The Gospel According To A King James Bible
faith of Jesus Christ
Change of Hands
Though the various members of the godhead are clearly demonstrated in the Old Testament, there is a change of focus as pages are turned to the New Testament.
John 5:16-18 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. 17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
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My Father worketh hitherto
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and I work
This change of emphasis is of major significance in Paul’s Romans’ argument. Here seen is transition from the ‘faith of God’, to the ‘faith of Jesus Christ’, which in one form or another, is found seven times in Paul’s epistles (Rom 3:22; Gal 2:16, 20; 3:22; Eph 3:12; Php 3:9).
This contrast is found in the beginning chapters of Romans:
Romans 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
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faith of God
Romans 3:22 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:
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faith of Jesus Christ
Just as the expression ‘faith of God’, denotes God’s faithfulness and trustworthiness, the term ‘faith of Jesus Christ’ expresses the same in character and nature. The ‘faith of Jesus Christ’ speaks to the credence and trustworthiness of Jesus Christ to be believed based on His accomplishments, on our behalf, from the standpoint of God the Father. Paul refers to this ‘credence’ characteristic of Christ in 2 Timothy 1:12…
2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
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for I know whom I have believed
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and am persuaded
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that he is able to keep that
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which I have committed unto him against that day
Faith of Jesus Christ... Not Faith in Jesus Christ
The ‘faith of Christ’ is an essential doctrine! It is at the core of Paul’s argument and Paul’s trust was solely based on Christ’s faithfulness. It must be made perfectly clear here, as worded in a KJB, that the expression ‘faith of Jesus Christ’ is not in any way a reference to one’s faith or belief in Jesus Christ, as indicated in the NIV. As 'scriptural' the NIV may sound, it totally dismantles an essential doctrine and interrupts cross-referencing. In a KJB, we see Paul establishing a doctrine. In the NIV, it’s simply repeating itself; faith in Christ Jesus is same as believing in Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:22 (KJV) 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:
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faith of Jesus Christ
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upon all them that believe
Romans 3:22 (NIV) This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
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faith in Jesus Christ
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to all who believe
Believing or faith in Christ is based on the ‘faith of Christ’ and the ‘faith of Christ’ precedes our faith or believing in Christ! This distinction and emphasis of Paul’s is not only made here in verse 22, (…upon all them that believe), but also in Galatians 2:16 (…we have believed) and Galatians 3:22 (… to them that believe).
Galatians 2:16 (KJV) 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.
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faith of Jesus Christ
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even we have believed in Jesus Christ,
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that we might be justified
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by the faith of Christ
Galatians 3:22 (KJV) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
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that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ
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might be given to them that believe
Galatians 2:16 (NIV) Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.
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by faith in Jesus Christ
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put our faith in Christ Jesus
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that we may be justified
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by faith in Christ
Galatians 3:22 (NIV) But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
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what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ
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might be given to those who believe
Though this discrepancy, on part of the NIV, may seem frivolous at first, what is being clearly shown in this study is a different deduction to justification between that of a KJB to the NIV, which Paul is proving. In Galatians 2:20, Paul links Christ living in him to him living by the faith of the Son of God. The KJB gives an accurate definition in presenting not only a contrast between the ‘faith of God’ and ‘faith of Christ’, but maintains a theme that is traceable! Not once, in translation, does the NIV display ‘faith of Christ’ where the KJB does!
Galatians 2:20 (KJV) 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.
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the life which I now live in the flesh
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I live by the faith of the Son of God
Philippians 3:9 (KJV) 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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faith of Christ
Galatians 2:20 (NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
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The life I live in the body,
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I live by faith in the Son of God
Philippians 3:9 (NIV) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
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faith in Christ
Under the OT principle of justification and righteousness ‘by faith’, believing and trusting in the ‘faith of God’ was essential. However, demonstrated within this Theme Study, is what happened to those who disobeyed. Under the kingdom gospel, Israelites were called upon to believe and be baptized for the remission of sins, to avoid the wrath of God to come. A transition is then seen taking place where via the ministry of Paul, a dispensation of grace is directed to the Gentile. Apollos, a convert of John the Baptist and mighty in the scriptures, was taken aside by co-workers of Paul and explained to him the ‘way of God more perfectly’. The result was Apollos later helping those who had believed ‘through grace’.
Acts 18:27 (KJV) And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
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who, when he was come, helped them much
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which had believed through grace
No other passage describes the faith of Jesus Christ, from a believer's perspective, better than found in Roman's 8...
Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
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neither… nor… shall be able to separate us from the love of God
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which is in Christ Jesus our Lord
Put this all together with the NIV stating that God shall justify the circumcised ‘by faith’ and the uncircumcised ‘through that same faith’ and you still come up with a work based justification for both Jew and Gentile today. This is not an exaggeration of fact, because there are those denominations that teach baptism with water is necessary for salvation today and that one can lose salvation after having once obtained it. This is exactly what is implied in the NIV! Here is a prime example of two translations teaching exactly the opposite of each other and yet both being held up, from behind pulpits, being declared the word of God.
Bible sense: Two translations can’t contradict each other and yet teach the same.
The righteousness of God, under the law, was via faithful obedience to that law in requiring Israelites live up to it. In contrast, the righteousness of God today is trusting in someone who has not only lived up to it, but both defeated it and lives in faithfulness to those who put their trust in Him. This doctrine is what Paul refers to as the ‘faith of Christ’ and emphasized under his gospel.
There’s rhyme and reason to the expression ‘faith of Christ’ throughout Paul’s epistles; take away this expression and you diminish this doctrine!
KJB Definition: 'Faith of Jesus Christ' – "for I know whom I have believed" The trustworthiness and faithfulness of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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