13. Will & Faith OF Jesus
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. Galatians
2:20 (Emphasis added).
We know the spirit of a man is the will
of that man as to the intention of his heart manifested in his conduct. Thus, his actions determine whose servant he
is. Know
ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are
to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto
righteousness? But God be thanked, that
ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of
doctrine which was delivered you. Being
then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of
the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to
uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members
servants to righteousness unto holiness. Romans 6:16-19. (We know the “form of doctrine” is do God’s
will. Jesus
answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of
the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. John 7:16-17.).
We also know, we are saved through
faith, and live in faith. For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift
of God:
Ephesians 2:8. (For
we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2 Corinthians 5:7. Even
so, we know faith for salvation, and/or an obedient life in this world as the
saved living (“walking’) in faith, cannot manifest without works. Even so faith, if it hath not
works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:17. But
wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? James 2:20. For as the body without the
spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:26. In short, we show our faith by our
works. 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
2:18.
But what is the source of the faith
by which we now live in the flesh as part of the body of Christ if we “die
daily” to our flesh as Paul said (1 Corinthians 15:31)? The answer is obvious, it is His faith–the
faith OF Christ. 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. Galatians 2:20 (Emphasis added).
Accordingly, when we consider
“works” needed for faith, the Word reveals two different kinds of works
for faith, and thus two kinds of faith!
For example, I know thy works, and
charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the
last to be more than the first. Revelation
2:19 (Emphasis added). The first use of “thy works” in Revelation
2:19 reemphasizes the “first works” which are incumbent on all souls who
would be saved. The “first works” are earlier
than any later works referenced as “thy works” in the second instance of
“works” as used in the context of the “last to be more than the first.”
Recall, the “first works” include,
but are not limited to, the acts of confession and repentance. They are the amendments of lifestyle we make
as we grow in Him. The “last works” are
the type of works Jesus did Himself, and they are “greater” than the “first
works”. In short, the first works originate in us as the source thereof and of
our own accord, whereby we desire the will of God in our spirit/will of
man. The later works originate in Him
(Jesus the Christ) in whom we now live as part of His body and do the
will of God by the quickening of the Holy Ghost. Thus, the latter works we do are according to
the Father’s will by the Holy Ghost, not our own and not of ourselves as we
live in the body of Christ.
For example, the first works of
repentance are ours alone as the testamentary acts of our own spirit/will of
man desiring to overcome the will of the flesh for the remission of our
sins. The later works are the works of
Jesus we do as part of HIM! Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater
works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John
14:12.
The difference is also proved when we reconsider Jesus needed no
repentance and thus the first works of our kind are not done by Him, and yet He
is a man and the first works are incumbent on mankind which means we do indeed
live “in Him” if we are the saved because He needs no repentance–He is
free from sin and set us free by His death!
(This is why we get His grace when we live in Him and not before! Grace is explained in more detail in a later
section.)
Just as there are two different
kinds of works, there are indeed two distinct kinds of faith that are
associated with them. Both
kinds of faith are of man and consistently associated with the “measure of
faith” given to every person. For
I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to
think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly,
according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans
12:3 (Emphasis added).
Jesus was a person, and the beginning of a “second” type of man as
explained previously. The
first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:47.
Of course, the measure of faith in
each person can be in whatever the person loves most by application of man’s
brand of love from their heart. But note, the measure of faith OF Jesus the
Christ is in GOD alone as His brand of love!
Is there any wonder why the god of this world–the devil, tries to make
the world seem so attractive to our flesh?
As a result, some people love the world and its ways, and have faith in
it. Others have faith in money as a love for money, faith in their own works
and thinking they are “good”, and others have faith in their own sin claiming
it is not sin, etc. Still, if both kinds
of faith are of the measure of faith, how do we know the difference? Easy! Again, the first works and first kind of
faith originate in of our own spirit/will of man, and the other originates IN
HIM—in whom we live by the Holy Ghost as the spirit of the Father which gives
us life as it does Jesus today. (For our
purpose here in the context of this work, there is no need to discuss a measure
of faith used for anything other than faith in
Christ Jesus.)
By way of proof, when the disciples
of Jesus asked Him to give them more faith, Jesus suggested they had no faith. And
the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If
ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine
tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it
should obey you. Luke 17:5-6 (Emphasis added). In doing so, what faith was Jesus referring
to if the Word says each man is given a measure of faith, and He is clearly the
Word in His spirit/will of man? Answer:
HIS FAITH–the faith OF
Christ Jesus! The disciples did not have
His faith, because they did not have the Holy Ghost dwelling in them as
Jesus did. Nevertheless I tell you the
truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the
Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John 16:7. Recall, the Holy Ghost was not yet given to
man because Jesus was not yet glorified!
See, John 7:39.
Consequently, HIS faith as being
alive in Him could only happen AFTER His glorification according to the
in-filling of the Holy Ghost which is now available for all who would be His
disciples today! Also, His faith is left
to us when He has left the earth and returned to deliver the Holy Ghost. We who are the “saved” living in Him by the
Holy Ghost from the Father
makes us the ambassadors of Christ as the Father’s chosen. Now then we are ambassadors for
Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be
ye reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:20.
Thus, if Romans 12:3 and Luke
17:5-6 cannot be conflicting, how do we reconcile those verses based
on what we know? Our faith in
Him is evidenced by our “first works” of repentance, and an amendment of
life out of human love in our hearts for Him. Through repentance, having the desire
to do the will of God in our penitent
heart, we receive the Holy Ghost and accede to the faith of
Christ–HIS faith. His measure of faith is the faith of
Christ Jesus, and the kind of faith He possesses as the source thereof to DO
the Father’s will. When we live in Him by the Holy Ghost, His measure of faith
grows more familiar to us as we grow in Him and live for the brethren doing
what He (Jesus) did.
Here again, the “two kinds” of faith
are best understood by the sources thereof! The first kind of faith associated
with the measure of faith given to every man (person) in the flesh as the first
type of man is temporal as mankind is temporal. The second kind of faith is
associated with the measure of faith of the “second” type of man “born of the
Spirit” by the Holy Ghost is eternal as the children of God are eternal. Both are still a measure of faith in
man. (We know, Jesus was, and is, the
start of the “second” type of man from birth, and He is the sole source
of the “second” faith HE spoke of in Luke 17:5-6 as explained
previously. Thus, the second kind of
faith is the measure of faith in Jesus alone as the “second” type of man, i.e.,
born of the Spirit. The “measure of
faith” Paul spoke of in Romans 12:3 is a kind of faith given to every
person, including Jesus.)
We accede to His measure of faith
when we become alive in Him as a second type of man through a rebirth, i.e., becoming
“born again” of the Spirit” according to the Word and the quickening of the
Holy Ghost according to the Father’s will.
Consequently, the Father is the earthly father of the second man
literally, because we are of His bloodline through Christ! As “born again” of the Spirit, the faith of
our “old man” passes away and is not the same as the faith of our “new
man”. This is so because ALL things
become new, and yet we still have a measure of faith as required to maintain
the Word! Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17.
For clarity, when the Father created
the universe and everything in it, He spoke His words in faith, but not man’s
faith which has no power but for man himself.
With God being the almighty, whatever God said to happen then happened
as a result of the God kind of faith—the power of His spirit (the Holy Ghost)
made what He said in His Word(s) a certainty.
Accordingly, the Word in Jesus IS the Father’s proclamation of
faith, and the Holy Ghost bearing witness in Him is that power of certainty in
the truth of the Word and the faith of the sons of God through Him (the
resurrected Christ Jesus.
For a better understanding, we know
faith works by love. “…but faith
which worketh
by love.”
Galatians 5:6 (Emphasis added). Man’s love is not of the
Spirit, because man is not naturally of the Spirit (of God) as explained
previously. God’s brand of love IS
the Spirit of God as God is love, and the Word is the love of God for all
mankind, saved and unsaved. Those who receive the love of God do so by the Word
first, as the spirit of the Word is the Father’s will as pure love as God is
love and the Word is God. This is the
“first love” discussed previously. We
who live by the Word show our love for the Word/Him as our first love by our
penitent heart that glorifies Him and what He did for us!
When we are sealed (sanctified) by
the Holy Ghost dwelling in us, we have His measure of faith–the faith of
Christ, as we live in Him–His body and the many members thereof. 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. Galatians 5:20. Accordingly, the Bible says Jesus is
the author and finisher of our faith. 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. Hebrews
12:2 (Emphasis added). When the Spirit
itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God (Romans
8:16), our own measure of faith in
Christ as the Word (God) makes Him the author of our faith. As we live in Him in this world, walking in
the Spirit, Jesus is also the finisher of our faith!
As the finisher of our faith, we who
live in Him get His faith to do His works as the “last (greater) works”
otherwise we could not do them at all and he would have never said we
would. The last works begin with the
love of God, not man’s brand of love. Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he
do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
John 14:12. Stated another way, the works we do of our
own measure of faith are considered as having been “maxed out” by our own
measure of faith in
Him. This is why the disciples thought to ask for “more faith”, and why
Jesus could rightfully suggest they had no faith. (See, Luke 17:5-6 above.)
Our faith then becomes as His is according to the Father’s will as we live in
the Spirit by the Holy Ghost.
As the Holy Ghost power of the
Father bears witness to the pure Word in us, our new spirit/will of man becomes
the purveyor of the Word–thereby making us the servants of God to spread the
Word. As we spread the Word, among other
things possible, we then do His quality works as our later works (“last works”)
which are greater than the first as mentioned previously (Revelation
2:19). In so doing, we prove the will of
God as the saved, because the pure Word IS
our lifestyle too by His faith. We live doing the will of the Father by
the faith of
Christ.
For the sake of completeness, as
part of His doctrine to do the will of God, Jesus also said to have faith in
God. And Jesus answering saith unto
them, Have faith in God. Mark 8:1.
By definition, the faith of
Jesus IS
the faith that is in God literally.
Buried with him in baptism,
wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God,
who hath raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:12. He has the God kind of faith because He is
God. Therefore, belief in what He says
as the Word gives us the right and authority to do His works. For verily I say unto you, That
whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into
the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things
which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore
I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye
receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive,
if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may
forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:23-25 (Emphasis added). (No doubt we must conduct ourselves in
accordance with the will of God, so that our “asks” are acted on by Him. Ye
ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your
lusts.
James 4:3.)
Thus, His will for all mankind
(alpha) is set forth in His Word, and His will for each person (omega) as a
child of His personally is set forth by the Holy Ghost. I
am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and
which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Revelation
1:8. This is how we
come to know the Father as the alpha (beginning) and omega (end) of everything. Faith in God, therefore, means we have faith in
the trinity as God–the Word, the Holy Ghost and the Father for the unified
purpose of carrying out the will of the
Supreme God almighty. The faith of the trinity is then perfected in us when we live
in Him by the Holy Ghost. Therefore
leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;
not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith
toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of
resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. Hebrews 6:1-3.
In addition, “our use” of the faith of
Christ is never “used” at our own discretion as mentioned above, but always in
the context of His servant–living in the body of Christ doing the works of
Jesus according to the will of the Father.
As noted previously, many people will call Him their Lord and do many
things in His name, but in the end He will say to them, “I never knew you.” Many
will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and
in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that
work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23. (See also James 4:3 above). AND, If any man teach otherwise, and
consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to
the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but
doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife,
railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and
destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw
thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought
nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 1
Timothy 6:3-7 (Emphasis added).
Accordingly, if the members of the
body of Christ ever realize they have HIS
FAITH, personally and individually already
in them by the Holy Ghost love of the Father which gives us eternal life as the
saved, nothing will be impossible to the brethren. If you don’t believe me, believe Paul:
For
this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have
heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in
few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery
of Christ) 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; That the
Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his
promise in Christ by the gospel: 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. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given,
that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And
to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the
beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus
Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly
places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to
the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: . Wherefore I desire that In whom we have boldness and access with
confidence by the faith of him ye faint not at my tribulations for you,
which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he
would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with
might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by
faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend
with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to
know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with
all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto
him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without
end. Amen.
Ephesians Chapter 3 (Emphasis
added).
If you don’t believe Paul, believe
Jesus:
...And
he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet:
for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a
witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the
which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles,
unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness
to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith
that is in me.
Acts 26:15-18.
IN the World