Faith in Romans, Part 4: The Faith and to Whom it is Attributed:

The word “faith” occurs 9 times in the third chapter of Romans but before going there, this is a good time to review to whom faith is attributed. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, Hebrews 11:11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

, and at this time, I see it attributed in Acts and the Scripture following: 1) as the name of a Gospel as a body of truth, i.e., “the faith;” 2) Jesus Christ’s faith, thus it is referred to as “the faith of Jesus Christ;” 3) the faith of individual members of the Body of Christ.

1 - The Faith:

The term “the faith” is never found in the four Gospels. I have pointed out before that it is usually attributed to individuals in Matthew, Mark and Luke. The term “The faith” does not appear in the New Testament (NT) until after Jesus Christ finished His work of redemption on the cross. It first appears in Acts referring to the belief the Jews in the Pentecostal Jerusalem church had. They believed the Gospel of the Kingdom, which was that Jesus was their promised Messiah. Along with Peter and the 11, they were waiting for the Tribulation, after which they anticipated Christ’s return to earth and His Kingdom on earth, Acts 1:6 - 86 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

. They followed the Law of Moses and worshiped in Jerusalem at the Temple, Acts 2:42 - 4742 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

. The Old Testament (OT) had prophesied the Tribulation and Kingdom to follow and during His 3-year ministry, Christ also foretold the Tribulation, Matthew 24:4 - 144 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

and His subsequent return to establish His Kingdom, Matthew 24:29 - 3129 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

. That was the Gospel or “the faith” to which they were obedient: “... the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:77 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

. However, they soon had to flee Jerusalem or be killed when Israel’s leaders rejected “the faith” and persecuted them, climaxing with the stoning of Stephen, Acts 7:54 - 6054 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

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Following the setting aside of the Kingdom Gospel, “the faith” refers frequently to the body of truth that is the Gospel of the Grace of God that Lord Jesus Christ revealed to the Apostle Paul from heaven, which had been a secret until then, Romans 1:55 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

; Romans 16:25 - 2625 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

; Ephesians 3:1 - 71 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

. Paul writes about “the faith” many times in his epistles and it is referenced in Acts: “And so were the churches established in the faith and increased in number daily.” Acts 16:55 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

. “The Gospel of the Grace of God” is “the faith” Paul preached: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:2424 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

. Two examples of Paul’s reference to “the faith” in his epistles are: “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:1313 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

. “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” Ephesians 4:1313 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

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2 - The Faith of Jesus Christ:

Jesus Christ was God incarnate and thus He was totally God and totally Man. As a Man He lived by faith every second of every day. He began His ministry at 30 years of age being tempted by Satan, Matthew 4:1 - 21 Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

and displayed His faith by answering each of Satan’s temptations with The Word of God, by which He lived, Matthew 4:44 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

; Matthew 4:77 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

and Matthew 4:1010 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

. By faith He followed the Law of Moses in perfection: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 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.” 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.

. Thus, He fulfilled the Law for everyone who believes in Him.

When He came to what He knew was the end of His earthly life He prayed: “... Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me:” Mark 14:3636 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

a as He faced the indescribable agony and death of the cross, ... but He displayed perfect faith when He finished His prayer: “nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt,” Mark 14:36b and went willingly to the cross in accordance with His Father’s Will. However, He went to death with faith He would be raised to new life as prophesied in the OT: “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” Psalms 16:1010 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

(quoted in Acts 2:2727 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

). And He did this for us: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:3 - 43 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

. We know the Man Jesus Christ had faith because “without faith it is impossible to please God,” 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.

a, and God Himself said “this is my Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased,” Matthew 3:1717 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

; Matthew 17:55 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

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Paul refers to the faith of Jesus Christ a number of times, each of which will be discussed as we proceed through his epistles. The following two examples teach that we are found righteous because we have been justified by the faith of Jesus Christ: “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 - 2221 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:

. Some preachers change the word “faith” here to “faithfulness,” quoting it as: “even the righteousness of God which is by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.” Of course, Jesus Christ is faithful, 1 John 1:99 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

, however that’s not the thought this passage conveys. The word faithfulness is never used in the KJV of the NT. However, faithfulness means faithful, a word from the Greek “pistos” (G4003), found 66 times in the NT, 38 of which are used by Paul if we count Hebrews. “Pistos” is never translated “faith” in the KJV. The word translated “faith” in 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:

is the Greek “pistis” (G4002) found 244 times in the NT and never translated “faithful” in the KJV.

The Greek word translated righteousness in Romans 3:21 - 22 is “dikaiousne” (G1343) found 92 times in the NT, of which 36 are in Romans. According to the Greek Lexicon it means “the doing or being what is just and right, etc.” So, we are assured that we who believe stand righteous before God “by the faith of Jesus Christ.” Paul then explains in Galatians that we who believe in Jesus Christ are justified before God: “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 2:1616 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.

. The phrase “by the faith of Jesus Christ” here is the same as in Romans 3:21 - 22; it does not read “the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.” The Greek word translated “justified” here in Galatians is “dikaio-o” used 40 times in the NT, mostly by Paul; 15 in Romans alone. It means “to set forth as righteous, to justify by a judicial act.” Thus, we are justified and stand righteous before God by the faith of Jesus Christ, Galatians 2:16 & Romans 3:21 - 22.

3 - Our Faith - as Members of the Body of Christ:

The two passages just quoted teach that when we believe in Jesus Christ, we are justified and have the righteousness of God, made available by the faith of Jesus Christ. But we who are saved exercise faith ourselves when we receive those gifts: “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.

. There may be some who think this teaches that faith is the gift of God, but I don’t hold to this as this verse clearly teaches salvation by Grace is God’s gift to us. When we believe the Gospel, 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:

, it is by our faith that we receive God’s gift of Salvation by His Grace, which is His unmerited favor to us, there is nothing we do to earn it.

Believers may be weak or strong in faith: “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations,” Romans 14:11 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

, which Paul explains further: “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Romans 14:21 - 2321 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

. Thus, even if our faith is strong, we must consider fellow believers whose faith may be weak so as not to say or do things that may cause them to stumble in their faith. Our faith should grow as our knowledge of God’s Word increases, as Paul prayed for the Thessalonians: “Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?” 1 Thessalonians 3:1010 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

. And their faith did grow: “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:” 2 Thessalonians 1:3 - 43 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

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In closing, it should be noted that our faith apparently can be quantified: “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:2222 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

. “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses,” 1 Timothy 6:1212 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

, so we hope to be able to say with Paul: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” 2 Timothy 4:77 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

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