Faith to Faith

Throughout most of this series so far we have been dealing with faith for those without the Holy Spirit. We have discussed that their faith is the belief they have in the Word of God. Their belief is what qualifies them to receive the Holy Spirit. However, in our last Sunrise we learned that there is something called the faith of Jesus Christ.

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 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: - Romans 3:21-22

Notice how verse 21 begins by explaining that the righteousness of God is manifested in the Gentiles even though they did not have the law of Moses. This is because Christ Jesus is the fulfilment of the law. He is the righteousness of the law and of God fulfilled in a man. Therefore when we receive His Spirit we are made righteous, and now righteousness comes naturally.

However, it continues to say that this righteousness is by the faith of Jesus Christ, which is given to them that believe. This proves that the faith of Jesus Christ is something more than our belief. However, one thing we do know is that the faith of Jesus Christ, gives us the life of Christ (the just shall live by his faith Hab 2:4), and we know that it makes us the righteousness of God.

Nevertheless, before we receive the Holy Ghost, we were sinners and as I said earlier our belief is the only thing that could qualify us to receive the Holy Spirit. Romans 3 continues to say that once we give our human faith (belief) God gives us the Faith of Jesus Christ. Therefore our human faith qualified us to receive the faith of Jesus.

Hence,

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Romans 1:16-17

The gospel is the power of God that grants salvation to all who believe. However, after we have given our human faith to God, He transforms us into the righteousness of God, by receiving the Spirit/Faith of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we have moved from faith to faith. In other words, we have moved from being justified by our own belief, to being justified by the faith of Jesus Christ. We have moved from belief, to the faith of Jesus Christ.

Stay tuned, because tomorrow we are going to delve into what exactly the Faith of Jesus Christ is!