8.51 The gospel reveals the righteousness of God from FAITH to FAITH!
In the Old Covenant, Israel had to earn their righteousness and blessings through works of the law. In the New Covenant, Christ has accomplished everything on the cross on our behalf. We did not do anything; He did everything. We only need to receive by faith.
The good news of the gospel reveals the righteousness of God from faith to faith (Rom 1:17). Note that it does not say from FAITH to WORKS. It says from FAITH to FAITH. Christianity is a journey that starts in faith and continues in faith.
If we have to earn our righteousness and blessings, then there would be no need for grace - for these will accrue as wages. If it is based on our performance, then there is no need for faith – since we do not need to trust in His finished work.
Our response to His grace is faith - to believe in Him, to believe that He has made us righteous, and to believe that He is the source of our blessings. Faith and grace work hand in hand. Faith is the response to grace.
(Eph 2:8)
For by GRACE you have been saved through FAITH, and that not of yourselves…
Faith is simply a choice by us to receive Jesus and His grace. He made it so easy for us. Everyone qualifies to respond by faith. Today, no one is disqualified for their lack of ability.
Faith is personified in Jesus. The verse below says that before faith (Jesus) came, we were kept under guard by the law. When faith (Christ) came, we are no longer under a tutor. While the law is a tutor, faith is the Person of Christ.
(Gal 3:23-25)
But before FAITH CAME, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our TUTOR to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after FAITH HAS COME, we are no longer under a tutor.
Jesus represents the saving faith that has come. In the New Covenant, our faith is linked to the person of Jesus, and His finished work. He is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2). Faith started the day He came to live in us. Faith continues till He has finished His work in us.
We started our journey by believing in Him as our Savior who has given us the gift of righteousness. As we allow Jesus (faith) to grow in us, we also experience Him as our Healer, Baptizer, Wisdom, Provider, and so much more.
The good news of the gospel reveals the righteousness of God from faith to faith (Rom 1:17). Note that it does not say from FAITH to WORKS. It says from FAITH to FAITH. Christianity is a journey that starts in faith and continues in faith.
If we have to earn our righteousness and blessings, then there would be no need for grace - for these will accrue as wages. If it is based on our performance, then there is no need for faith – since we do not need to trust in His finished work.
Our response to His grace is faith - to believe in Him, to believe that He has made us righteous, and to believe that He is the source of our blessings. Faith and grace work hand in hand. Faith is the response to grace.
(Eph 2:8)
For by GRACE you have been saved through FAITH, and that not of yourselves…
Faith is simply a choice by us to receive Jesus and His grace. He made it so easy for us. Everyone qualifies to respond by faith. Today, no one is disqualified for their lack of ability.
Faith is personified in Jesus. The verse below says that before faith (Jesus) came, we were kept under guard by the law. When faith (Christ) came, we are no longer under a tutor. While the law is a tutor, faith is the Person of Christ.
(Gal 3:23-25)
But before FAITH CAME, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our TUTOR to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after FAITH HAS COME, we are no longer under a tutor.
Jesus represents the saving faith that has come. In the New Covenant, our faith is linked to the person of Jesus, and His finished work. He is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2). Faith started the day He came to live in us. Faith continues till He has finished His work in us.
We started our journey by believing in Him as our Savior who has given us the gift of righteousness. As we allow Jesus (faith) to grow in us, we also experience Him as our Healer, Baptizer, Wisdom, Provider, and so much more.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 11:47 PM
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