Moreover, Paul quite clearly teaches that this justification comes after our faith and as God’s response to our faith. He says that God “justifies him who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26), and that “a man is justified by faith apart from works of law” (Rom. 3:28). He says, “Since we are justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). Moreover, “a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ” (Gal. 2:16). Just what is justification? We may define it as follows: Justification is an instantaneous legal act of God in which he (1) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us, and (2) declares us to be righteous in his sight.
Rom 3:26 does not address who, or why, someone comes to a belief in Christ and therefore can not support your position.
In other words, the identification of those who are justified is not addressed in this verse.
My point is that those who come to a true faith in Christ, gain that faith as a result of salvation -- not because salvation was caused by their faith.
"[Rom 3:26 KJV]
26 To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
[Eph 2:8 KJV]
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
Consider what you are saying: that we are saved by our work of faith. Were that so, then we would be our own savior
In Rom 3:28 it is Christ's faith, not ours
[Rom 3:28 KJV] 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Consider that in verse 3:26, we are informed that Christ is the justifier ("His righteousness"), but, according to your interpretation of 3:28 man becomes the justifier ("a man is justified by faith"), so if Christ is the justifier as we are told in 3:28 but man is the justified by his own faith, then a contradiction exists.
Read both verses closely - it can't be the way you've interpreted them because by that they would be in conflict with each other. However, with my interpretation in that both the justifier and the faith are Christ's, both verses come into complete harmony- which harmony must always be present within the Bible.
The same response also applies to Rom 5:1
Regarding Gal 2:16. You say that the reading has to be “by the faith of Christ” because "in" is not present in the text. But you now place “of” in the text and it is not in the text so that point would not hold. But even if we were to use “of” it would not help your case. When you us faith of Jesus or faith in Jesus we are both saying the fidelity, faithfulness or the character of one who can be relied on. And I am surprised that you would not agree with that as that is the view expressed in the calvinist quotes that I gave you. What I see is that you want to read into the text what you think has to be there to support your calvinism. Did you even bother to read the quotes? Tell me where did you study your Greek as you must be better than all those Calvinists that I quoted.
Christ was perfectly faithful to the God the Father in accomplishing that which had been assigned to Him by the Father. That is the faith which is in view when "faith of Christ" is used and the faith that saves: we are saved by Christ's faithfulness, not ours - all of our works are as dirty rags to the Father, none worthy of salvation.
No, I didn't read your quotes because I don't read Calvin and so they are not pertinent to the discussion as far as I'm concerned.
Php 3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; NKJV
[Phl 3:9 KJV]
9 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:
Same disagreement as with Gal 2:16
Jas 2:20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? NKJV
The righteousness which God imparted is based on the faith or trust we have in Christ Jesus. This righteousness, imparted to believers in salvation, enables them to live a separated, sanctified, life of holiness and service. This verse has nothing to do with God giving faith but it has everything to do with faith being a requirement for a person being accounted as righteous.
Jas 2:20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? NKJV
Just because the words faith and works are in the same sentence does not mean that faith is a work. If you had read this verse in context you would know what it means. Jas 2:18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. Works will never save you but James is saying is that if you really have a saving faith you will do good works.
Jas 2:20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? NKJV
Just because the words faith and works are in the same sentence does not mean that faith is a work. If you had read this verse in context you would know what it means. Jas 2:18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. Works will never save you but James is saying is that if you really have a saving faith you will do good works.
Christ is the only person who ever lived to have both faith and works. Should we claim that our faith is self-generated faith and that it is a saving faith, then we'd better have the required works to go with it too or we've failed, our faith is dead, and we're under judgement, that is, according to your interpretation. Further, those works better be perfect and fully complete.
in Jas 2:18, Christ is the "man". Christ said this to illustrate that He alone, and HIs works, are the only measurement by which anyone else's works would/could be measured, should they choose to be justified by them.
[Jas 2:18 KJV] 18
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Faith is a gift and as a gift is not a work and that is the only that way faith is not a work. "His faith is counted for righteousness":
The "His faith is counted for righteousness" below is Christ's faith, not ours
I read through your comments and what comes to mind is you must be joking, how could anyone misread a text that badly. You keep saying faith is a work but even your KJV says you are wrong. Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. KJV Notice the righteousness is based upon the person believing. His faith is reckoned, counted, computed or calculated for righteousness. Faith in Christ Jesus, and his blood, is the ultimate ground of justification with God. Your argument that faith is a work falls flat. It is time for you to give that one up.
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