“Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the just one by faith shall be living." (Habakkuk 2:4)
"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2)
Pride comes in many flavors but the worst is religious pride. Quite frankly, Jesus was not the "author" of my personal faith for most of my life. My faith was authored by the doctrine of the institutional Church I had grown up in. It was a faith in their teaching.
I, nor anyone else, will be "justified" by having faith in what religious leaders do and teach. To do so calls for pride in the wisdom of humanity. Our only hope for salvation is "Jesus Christ's faith", and in the "grace"of God.
"Yet now, apart from law, a righteousness of God is manifest (being attested by the law and the prophets), yet a righteousness of God through JESUS CHRIST'S FAITH, for all, and on all who are believing, for there is no distinction, for all sinned and are wanting of the glory of God. Being justified gratuitously in HIS GRACE, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:21-24)
Over 15 years ago, I exchanged my faith in church doctrine for "Jesus Christ's faith". My faith in religious teachers had only identified me with the Pharisee who prayed...
“God, I am thanking you that I am not like the rest of these people; cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I'm certainly not like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and give you a tenth of my income." (Luke 18:11-12 NLT)
I now realize that it is the tax collector who had it right when...
"...standing afar off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, God, have mercy on me, the sinner!" (Luke 18:13)
The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross revealed God's mercy toward the humbled sinner. God accepted the shame of the tax collector and rejected the pride of the Pharisee...
"I am saying to you, this man descended to his home justified, rather than that one, for everyone who is exalting himself shall be humbled, yet he who is humbling himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:11-14)
It was a humbling experience when I learned that tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the Kingdom of God before me, a self-righteous Pharisee who would be the last to enter the Kingdom of God.
"Verily, I am saying to you that the tribute collectors and the prostitutes are preceding you into the kingdom of God." (Matthew 21:32)
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day He will be raised to life!” (Matthew 20:16-19)
Again, humanity is made righteous (justified) by "Jesus Christ's faith". Jesus had faith that His Father would raise Him from the dead after He, the sinless sacrificial lamb, atoned for the sins of the world.
"Being justified gratuitously in His grace, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus...a justifier of the one who is of the faith of Jesus." (Romans 3:24, 27)
By the grace of God, all humanity will eventually be raised from the dead to enter and see the Kingdom of God. The order of entrance is those who rely on "Jesus Christ's faith", then last of all, those who place their faith in good deeds, obedience to the law, and membership in a synagogue, church, or mosque.
"...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." (Galatians 2:16-17)
So, I no longer brag about my faith, or beat myself up because I have so little. I simply trust in "Jesus Christ's faith", the faith that makes this sinner righteous and saved me and everyone else from our sins.
"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)
"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2)
Pride comes in many flavors but the worst is religious pride. Quite frankly, Jesus was not the "author" of my personal faith for most of my life. My faith was authored by the doctrine of the institutional Church I had grown up in. It was a faith in their teaching.
I, nor anyone else, will be "justified" by having faith in what religious leaders do and teach. To do so calls for pride in the wisdom of humanity. Our only hope for salvation is "Jesus Christ's faith", and in the "grace"of God.
"Yet now, apart from law, a righteousness of God is manifest (being attested by the law and the prophets), yet a righteousness of God through JESUS CHRIST'S FAITH, for all, and on all who are believing, for there is no distinction, for all sinned and are wanting of the glory of God. Being justified gratuitously in HIS GRACE, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:21-24)
Over 15 years ago, I exchanged my faith in church doctrine for "Jesus Christ's faith". My faith in religious teachers had only identified me with the Pharisee who prayed...
“God, I am thanking you that I am not like the rest of these people; cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I'm certainly not like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and give you a tenth of my income." (Luke 18:11-12 NLT)
I now realize that it is the tax collector who had it right when...
"...standing afar off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, God, have mercy on me, the sinner!" (Luke 18:13)
The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross revealed God's mercy toward the humbled sinner. God accepted the shame of the tax collector and rejected the pride of the Pharisee...
"I am saying to you, this man descended to his home justified, rather than that one, for everyone who is exalting himself shall be humbled, yet he who is humbling himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:11-14)
It was a humbling experience when I learned that tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the Kingdom of God before me, a self-righteous Pharisee who would be the last to enter the Kingdom of God.
"Verily, I am saying to you that the tribute collectors and the prostitutes are preceding you into the kingdom of God." (Matthew 21:32)
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day He will be raised to life!” (Matthew 20:16-19)
Again, humanity is made righteous (justified) by "Jesus Christ's faith". Jesus had faith that His Father would raise Him from the dead after He, the sinless sacrificial lamb, atoned for the sins of the world.
"Being justified gratuitously in His grace, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus...a justifier of the one who is of the faith of Jesus." (Romans 3:24, 27)
By the grace of God, all humanity will eventually be raised from the dead to enter and see the Kingdom of God. The order of entrance is those who rely on "Jesus Christ's faith", then last of all, those who place their faith in good deeds, obedience to the law, and membership in a synagogue, church, or mosque.
"...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." (Galatians 2:16-17)
So, I no longer brag about my faith, or beat myself up because I have so little. I simply trust in "Jesus Christ's faith", the faith that makes this sinner righteous and saved me and everyone else from our sins.
"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)
"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time." (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
"...we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:10-11)