By Faith - Through Faith

Romans 1:17

- For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

This chapter is designed to teach us the heart and mind of the Father as He institutes His redemption plan.

Romans 3:29-30

29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

The scripture above establishes two operations of faith: ‘by faith’ and ‘through faith’. It must first be established that there is a difference between the faith of the Old Covenant and that of the New Covenant. Take note of the fact that the word faith is only mentioned twice in the Old Testament, and in each instance it prophetically points to the New Testament as an upcoming event (Deuteronomy 32:19-21;Habakkuk 2:3,4).

Galatians 3:22-27

22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Faith is a promise that was to be given to those who believed. The entire eleventh chapter of Hebrews heralds the exploits of the old patriarchs who believed the word of God. Against all odds, they believed and trusted in God.

BY FAITH

But how did they come to such trust and belief in the oracles of God? It was the responsibility of the Lord to establish a track record of faithfulness in their lives. In some cases they beheld His great exploits; in others He spoke to them directly; giving instruction that led them into situations that only He could deliver them from. This was true with Gideon, Samson, Moses, Joshua and many others. In each case, God bore the burden of proving Himself. In doing so, it became unrighteous for them to disobey Him through doubt and unbelief. Nevertheless, for those who believed God, it was accounted to them as righteousness. That is the major difference in the two operations of faith spoken of here. By their belief and trust in the spoken word of God, they became heirs of the faith of Jesus Christ that was to come. They all died believing in the promises of the Lord; and this was righteousness in the sight of God, in those dispensations.

Therefore by faith refers to the application of belief which inspires God to move on your behalf. Those who operated by faith simply obeyed what they believed. That’s what human faith is: obeying what you have come to believe. Because they obeyed it, they were able to subdue kingdoms. Take the case of Joshua, for instance: God told him to walk around Jericho for seven days and, on the seventh day, walk around it 7 times and the city will come falling down. This sounds absurd to the natural man. However, the attitude of this Faith is: If God said it, I believe it that settles it, let’s do it. The gist of operating ‘by Faith’ is believing, and then obeying that which you have believed. That’s when belief becomes righteousness - when we believe and obey.

THROUGH FAITH

23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

In the preceding chapter we learned that the faith of the New Covenant is a living person. It is our Lord Jesus Christ living in us to will and to do His good pleasure. Furthermore the saints of the New Testament were not accounted as righteous; they were made the righteousness of God by the indwelling of faith. Therefore, “by faith” refers to the belief of the Patriarchs of the Old Covenant, which earned them the right to inherit Christ at his resurrection. They all died believing that He would one day come to redeem them from the grave.

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The term “through faith,” refers to the church of the New Testament. We are alive by the power of Christ living in us. The fact that our souls have been preserved in Christ and our bodies have become the body of Christ, our right to live is justified by His faith. He lives in this once sinful flesh. He is the one in whom we live and move and have our being. He is our justification. We must be careful also to note here that without the indwelling of Christ we remain dead in sin and trespasses. Such are not the children of God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9).

This fact must not be ignored by those who are truly seeking to be in right standing with God.

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Many do not readily identify the faith of Christ in them because they are looking for something other than the Holy Ghost. It is by the Spirit that we live and move and have our being; nothing can be done without Him. Being an omnipresent, eternal spirit, He became our whole life. We live for no other reason than to fulfill his purpose. This is why Paul said, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21).