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    March 20, 1907

    “The Faith of Jesus” The Medical Missionary, 16, 12, pp. 89, 90.

    ATJ

    A. T. JONES

    JESUS is the Author and he is the Finisher of the faith of all men.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 89.1

    It is through Him only that men have the power, or even the privilege, to believe. For the Scripture says that John came to bear witness of Him as the Light that all men through Him might believe;” and that is “by Him” that we “do believe in God.” John 1:7; 1 Peter 1:21.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 89.2

    And yet this faith in Jesus, is not the faith of Jesus. “The faith of Jesus” is the faith of Jesus himself, the faith which he had and which he exercised in this world in the flesh to show to man and to make sure to man the way of salvation. “The faith of Jesus” is the faith that he had and that he exercised, just as truly as “the faith of our father Abraham” is the faith “which he had” and which he exercised. Romans 4:12.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 89.3

    This seems to be plain enough on the face of it; yet it is certainly true that Christians almost invariably look upon the phrases “faith in Jesus,” and “the faith of Jesus,” as signifying only faith in Jesus, and as referring always to the believing of men in Jesus. But the Scriptures make it too plain to be doubted or misunderstood, that the phrases “faith in Jesus” and “the faith of Jesus” refer to things that are entirely separate,—“faith in Jesus” referring to the believing of men in Jesus, as in John 3:16—“whosoever believeth in Him should not perish”—Ephesians 1:15, Colossians 1:4; 2:5; Acts 26:18, etc., etc.; and “the faith of Jesus” referring to the faith of Jesus himself personally, the faith which he exercised as man in the flesh.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 89.4

    This latter part, the real truth as to “the faith of Jesus,” is so important, and is so little apprehended, that we shall quote in full the Scriptures that certainly put it beyond all question.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 89.5

    Galatians 3:22. “But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” It is impossible to have the words “faith of Jesus” in that verse to be equivalent to faith in Jesus. This is forbidden by the structure of the verse itself. For to make the words “faith of Jesus” mean the same as faith in Jesus, would force upon the writer such a meaningless repetition as that “the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that have faith in Jesus Christ.” But taken as meaning just what it says, then the verse tells the splendid truth that the promise of God comes to men by the faith of Jesus, and that the promise of God which the faith of Jesus Christ brings to men is given and made sure to them that believe in Jesus Christ.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 89.6

    Galatians 2:16. “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.” Surely there is here no room for any explication. Both expressions are used in direct connection, and used in a way that makes it impossible that they should be taken as meaning the same thing. And taken for exactly what they say, again there is told the splendid truth that it is “the faith of Jesus” that brings to us and gives to us the justification the righteousness which we receive by believing in Jesus.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 89.7

    This is shown in the same way, and just as plainly in Romans 3:21, 22: “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested—even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all upon all them that believe” in Jesus Christ. It is the faith of Jesus that has brought to us, that gives to us, and makes sure unto us and upon us, the righteousness of God, which is promised to all who believe in him, and which is received by faith in him. All this is further witnessed by the statements of Scripture that, “By the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” “By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” “The gift by grace which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”MEDM March 20, 1907, page 89.8

    By the righteousness of Christ we are justified. That righteousness of Christ was wrought, in this world and in human flesh, by the faith of Jesus Christ. By the obedience of Christ we are made righteous. That obedience of Christ, in this world and in human nature, was accomplished by the faith of Jesus. And that which the faith of Jesus has wrought for us in our flesh which he took, is received by us in our flesh, which we have, through faith in Jesus. Accordingly, “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.” And this life by the faith of the Son of God, is received by us through faith in the Son of God.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 89.9

    Ephesians 3:12. “In whom [Jesus] we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” And this boldness and access with confidence which is by the faith of Him, is received by us through faith in Jesus.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 90.1

    We see then that “the faith of Jesus” has been brought to the world, and he has made it a free gift to men, the fulfillment of all the promises of God, righteousness, justification, sanctification, eternal life, and boldness and access with confidence; and that all this that is accomplished for us and is brought to us by “the faith of Jesus” is received by us through “faith in Jesus;” that is by simply believing in him.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 90.2

    Yet it must not for a moment be thought that even all this is given to us by the faith of Jesus, apart from himself. No: He gives us himself, and all this in himself and with himself. And he himself is received by us through faith in him. But when he gives to us himself he gives to us all that is in him and of him. And one of the things that is of him is this very “faith of him.” Therefore it is true in this as in all the rest, that by faith in him, we actually receive the faith of him. And this faith of Jesus in us, will accomplish in us, in the flesh for him what it accomplished in him in the flesh for us.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 90.3

    And this is the wonderful blessedness that is proclaimed to all men in the words of the Third Angel’s Message. “Here are they that keep the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”MEDM March 20, 1907, page 90.4

    “‘Desire Spiritual Gifts’” The Medical Missionary, 16, 12, p. 94.

    ATJ

    ALONZO T. JONES

    “DESIRE spiritual gifts.” Do you? If not, why?MEDM March 20, 1907, page 94.1

    Surely this is as plain an injunction as there is in the Bible. Why, then, should you not obey it?MEDM March 20, 1907, page 94.2

    Perhaps you will say that you have long desired to see spiritual gifts manifested in the church, and have even wondered why they were not.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 94.3

    But that is not what the Scripture says; it does not say, Desire spiritual gifts manifested in the church; but, “Desire spirit gifts;” that is, Desire them manifested in yourself.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 94.4

    “Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God.” Romans 14:22. Suppose you should see all the gifts manifested in the church, and yet none of them be manifested in yourself, what good would that do? You could even see all this, and yet be lost yourself. Do you not know that thousands, yes, the whole world, will see all these gifts manifested in the church, and yet it will do them no good?MEDM March 20, 1907, page 94.5

    No; this is an individual matter. True, the gifts are to be manifested in the church; but this can be only by their being manifested in each individual member of the church. The gifts are divided “to every man severally.”MEDM March 20, 1907, page 94.6

    Are you a member of the church? Do you belong to the body of Christ? Do you believe in Jesus? Then you are to desire that the gifts of the Spirit shall be manifested in yourself. If this is not so with yourself, you can not be ready to meet the Lord.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 94.7

    Yet to “desire spiritual gifts” is only a part of the injunction,—the subordinate part, too. The whole of it is, “Follow after charity, AND desire spiritual gifts.”MEDM March 20, 1907, page 94.8

    To desire spiritual gifts is altogether proper. Yet to do this without charity’s being held solely in view, would be altogether vain; because though we had all the gifts, and yet had not charity, it would profit us nothing, and we would be nothing.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 94.9

    Then as the only true way to desire spiritual gifts is to desire them upon yourself, and as the only proper connection in which to desire them is to follow after charity and desire them, it follows that you must follow after charity yourself, and desire spiritual gifts manifested upon yourself in order that you may attain that thing after which you are following.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 94.10

    And the charity after which you are to follow is the bond of perfectness, it is the love of God. And as “this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments,” then it is certain that the thing after which you are following.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 94.11

    And the charity after which you are to follow is the bond of perfectness, it is the love of God. And as “this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments,” then it is certain that the thing after which we are to follow while we are desiring spiritual gifts, is the keeping of the commandments of God. And the keeping of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus is the consummation of the third angel’s message.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 94.12

    There can be no true keeping of the commandments of God without charity; there can be no true charity without spiritual gifts; there can be no spiritual gifts without the gift of the Holy Ghost; therefore without the gift of the Holy Ghost, there can be no true giving of the third angel’s message.MEDM March 20, 1907, page 94.13

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