Men and women of faith-who's faith?

[gregoryfl]

As you look at all the men and women of faith in Hebrews 11, it might seem like a silly question to ask who's faith it was. Consider though, that not once does the phrase "By [his][her] faith..." It simply says "By faith..." We have to look at the context to determine the source of the faith.

After all these men and women are mentioned, I want you to notice that Paul does not say that we are surrounded by such a great cloud of examples, even though we typically read it as though these men and women were being used as great examples of faith. This is what he calls them:

Heb 12:1 Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses...

While the faith by which they operated was indeed awesome, it's interesting that Paul, instead of putting them up on a pedestal for us to admire as examples, does what he has done throughout the earlier parts of the letter, consistently pointing to something better and greater.

In doing this, he places them right alongside us as, not examples, but witnesses! Yes, the faith they operated in is the same faith we operate in, and that faith does not find its source in us. No, it does not point back to us, but to someone, the same someone who is the theme of this entire letter-Christ!

Notice what they, and we, are focusing on, looking at as witnesses:

Heb 12:2 looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,

Did you catch that? We witness Jesus, and how is he described here? As not only the perfecter, or finisher of faith, but also the very author, or originator and source of it. Any true faith we see, including the demonstrations found in chapter 11, is this faith originating from him, and so it is ours only as anything given to us is ours, which is why faith is called a gift, and fruit of the spirit.

You see, just as the other examples found in the Hebrew scriptures were all shadows pointing to and bearing witness to realities, the same can be said of the faith that was seen among men and women of God of old.

That faith was a type and a foretaste of the fulfillment, which would be brought to fulfillment with the coming of Jesus Christ. The promise had to come out of his faith, as Paul plainly says here.

Gal 3:22 But the scripture locks up all together under sin, that the promise out of Jesus Christ's faith may be given to those who are believing."

In other words, his faith is the source from which God would bless the families of the earth.

Understanding this vital truth about faith helps us to understand how we can read of faith among those men and women all throughout history before Christ, and yet there would still be a time when faith would come, a faith which would replace the need for the law as an escort.

Gal 3:23 Now before the coming of faith we were garrisoned under law, being locked up together for the faith about to be revealed."
Gal 3:24 So that the law has become our escort to Christ, that we may be justified by faith."
Gal 3:25 Now, at the coming of faith, we are no longer under an escort,

2Co 13:5 Try yourselves, if you are in the faith; test yourselves. Or are you not recognizing yourselves that Christ Jesus is in you, except you are somewhat disqualified? "

Here is another connection we can see between "the faith" and Christ. Although some have taken this expression to be about doctrines and teachings of the church, Paul shows by Hebrew parallelism that the expression "in the faith" is equivalent to "Christ Jesus is in you".

The faith is not some set of doctrines or beliefs. The essence of faith is Jesus Christ himself. And it is by his faith that we are justified before God and enjoy every blessing out of his infinite supply. Please note that I am not saying that the faith does not include doctrines and teachings, but that any and all doctrine or teaching is summed up, not in itself, but in Christ, for it is him who we learned, and it is him alone who saves, not a set of doctrines and teachings.

Any and all of the many examples of faith in the scriptures are not meant to point to the individuals to whom they are ascribed, but rather stand as a cumulative witness to the originator of any true faith that exists, that of Jesus the Christ.

Ron

[HartleyDamboiseII]

Ron. check out this I wrote years ago to prove how much I dislike the NIV bible. Lee Damboise II

Jesus' Faith or Yours ? Who's
K.J.V.                Rom. 3:22
   Even the righteousness of God which is by Faith of Jesus Christ...

N.I.V.
   The righteousness from God comes through Faith in Jesus Christ...

C.L.N.T.V.
   A righteousness of God through Jesus Christs' Faith.(E ph. 2.8  Too –through Jesus' Faith)

Gal. 2:16

K.J.V.
   Knowing the a man is not justified by the works of the law, But by the faith of Jesus Christ, even when we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we be justified by the faith of Christ.

N.I.V.
   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 Jesus Christ that we may be justified by faith in Jesus Christ.

C.L.N.T.V.
   Having perceived that a man is not being justified by works of law, except alone through the faith of Christ Jesus, we also believe in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by the faith of Christ....(His Faith Not Ours...)


Phil. 3.9
K.J.V.
   And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Law, But that which is through the faith of Christ, ( Who's ?) the righteousness which is of God by faith. ( JC'S Faith    NOT ours).

N.I.V.
   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

C.L.N.T.V.
   And be found in Him, not having my righteousness, which is of law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is from God for faith,( J.C.'s Faith)
Gal. 2:20
K.J.V.
   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
N.I.V.
   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
C.L.N.T.V.
   With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living; no longer I, buyt living in me is Christ. Now that which I am now living in flesh, I am living in faith that is of the son of God.

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Amen Ron......not having this basic understanding of whose faith it is we are to exercise (as a muscle in the operation of the gifts) is what has kept most of the body from walking in the gifts that OPERATE through His faith mixed with His love. Blessings....

[Chris]

AMEN! Let us walk in the faith of Jesus Christ.  :thumbsup:

[rosered]

 :thumbsup:



how do we overcome the World ?
it is by our faith in Christ and the works of the FATHER and Son
without faith it is impossible to please God
even the faith is the gift of God as Peter was given a measure of grace /gift to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God , flesh and blood does not inherit the things of God and the Holy Spirit .. being born again faith comes by hearing what the Holy Spirit is saying !! 
those hear His Voice  :winkgrin:


. Jam 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

1Jo 5:4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith.
sins are forgiven by faith
Luk 5:20And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

faith in Jesus Christ makes you whole

Luk 8:48And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.



faith tested in the fires more precious than gold !

1Pe 1:7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire,

might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

  2Pe 1:1Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
praise GOD!!   HOLY SPirit   working in and through Christ  which is in us  believing !! !

[eaglesway]

Understanding this vital truth about faith helps us to understand how we can read of faith among those men and women all throughout history before Christ, and yet there would still be a time when faith would come, a faith which would replace the need for the law as an escort.

The faith is not some set of doctrines or beliefs. The essence of faith is Jesus Christ himself. And it is by his faith that we are justified before God and enjoy every blessing out of his infinite supply. Please note that I am not saying that the faith does not include doctrines and teachings, but that any and all doctrine or teaching is summed up, not in itself, but in Christ, for it is him who we learned, and it is him alone who saves, not a set of doctrines and teachings.

[sheila]

....and I saw heaven opened,and behold! a white horse

   and he that sat upon him was called  FAITHFUL AND TRUE

[rosered]

....and I saw heaven opened,and behold! a white horse

   and he that sat upon him was called  FAITHFUL AND TRUE

Amen! :icon_flower:Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 


2Ti 2:11   [It is] a faithful saying: For if we be dead with [him], we shall also live with [him]: 


2Ti 2:12   If we suffer, we shall also reign with [him]: if we deny [him], he also will deny us: 


2Ti 2:13   If we believe not, [yet] he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 




  Rev 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan's seat [is]:

and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 

[eaglesway]

Gal 2:20-21  "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."