THE FAITH OF JESUS by C. Castberg

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 25, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 39.

“THE FAITH OF JESUS.”

By C. Castberg

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5:1.

To many this scripture conveys the idea that it is the faith of the individual that justifies the sinner; but this is a great mistake; for the faith which is the subject of the apostle’s argument is neither your faith nor mine, but the “faith of Jesus Christ unto all ‘and upon all them that believe.” Rom. 3:22. The same truth is brought to view in verse 26, where we read that God is “the justifier ‘of him that is of faith of Jesus.” Marginal reading, R.V.

“The faith of Jesus” is the only saving faith; without it we are “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the ‘covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the ‘world.” Eph. 2:12. The apostle Paul says: “By grace are ye ‘saved through faith,’ and in order to leave no opening for the idea that this work is accomplished through some merit of our own, he adds: “And that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Eph. 2:8. True, this gift is for every one that believeth; but our individual faith is only the arm that lays hold upon the superior, saving faith of Jesus. “The Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith ‘of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” Gal. 3:22.

“The faith of Jesus” is the faith which Jesus has, and had when here upon the earth. His whole life was a life of trust in God. Of His own self, He declared, He could do nothing (John 5:30); but by faith He took hold of the mighty arm of God, and lived a life without “spot or wrinkle.” We read of Him, that He came “in ‘the likeness of sinful flesh’” (Rom. 8:3); that in all things He was “made like unto His brethren” (Heb. 2:17); that He “increased ‘in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man’” (Luke 2:52); that He “was in all points tempted like as we are” (Heb. 4:15), and that “tho He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by ‘the things which He suffered.’” He was to such an extent dependent upon His Father that “in the days of His flesh” He “offered up ‘prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears, unto Him ‘that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He ‘feared;’” and so, “being made perfect [through faith], He became ‘the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.’” Heb. 5:7–9. Altho He was tempted in all points, He did not yield to “the ‘lust of the flesh,’” but was submissive to the will of the Father, and through the temptations, sufferings, and privations which He patiently endured He developed a character, a righteousness which the Scripture designates “the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus ‘Christ.’” Rom. 3:22.

Of all men Jesus only has fulfilled the requirement of the law: a holy life; and as all others “have sinned,” that is, transgressed the law of God (1 John 3:4), He is become “the end [the object, intent] ‘of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Rom. 10:4.

This life of God, “the righteousness of God which is by faith of ‘Jesus Christ,’” is freely imputed to us when we yield up our life to Him. And then, and not before, this wonderful experience will be ours: “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, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.’” Gal. 2:20. To “live by the faith of the Son of God” is to have Christ dwelling in the heart, working in us “both to will and to do of ‘His good pleasure.’” Phil. 2:13. His life, then, becomes our life, justifying our whole being, and filling our soul with peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

This is the faith of “the remnant” church of God, the faith of those “which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord.” Rev. 12:17; 1 Thess. 4:15–17. God points to them, and says, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the ‘commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’” Rev. 14:12. This faith, working with power in the lives of His true followers, will reveal “the righteousness of God.” And this is God “manifested in the flesh.” 1 Tim. 3:16. Let us reach out the hand of faith and accept this precious, glorious gift—“the faith of Jesus”!

C. CASTBERG.