Galatians: The Faith of Jesus Christ Saves:

Consider the two elements (two sides) of faith. Some describe them as objective and subjective. The objective side is the word that is to be believed. In our human experience, this is like you telling me you will meet me on a given day, location and time, which becomes the basis of me meeting you there, that is, based upon your word. The subjective element side is the fact I believe you, that is, I have faith in your word and act on it by going to the place on the date and time you specified to meet you. As we will see later, Biblical faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word (the Word is God’s Word). This truth applies to our human experiences or interactions; my subjective faith is based on your objective faith, that is, I have faith in your word and meet you at the date, time and place you specified.

The Biblical definition of faith is clear: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

. The Greek word translated “substance” is only found 5 times in the NT. The only time it is translated “substance” is here in Hebrews 11:1. It gets translated as "confidence" three times, and in Hebrews 1:33 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

it is translated "person", referring to our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore think of faith as the confidence (or person) of things hoped for and the “evidence” of things not seen. The Greek word translated “evidence” is only found twice in the NT, here and in 2 Timothy 3:1616 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

, where it translates as “reproof.” Therefore one can translate the last phrase of Hebrews 11:1 that faith is the proof/reproof/conviction/evidence of things not seen.

The second Person of The Godhead is The Lord Jesus Christ; He is the Word of God. John 1:1 - 21 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

. The Word manifests the Godhead; it was He Who created all things, Ephesians 3:99 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:

; Colossians 1:1616 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:

; Revelation 4:1111 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

and inspired (God breathed) Scripture, 2 Timothy 3:16. Members of The Body of Christ (true believers) are saved by God’s grace, with no works on their part, through faith, i.e., by believing The Word, Ephesians 2:8 - 98 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

. The Apostle Paul correctly calls the Word for believers today “his Gospel,” Romans 16:25 - 2625 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

; Ephesians 3:1 - 91 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 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;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

7 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.

8 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;

9 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:

. Therefore for almost 2,000 years, anyone who has believed (has had faith in) the Gospel (Word) revealed to Paul has been saved, 1 Corinthians 15:1 - 41 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:1717 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

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The King James Version (KJV) has the phrase “The Faith of Jesus Christ” in a number of passages in the Pauline epistles, Romans 3:33 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

; .Romans 3:2222 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:

; Philippians 3:99 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:

, etc. (The New International Version (NIV) incorrectly translates these phrases with the word “in” making it “Faith in Jesus Christ.” Instead, it should translate “of” as in the original Greek.) See the following good examples of verses in Galatians because they contain the verb believe as well as faith:

• “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 2:1616 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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• “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” Galatians 3:2222 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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A noun is the name of a person, place or thing. Faith is a noun, thus, a thing. The Greek word translated “believe” (G4100) means “to have faith, commit, to trust.” With that in mind please read these two verses and recognize they teach that those who believe are are justified (saved) by “the Faith of Jesus Christ.”

Also, there are some who teach that the word “faith” in these verses refer to “faithfulness” making them mean the “faithfulness of Jesus Christ.” This is incorrect - the KJV translates these verses correctly; they refer to the faith that resides in Jesus Christ. (Jesus Christ is certainly referred to as faithful in other passages with a Greek word that means “faithful or faithfulness.”)

The discussion above does not mean that believers don’t have faith; they do when they truly believe. The bible has passages that clearly teach this: some believers are weak in faith and need to grow in faith, etc.; Romans 14:11 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

; 14:23; 1 Corinthians 16:1313 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

; 2 Corinthians 10:1515 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

; Ephesians 4:1313 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

; 6:16, etc.

As noted above, Jesus is the Word of God and faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17. Jesus is the author (Prince/ Captain) and finisher (completer/ consummator) of faith, Hebrews 12:22 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.

. He is the author/prince/captain of faith because He is the subject of faith; He, The Word, revealed Himself in Scripture. He is the finisher/completer/consummator of faith because He came as a Man, the only perfect Man in that He lived and died in perfect faith in the Word He had spoken. He suffered terribly on the cross bearing our sins on His sinless Body, died, was buried and rose again and in so doing completed faith.

In at least two other ways The Lord Jesus Christ will finish or complete faith. 1) His Word in the Pauline epistles is that He will Rapture His Church, The Body of Christ, i.e., He will catch up all true believers from the past 2000 years to be in the heavenlies with Him for eternity. 2) His Word to the Nation of Israel is that He will make them a Nation of Priests, an Holy Nation that will bless and rule the earth when He, The Lord Jesus Christ, returns as King of Kings after the Great Tribulation.

Today true believers have assurance as we “… … wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thessalonians 1:1010 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep (have died). For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:14 - 1814 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

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