FROM FAITH TO FAITH
-Introduction
-Rom 1: 16-17
-Living according to the Gospel and teaching the Gospel to others is nothing to be
ashamed of.
-It is the “power of God unto salvation”.
-But, what is meant by the phrases:
-”therein is the righteousness of God revealed” and
-”from faith to faith”
-With these two phrases, we can find a variety of different ideas and explanations.
-However, I think with some study of the scriptures, we can draw a proper conclusion.
-Righteousness of God Revealed
-With this phrase we basically of the question of whether this is referring to God’s righteousness
or the process in which God considers man as righteous.
-Of course, we know that God is righteous:
-Ps 11:7, 112:1-4, 116:5, 119:137-138, 145:17
-Only a righteous God would design a plan such as the Gospel in which Jesus would die
on the cross for us.
-We see through the scriptures, especially through the Gospel, the righteousness of God.
-When we are obedient to the Gospel, God then considers us righteous.
-Phil 3: 7-9
-vs 9 - “righteousness which is of God”
-NAS - “the righteousness which comes from God”
-So, through the Gospel we have the ultimate righteousness of God revealed and we have the
plan which serves as an avenue for man to be considered righteous in the sight of God.
-This leads right into the next phrase.
-From Faith to Faith
-This can be a difficult phrase when we initially read it.
-However, when we consider what has been previously said, we find the meaning.
-The righteous God of heaven has given us a system of faith which produces faith.
-As a result, we can be considered righteous in God’s sight even though we’ve sinned.
-J.W. Shepherd in the Gospel Advocate series of commentaries says this, “The thought as
expressed in the Greek is that in the Gospel, God’s plan of making men righteous, which is by
faith, is revealed to produce faith”.
-God’s System of Faith
-When considering God’s system of faith, we find the importance of the word “the” - “the” faith.
-Acts 6:7, 14:22, 16:5; 1 Cor 16:13; Gal 1:23; Eph 4:13; 1 Tim 5:8; Jude 3
-We find then a particular system of faith:
-Facts to be believed - John 20:30-31
-Commandments to be obeyed - Eccl 12:13, John 14:15, 1 John 5:3
-Promises to be embraced - 2 Pet 1: 2-4, 1 John 2:25
-Now, we have a system of faith (God’s word which completely furnishes us - 2 Tim 3:17) that
produces faith within us.
-Producing Faith
-1 John 5:4 - “our faith”
-2 Pet 1:1,5 (Notice this is a faith that is developed and built upon.)
-Where does that faith come from? How is it produced? Where does it originate from?
-Rom 10:17
-Oftentimes, we hear people telling how they think God works and what God expects of mankind
but they make those decisions on their own without consulting God’s word.
-Proper faith is not developed in that manner.
-Proper faith results from God’s word - rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15).
-You may have decided something in your mind and be quite confident with it, but if it did not
come from God’s word, your faith is not a proper faith.
-Summary and Invitation
-God has provided us with a system of faith that produces proper faith.
-Eph 4:5 - There is one faith.
-Is that referring to the system of faith or the faith that develops?
-You cannot separate one from the other.
-A source other than the inspired word of God does not produce proper faith.
-example of the Koran
-If a faith developed by a person does not match God’s system, it is not proper faith.
-Matt 15:7-9
-There is one faith - One system of faith from God that produces faith in us.
-The only way for man to be considered righteous is to properly respond in obedience to the
system of faith that God has provided in the Gospel of Christ.
-Have you? If you haven’t obeyed the Gospel, please do so: Believe (Jn 3:16, 8:24), Confess your faith
(Rm 10:9-10), Repent of Sin (Lk 13:3,5, Acts 17:30), Be Baptized (Acts 2:38, Mk 16:16).
-If you’ve obeyed the Gospel, but haven’t been faithful, please be restored by confessing
your shortcomings, repent of them and pray for God’s forgiveness (1 Jn 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24).