In part 1 we talked about weak faith being enough faith - when it's brought to Jesus. The thief on the cross whose last cry was "remember me, Jesus!" to the man who asked Jesus to heal his son and cried "I believe, Lord help my unbelief!" had both experienced the weakness of their faith. But did they really? It was not the strength of their weak faith, but the One in whom it was placed that made deliverance possible. The Gospel of John goes to great lengths to make the point that believing in Jesus is enough by using the bord "believe" (pisteuo - gk.) 98 times. Some want to make an issue of having enough faith, and to be sure, there are gifts of faith (1 Corinthians 12:9), but as least as far as salvation goes, John the apostle lays that to rest.
Though we must believe in Jesus to be saved ("Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31), we often forget that the ability to believe in Jesus is "the
gift of God . . lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8, 9).
In the King James Bible we have access to a wonderful doctrine that has largely been lost in the newer translations:
" 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 2:16 KJV).
Paul is saying that we are not justified (dikaioo [see box at right]) by doing the works of the Law (because we can't and dont) but by the faith OF Jesus Christ. That is, we are counted as innocent by the faith of Jesus Christ, or by JESUS' FAITH.
We often forget that Jesus (who was God but came as a real man) had faith too. If fact He had perfect faith that led to all sorts of miracles and ultimately to our salvation! It was Jesus' faith that was displayed in feeding the 5000, in walking on water, in healing the leper or the man born blind. It was Jesus' faith that raised Lazarus from the dead, that told the Pharisees "destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19). It was his unshakable trust in His Father's word that gave him the perfect obedience and sinlessness necessary to be the perfect sin-offering and atone for the sins of the world, that took Him to the cross and those final dying words of faith, "into thy hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
Though many would disagree with the King James Translators, they cannot hold their position theologically. It was Jesus' perfect faith and obedience alone that justified all who trust Him before God. The King James Version translates Erasmus' Received Text literally and accurately. The phrase "faith of Jesus Christ" or variations of it occurs at least 6 times in the KJV Bible. While it is absolutely true that we must have faith in Jesus to be saved, that would not be true if Jesus had not bought or provided something for us that we cannot get by ourselves. Why not just believe in Abraham, or Moses? Do we believe that Jesus had brown hair, or that he lived in Nazareth? What must we believe? It is a specific thing we must believe about Him, that Jesus' perfect obedience unto death on Calvary took away our sins (and those of the whole world), that enables us to boldly come to God as our Father.
Our faith and obedience is often wanting, but Jesus' faith and obedience is perfect! Look at Romans 3:21, and especially verse 22:
"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, 22).
God's righteousness comes by Jesus' faith (not the works of the law) and is UNTO (think of someone handing something to you) and UPON (think of a blanket of righteousness covering you) all who believe". It means righteousness in reckoned, or imputed to our account when we believe.
We place our little faith in Jesus who has won us access to God, and He covers us by His BIG faith!
Do you have enough faith?
Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ . . who does!