said, it is also clear that “The Word of God” has varied, giving different instructions to different individuals/ peoples throughout the ages. Abel had faith in God’s Word but had he not borne witness to his faith by offering the animal sacrifice God required he would not have pleased God, Hebrews 11:44 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

. Having faith in God’s Word Noah built an arc that saved he and his family from a flood brought on by rain and the earth opening up, neither of which he had ever before experienced, Hebrews 11:77 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

. Abraham’s faith required him to leave his home county and family, circumcise himself and all in his household and offer his son (in a figure) upon an alter, Genesis 12, 17 & 22; Hebrews 11:88 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

- 128 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

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The passage to which my friend refers is: “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.” Romans 4:11 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

- 41 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

. Paul is addressing Jews in these verses, as he wrote “our father, as pertaining to the flesh,” and Jews rightfully considered Abraham their father, they were directly descended from him, Romans 4:1. In verse 6 and 7 Paul continues as he quotes King David: “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” Romans 4:6 - 86 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

. In the passage Paul quotes we find David actually wrote: “A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” Psalms 32:1 & 21 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

. David lived under the law and followed it so he did not mention “without works” in this Psalm. However the Holy Spirit knew David’s heart and the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to add these words to clarify what David meant and make the point taught here.

After explaining to the Jews that faith was imputed to Abraham without works and quoting David about the blessedness of God’s unmerited favor (Grace) in forgiving sins, Paul continues, referring to the Jews as the circumcision and Gentiles as un-circumcision. He points out that since faith was reckoned or imputed to Abraham for righteousness before he was circumcised then he is the father of faith to Gentiles as well as the Jews, Romans 4:9 - 129 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

. Paul then points out that God’s promise to Abraham and his offspring to be heirs (inheritors or possessors) of the world was not by means of the Law of Moses either, but by the righteousness that comes by faith, Romans 4:1313 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

; that the law could not void the promise made to Abraham on the basis of faith because the Law’s purpose was to demonstrate the sinfulness of mankind, Romans 4:14 & 1514 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

. (See also Galatians 3:24 & 2524 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.

which plainly states the law was a schoolmaster, teaching the need Christ.) Then, based on the foregoing, Paul concludes that Abraham is not only the father of the Jews who were under the law but also the father of anyone who are of Abraham’s faith, by which he received the promise, Romans 4:16 - 2516 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

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We now consider the fact that the Law of Moses did require works for Israel. The author of the book of James makes this clear (he is believed to be the Lord’s half brother who became a prominent figure in the Pentecostal Church, Galatians 1:1919 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

, 2:9 & 12) and his book appears to be one of the first written in the New Testament, which he wrote directly to the Jews at that time, James 1:11 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

. He wrote “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.” James 2:1818 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.

; “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:2020 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

; “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:2626 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

. The Jews in the Pentecostal church awaiting the return of The Lord Jesus Christ as their Messiah during the time recorded in the first of Acts had faith in Jesus Christ and they did the works of the law. The explanation of why what James wrote to them does not conflict with what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 4 to Jew and Gentile members of the Body of Christ is simple. During the time period from when Moses received the Law through that recorded in the first part of Acts, a human being had to be a Jew or a proselyte to the Jewish religion in order to be saved from sin and in a right-relationship with God. They had to obey the law, which included circumcision, various washings, animal sacrifices, diet restrictions, etc., etc. The Apostle Paul calls these things “works of the Law,” as opposed to faith in Jesus Christ alone, Romans 3:2727 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

, 9:32; Galatians 2:1616 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.

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.

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.

, 3:2, 5 & 10.

We must keep in mind that not every Jew who performed the works of the law was truly saved and righteous before God. Only those who did the works of the law by faith in God were truly saved. In order to bring this thought home in our mind, let’s picture ourselves a Jew who had faith in God at that time. When we sinned, either accidently, by omission or intentionally, as specified in the Law of Moses, we recognized our sin was against God because it violated His Holy Law and we humbly asked His forgiveness and offered the required animal sacrifice because we knew that was what God required. Therefore our work of the law was our expression of faith in the Word of God. On the other hand, there were those who offered sacrifices out of self-righteousness, Matthew 23:23 - 2823 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

, Luke 18:99 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

, etc. Their faith was a work of their flesh, with emphasis on the work they did for God. Such was Saul who became the Apostle Paul. As Saul, he was the perfect example of the self-righteous Jew before he was saved. He had great confidence in his flesh to do what was required - as to the Law he counted himself blameless. But after he was saved he recognized all his good works were as filthy rags and he counted them as dung in order that he might attain the righteousness of God that is in Christ Jesus, Philippians 3:4 - 104 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

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;

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Some Jews who were under the law and thus doing the works of the law asked Jesus one time what they should do to work the works of God, John 6:2828 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

. “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” John 6:2929 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

. He didn’t tell them to stop doing the works of the law, He told them they had to believe He was their Messiah, God’s Son. On another occasion Jesus explained to His Disciples and a large group of Jews that the Scribes and Pharisees were their leaders according to Moses’ Law and therefore they were to follow the instructions from the Scribes and Pharisees as to the Law - but they were not to act like the Scribes and Pharisees who were self-righteous hypocrites who said one thing but did another, Matthew 23:1 - 331 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

. A Rich Ruler came to Jesus and asked what he should do in order to inherit eternal life, saying he had kept all the commandments of the law from his youth up, Luke 18:18 - 2118 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

. Jesus told him that was not enough, he had to sell all he had and give the proceeds to the poor and come, follow Him, Luke 18:2222 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

. This made the man very sad and Jesus told him it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God, Luke 18:23 - 2523 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

. Jesus didn’t tell him to stop doing the works of the law; He told him what he needed to do in addition to it. If he had truly believed Jesus was the Son of God, Israel’s Messiah, he would have gladly sold all he had and followed Jesus with a sure expectation of eternal life.

Now let’s think about Abraham being the father of the circumcision (the Jews) as well as the un-circumcision (the Gentiles), Romans 4:9 - 12 & 16. The first time Abram is mentioned in the Bible is when God told him to leave his country, his father’s house and his relatives and go to a land God would show him and God would make from him a great nation; that God would bless them that blessed him and curse those who curse him and in him would all the families of the earth be blessed. Abram did as God told him, Genesis 12:1 - 41 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

, Hebrews 11:8. Further, he believed God that his seed would produce many nations even though he was about 100 years old and both he and his wife Sarah’s reproductive organs were as good as dead, Romans 4:16 - 2116 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

; Hebrews 11:11 & 1211 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

. Even further, by faith in God’s Word Abraham willingly offered up his only son Isaac, from whose seed was the promise, as a sacrifice on an alter, believing that God would raise Isaac up from the dead, Hebrews 11:17 - 1917 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

. It is clear that Abraham was a type of Jesus Christ, that is, the things he did by faith pointed to Jesus Christ’s finished work. Jesus was Abraham’s seed in the flesh by which the entire world is and will be blessed. As Abram left his country, his father’s house and his kindred to go to a foreign, hostile land, so the Son of God left heaven’s glory and His Father and came to earth. As Abraham was circumcised, signifying the cutting off of the sinful flesh, so Jesus Christ’s death cut off the sinful flesh of sinners. As Abraham offered up his only son in a figure, so Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrifice, yea, the only sacrifice that could expiate sin before a Righteous God. And, as Abraham believed Isaac would be raised from the dead, so Jesus Christ did rise from the dead. Thus Abraham is the father of Faith to all who believe in the work of Abraham’s promised seed, Jesus Christ, Romans 4:16 - 25. Jesus is the Author/ Captain and the Finisher/ Completer of Faith, Hebrews 12:22 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

. It was He in His pre-incarnate state Who told Abram to leave his country and promised him the blessings listed and it was He who finished or completed the work that brought the promise when He Himself came, died and rose again for our justification, Romans 4:2525 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

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When God set Israel, along with their Kingdom hopes aside for a while, Romans 9 - 11, the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to the Apostle Paul the message of pure Grace for us today. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8 & 98 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

. Yes, the faith that actually saves us is not of ourselves, it is the faith of Jesus, which is God’s gift to us. There are many passages that speak of the faith of Jesus Christ, including: “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 3:2222 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:

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:

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:

. “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.” Galatians 2:16. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless 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.” Galations 2:20. The Greek preposition translated “by” in Romans 3:22 and Galatians 2:16 is “ek,” which expresses the idea of “out from,” so it is out from the faith that resides in Jesus Christ that we receive righteousness and justification. The Greek preposition translated “by” in Galatians 2:2020 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.

is “en,” which expresses the idea of being or remaining within with the primary idea of rest and continuance. Therefore, we are justified and righteous by the faith of Jesus Christ and the lives we live right now rest in the faith of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Some translations other than the King James Version give the wrong idea that it is our faith in Jesus Christ that accomplishes these things.) We are required to believe as in Romans 3:22, that is we must have faith, but the faith that actually saves us and on which we stand righteous was completed/ accomplished by Jesus Christ Himself. See also Galatians 3:2222 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

and Philippians 3:99 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:

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Much more about this will be explored in future studies, but a last thought here; our salvation is by grace through faith alone however it was earned by the works of our Savior Jesus Christ, Who said “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” John 17:44 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

. Part of Jesus Christ’s work was to fulfill the law of Moses, and He did, Matthew 5:17 & 1817 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

. And so we are saved by work, but not of ourselves, it has been done by the Lord Jesus Christ. All we have to do is believe it, 1 Corinthians 15:1 - 41 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

. But that said, we are created unto good works, Ephesians 2:1010 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

, 2 Timothy 3:1717 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:1414 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

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Have Bible, will travel to put on Bible studies/seminars.