Our last study addressed thanksgiving for the measure of faith God apportions to members of Christ’s Body, i.e., those who are Called Saints, Romans 12:3 – 8. As we approach the day when many throughout the world celebrate the birth of Jesus, it’s good to contemplate His faith and God’s provision for eternal life; how He planned it and how it’s received. Simply put, salvation is imparted by God’s Grace and comes “through” faith. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8 – 9. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6. All have sinned, Romans 3:23, however, two men and one woman came into this world sinless and therefore equipped to live in perfect relationship with God forever: Adam, Eve and Jesus. God created Adam and then made Eve from Adam but they both lacked faith and died; Jesus was born sinless and kept and finished faith.
The Man Jesus was always, from eternity past, a Member of the Triune Godhead; He was the Word of God, John 1:1 – 2. Everything that exists in this Universe, including the earth and all life therein, were made by Him, John 1:3; Acts 17:24; Colossians 1:16 – 19; Hebrews 1:10. “Through faith we understand (by means of faith we perceive) that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:3. He created Adam and Eve in His image, Genesis 1:26 – 27; Genesis 2:7, each with their own will; i.e., were not mere robots. They possessed intellect and could do whatever they wanted and believe what they wanted. God (The Word) told Adam he would surely die if he ate fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Genesis 2:17. Ultimately, Eve, while well aware of God’s command, was deceived/beguiled by Satan into eating the fruit; Adam was not deceived but ate the fruit Eve gave him, Genesis 3:1 – 6, both demonstrating their lack of faith in God’s Word by willingly disobeying God, 1 Timothy 2:13 – 14. They both died spiritually and ultimately, physically and sin and death were passed on to all born after them, i.e., all have been in Adam’s blood line, Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:22.
It was the second person of the Trinity, the Word of God Who walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden, Genesis 3:8. And after they sinned, it was He Who foretold that Eve’s seed would bruise Satan’s head while Satan would bruise her offspring’s heel, Genesis 3:15. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, Hebrews 11:1 so it was by faith that the Word of God foretold that about 4000 years later, after He came into the world as the Man Jesus, born of a Virgin, John 1:14, Satan would bruise His heel by working through Israel’s leaders and the Romans to crucify Him on the cross. But He would bruise Satan’s head and seal his fate by His own death and resurrection, Hebrews 2:9; Hebrews 2:14; 1 Corinthians 2:6 – 8, which will be consummated when Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone for eternity, Revelation 20:10.
It was necessary for God to come into the world a sinless Man to defeat Satan and save mankind from death. To accomplish this, He could not inherit the bloodline from Adam because it was tainted with sin. (Life is in the blood, Geneses 9:4; Leviticus 17:11 – 14; Deuteronomy 12:23.) Therefore, when he made Eve, He designed a system so the blood of an infant while in the womb does not come from the woman who, like all men, carries the sinful bloodline of Adam. A woman is impregnated when the man’s sperm fertilizes her egg, resulting in a fetus, i.e., an unborn human being. However, the fetus develops his/her own blood, just like it does all its organs and body members. The mother’s blood never enters the fetus. God created a placenta that facilitates nutrients, gas and waste exchange between the physically separate maternal and fetal circulations. (Wikipedia states, “Mammal placentas probably first evolved about 150 million to 200 million years ago” and if you believe this, I have a bridge to sell you.) Therefore, because of God’s design for procreation, when the Holy Spirit fertilized the Virgin Mary’s egg, Jesus Christ’s blood was sinless and not fouled by either a man or Mary’s blood, which was tainted with sin. Jesus Christ was born every bit a Man because He was born of a woman, but He was without sin; He didn’t have the taint of Adam’s sin in Him. He was God and Man at the same time. As The Word of God, He had inspired all Scripture, 2 Timothy 3:16; John 19:28, and as a Man, He lived a life in perfect faith in God’s word. This despite the fact He was tempted/tried every which way possible, He was without sin, Hebrews 4:15.
Scripture informs us: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our (“our” not in original) faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2. The Greek word translated “author” is only found 3 other places in the King James Version (KJV) New Testament (NT), twice translated “Prince” and once “Captain.” It means “the chief leader, one that takes the lead in anything and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer.” Jesus is the captain or chief leader Who completed/consummated/finished faith. By His life of faith, He imparts righteousness to all who believe: “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” Romans 3:22. Many Bible teachers and preachers substitute the word “faithfulness” for the word “faith” here and in other similar passages. However, the word in the original is “faith” and although our Lord Jesus Christ is certainly “faithful,” it was His faith that is the righteousness of God. See also: “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Galatians 2:16. “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” Galatians 3:22. Note we are required to “believe” to appropriate the righteousness which is by His faith and to believe is to have faith.
When people today believe the Gospel, which is that Christ died for their sins, was buried and rose again, they are saved, 1 Corinthians 15:1 – 4. Some may be weak in the faith, Romans 14:2, all are exhorted to stand fast in faith and be strong, 1 Corinthians 16:13; to use the shield of faith to ward off the fiery darts of the wicked/evil, Ephesians 6:16 and finally, like the Apostle Paul, to be able to say: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” 2 Timothy 4:7. Therefore, regardless of whether an individual believer’s faith is weak or strong, he/she still stands righteous before God because of the faith of Christ.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1. “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 1 Corinthians 13:13. Some day in the future, what is hoped for and cannot be seen by the believer today, will be seen up close and personal: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16 – 17.
Jesus Christ was by far the greatest man who ever lived; however, He is the only great man whose birthday is celebrated as a baby; all others, kings, presidents, athletes, musicians, artists, doctors, etc., are celebrated for what they accomplished during their lives. Therefore, let’s celebrate Him as Almighty God Who created everything that exists, the Author/Captain and finisher of Faith when He came as Man, died on the cross, was raised from the dead and who is now the Lord Jesus Christ seated on the right Hand of God waiting until His enemies are made His footstool, Hebrews 1:13; Hebrews 10:13 – 14.
During this Christmas season, may “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.” 2 Corinthians 13:14.
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