by faith

By Faith Defined

Introductory paragraphs are practically identical to chapters entitled “by faith” and “through faith”. Biblical definitions to both ‘by faith’ and ‘through faith’ are vital to this Theme Study. In fact, its content with deductions are either proved or disproved based on these definitions. Confusion and contradiction stems from beginning to end of the scriptures if these terms aren’t clearly defined and demonstrated. It is impossible to scripturally interpret much of the bible unless viewing it from the perspective of one or the other of these two. It is impossible to discern these truths using modern translations and even when the KJB is solely used, words and terms must be discerned.

In showing definition and distinction between God justifying the circumcision ‘by faith’ and the uncircumcision ‘through faith’, this chapter is dedicated to defining ‘by faith’.

Romans 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

by faith

Definitions for both ‘by faith’ and ‘through faith’ are found in Hebrews 11. A verse that is a common denominator to both definitions is verse 6.

Hebrews 11:6 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.

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

Under the Introduction to the Theme Study, faith is defined as a compound substance of hope and evidence (Heb 11:1). It was also illustrated that faith is never one-sided, which is demonstrated in verse 6. On the one side you have he, the believer that diligently seeks God. On the other side, you have God who rewards the diligent believer. It is also pointed out, in the Introduction, that there are consequences when expectations aren’t met.

The KJB translators meticulously used the terms ‘by faith’ and ‘through faith’ throughout this chapter. Honing in on defining ‘by faith’, the expression is used repeatedly, in chapter 11, with something in common to each and that being a verb designating action on behalf of those mentioned.

4 By faith Abel offered

5 By faith Enoch pleased

7 By faith Noah prepared

8 By faith Abraham obeyed

9 By faith he sojourned

17 By faith Abraham offered

20 By faith Isaac blessed

21 By faith Jacob blessed

22 By faith Joseph made mention

23 By faith Moses was hid

24 By faith Moses refused

27 By faith he forsook

29 By faith they passed

30 By faith the walls were compassed

By tying together the usage of ‘by faith’, in above references, to verse 6, we can now give the KJB definition to ‘by faith’.

KJV Definition – ‘By faith’: A believing diligence (faithfulness) towards a faithful God of reward.

‘By faith’ is based on the principle of faithfulness; faithfulness on behalf of the one believing and faithfulness in behalf of the one being believed. It’s that simple! Man was born with a free will and God allowed man to demonstrate that free will starting in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve.

Though ‘by faith’ is defined here in a positive light, there were consequences for disbelief.

By Faith Demonstrated

In this chapter, the establishment of a ‘by faith’ relationship of God, in His creation, is demonstrated in four (4) areas:

Creation of Man
Heaven’s Host
Marriage
Israel

1. Creation of Man

God created man under the premise of man being faithful to his Creator; not the other way around. This must be kept in mind and cannot be lost sight of in this study segment! The underling principle of ‘by faith’, is God depending on the faithfulness of man to retain fellowship and blessing.

Man was created in the image and likeness of God for in a ‘by faith’ relationship with God and this is clearly seen in the creation account. God created the heavens and earth with man in mind to have dominion over the earth.

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Let us make man in our image, after our likeness
let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea
over the fowl of the air
over the cattle
over all the earth
over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth

God even gave man a jump start in planting a garden eastward in Eden and putting man therein with plants and trees already blooming and bursting with food and fruit. With man in mind, for dominion over His earth creation, man was also given responsibility to dress and keep the garden. Along with this responsibility, man was given the free will of choice and the stage was set for man to give faithful diligence towards a faithful God of reward.

Genesis 2:7-9 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden
there he put the man whom he had formed.
And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food
the tree of life also in the midst of the garden
and the tree of knowledge of good and evil

Genesis 2:15-17 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it
Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it

Except for the one tree in which bore the sign ‘Thou Shalt Not Eat’, with the earth as his domain, what else could man ask for in this state of utopia? Perhaps a help meet?

Genesis 2:21-25 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

made he a woman, and brought her unto the man
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed

What could possibly go wrong in this ‘by faith’ relationship between man and God? For this bliss to have continued, as originally planned by the Creator, all man had to do was to be diligently faithful to his Creator!

Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners...

Man wasn’t God’s first ‘by faith’ relationship.

2. Heaven’s Host

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

God created the heaven

Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

Thus the heavens
and the earth were finished
and all the host of them

Job 38:4-7 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?
When the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

An angelic host of beings were created and existed before man. As man, they were created with purpose by and for the Creator; again, not the other way around. Angels were created as ministers of the LORD and would often be found intervening in the affairs of man.

Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

For by him were all things created
that are in heaven
that are in earth
visible and invisible
whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers
all things were created by him
and for him:

Hebrews 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

First to Fall From Grace

This ‘by faith’ relationship, with the heavenly host, took turn for the worst when one rose up in protest which apparently led a rebellion. Though I personally believe that there is yet a future fulfillment to be realized in Isaiah 14 (Rev 12), with particular circumstances surrounding this setting, suffice to say now is that a diligent faithfulness was once abandoned; heaven’s host is now divided into two (2) camps.

Isaiah 14:12-15 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer
I will ascend into heaven
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:

Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

And the angels which kept not their first estate
but left their own habitation

Though Adam and Eve lived in a paradise, evil already existed as revealed in the day of temptation.

Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

your eyes shall be opened
ye shall be as gods
knowing good and evil

3. First Marriage

Another ‘by faith’ relationship, that demonstrates the creation of one for the purpose of another, is in the first marriage bond. I fully understand that this point is generally neither socially or politically accepted today, nonetheless… it is biblical.

Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

It is not good that the man should be alone
I will make him an help meet for him

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

shall cleave unto his wife
and they shall be one flesh

It can be truthfully and scripturally stated that man was created to serve God and that woman was created to support man in that endeavor! Not only is marriage itself designed around a 'by faith' relationship, between husband and wife, but that ‘by faith’ relationship was to have a ‘by faith’ relationship with God.

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

the head of every man is Christ
the head of the woman is the man
the head of Christ is God

1 Corinthians 11:7-9 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

he (man) is the image and glory of God
but the woman is the glory of the man
For the man is not of the woman
but the woman of the man
Neither was the man created for the woman
but the woman for the man

1 Corinthians 11:11-12 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman
neither the woman without the man, in the Lord
For as the woman is of the man
even so is the man also by the woman
but all things of God

It is obvious that in the fall of man there was failure in both responsibility and obedience with plenty of blame to go around between Satan, man and woman. Though it was the woman Eve who was deceived (1Ti 2:14), it was upon the man Adam that all die (1Co 15:22). The point being here is that as so goes the ‘by faith’ relationship, set up by God in the very beginning of creation regarding marriage, so goes the family that reflects upon every aspect of life in society, from the home, to the church, on up through governments and nations.

Remember, ‘faith’ is two sided in a ‘by faith’ relationship. All, within God’s creation, was established with purpose in mind and this purpose can only be fulfilled when all is diligently faithful to that purpose. Even Christ proved Himself in being obedient!

Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Though he were a Son
yet learned he obedience

If it was never called to your attention before, when God tolerated divorce under the Mosaic Law, because of the hardness of their hearts, permitted divorce was always one-sided; there’s no evidence of provision for a wife divorcing her husband under law.

Deuteronomy 24:1-4 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

then let him write her a bill of divorcement
And if the latter husband hate her
and write her a bill of divorcement

Marriage, as any relationship, is a two-way street. Submitting and love is the key to any relationship and in particular marriage. There are consequences when submission and love are abandoned.

Ephesians 5:21-22 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

4. Israel

Though the nation of Israel is dealt with in much greater detail under several other chapters, it is noteworthy here to point out the ‘by faith’ relationship she was created in. Here is clearly seen the faithfulness of God in this relationship, but quite the contrary on the part of Israel.

Deuteronomy 7:9-10 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.

he is God, the faithful God
which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments
And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them

Isaiah 1:1-4 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth
for the LORD hath spoken
I have nourished and brought up children
they have rebelled against me
The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib:
but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider
Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters:
they have forsaken the LORD
they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger

Did you know that God was divorced?

Isaiah 50:1 Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement
whom I have put away?

Jeremiah 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery
I had put her away
given her a bill of divorce

All of the above examples are given to demonstrate that in the design of creation, the Creator originally purposed to have a ‘by faith’ relationship to His creation; in other words… a diligent faithfulness, of the created, to its faithful Creator. Rebellious angels, fallen man, broken marriages and a stiff necked People all illustrate the sad consequences of not holding up to one’s end in a ‘by faith’ relationship to God.

With the proper definition and concept of ‘by faith’, the student of a KJB will see how this critically plays out in understanding the difference between God justifying the circumcision ‘by faith’ and the uncircumcision ‘through faith’ in Paul’s Romans' argument.

first to fall

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