Jesus Christ is my God!
Issued 18.07.2010
What is the origin of your faith?
Your own goodness and righteousness produce a faith of your own. God's goodness and righteousness in Jesus Christ give you the faith of the Son of God.
One's own faith
Most people sometimes turn to God in their practical problems. Almost everyone accepts His help. Also I started to utter the Lord's Prayer every evening when I was a little boy because I was afraid of the dark. In mortal danger many cry to God for help. One's own faith is putting one's trust in God in ways which have their origin in man himself.
One's own righteousness means serving God on one's own initiative. "I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God." Ro.10:2-3
Who doesn't know Jesus Christ doesn't know the righteousness of God. Those, who put their trust in their own goodness don't see God's goodness in Jesus. Blinded by their own righteousness many think they are good also in the eyes of God and thus accepted by God. Many are so proud of their faith on their own initiative that they are completely deaf to the initiative of God.
God must be the initiator in the relationship between God and man. Only what is born of God is good enough for Him. Nobody asked God to become man and atone our sins. He did it on His own initiative. The gospel is His invitation for us. In there we face the initiative of God.
God has taken the initiative in calling you to His fellowship in Jesus Christ. God's righteousness and goodness have been proclaimed to us in His Son. Only a human being like Jesus is good enough for God. Nobody is able to be as righteous as God in one's own power. Jesus died for you, because in the eyes of God you are not righteous but unrighteous. By His death Jesus nullified your righteousness and offers God's righteousness to you in His resurrection.
Many are so eager to bring their own goodness before God that they have rejected His initiative. However some have received Jesus as their own Savior, but only to use Him for repairing the shortcomings of their own goodness. Their faith in the gospel has not given them a new heart but only feelings of mercy in the weakness of their own faith. They believe in the gospel but they have not the faith of the gospel. They believe in Jesus but they have not the faith of Jesus. Some even believe to be new born Christians although there is no new creation in them.
No-one is saved by one's own faith but by the faith of Jesus that one gains by hearing God's gospel. Pay attention to how you hear! "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Ro.10:17 Certainly it can be said to be your faith after you have gained to own it. If you have obtained this precious faith, take care of living according to it so that you would not lose it. Peter, the apostle wrote about this faith "to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Pe.1:1
The faith that saves us is God's gift to us. It is received by hearing. Live in the faith of the Son of God and not in your own. Deny your own goodness and righteousness so that the goodness and the righteousness of Jesus could appear in you.
Most people sometimes turn to God in their practical problems. Almost everyone accepts His help. Also I started to utter the Lord's Prayer every evening when I was a little boy because I was afraid of the dark. In mortal danger many cry to God for help. One's own faith is putting one's trust in God in ways which have their origin in man himself.
One's own righteousness means serving God on one's own initiative. "I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God." Ro.10:2-3
Who doesn't know Jesus Christ doesn't know the righteousness of God. Those, who put their trust in their own goodness don't see God's goodness in Jesus. Blinded by their own righteousness many think they are good also in the eyes of God and thus accepted by God. Many are so proud of their faith on their own initiative that they are completely deaf to the initiative of God.
God must be the initiator in the relationship between God and man. Only what is born of God is good enough for Him. Nobody asked God to become man and atone our sins. He did it on His own initiative. The gospel is His invitation for us. In there we face the initiative of God.
God has taken the initiative in calling you to His fellowship in Jesus Christ. God's righteousness and goodness have been proclaimed to us in His Son. Only a human being like Jesus is good enough for God. Nobody is able to be as righteous as God in one's own power. Jesus died for you, because in the eyes of God you are not righteous but unrighteous. By His death Jesus nullified your righteousness and offers God's righteousness to you in His resurrection.
Many are so eager to bring their own goodness before God that they have rejected His initiative. However some have received Jesus as their own Savior, but only to use Him for repairing the shortcomings of their own goodness. Their faith in the gospel has not given them a new heart but only feelings of mercy in the weakness of their own faith. They believe in the gospel but they have not the faith of the gospel. They believe in Jesus but they have not the faith of Jesus. Some even believe to be new born Christians although there is no new creation in them.
No-one is saved by one's own faith but by the faith of Jesus that one gains by hearing God's gospel. Pay attention to how you hear! "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Ro.10:17 Certainly it can be said to be your faith after you have gained to own it. If you have obtained this precious faith, take care of living according to it so that you would not lose it. Peter, the apostle wrote about this faith "to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Pe.1:1
The faith that saves us is God's gift to us. It is received by hearing. Live in the faith of the Son of God and not in your own. Deny your own goodness and righteousness so that the goodness and the righteousness of Jesus could appear in you.
The gospel gives you a new origin
Jesus Christ gives you the saving faith in the word of the truth of the gospel. Therefore the angel said to Cornelius about Peter who would preach to him the gospel: "who will tell you words by which you will be saved." Ac.11:14
Peter told to Cornelius about the crucified and risen Jesus who is the promised Messiah. The gospel is the seed of the new life. It gives birth to children of God. "You having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever." 1 Pe.1:23 Cornelius and his relatives came to the faith easily, immediately after they had heard the gospel. Their own righteousness didn't prevent them from hearing the gospel the way it should be heard in order to be saved.
The seed of the gospel is planted into the heart of a hearer. If it germinates there the hearer came to the faith. Paul had been planting the seed of the gospel into the hearts of the believers of Corinth. Therefore he said as follows: "For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." 1 Co.4:15
Man's own faith tries to displace the faith of the gospel and own righteousness wants to displace God's righteousness. Believers have often disgraced God's gospel with their deeds. "Let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." Php.1:27 Paul fought for the faith of the gospel against those with their own faith.
Nicodemus was a good man who believed in God. However, Jesus said that he needed a new origin for his life. "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Joh.3:3,5 Throughout the Bible words uttered in the Holy Spirit are compared with water. By being born of water of the gospel given by the Holy Spirit we enter the kingdom of God which is the same as to become a member of the Church of God.
Jesus offered Nicodemus the water He mentioned to drink by telling him God's gospel. "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Joh.3:13-16
Thus Jesus gave Nicodemus the word of the truth of the gospel in the Holy Spirit so that by drinking it he could be born again. Jesus promises that the words He gives us beget a fountain of eternal life in our heart. "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." Joh.4:14 The new creation in us is the fountain that wells forth God's life. Before you became obedient to the gospel you - as a new creation didn't exist.
God's words heard in the Holy Spirit are an extremely wonderful thing! God's Spirit is like wind blowing on dead hearts and making them alive. His words are like water purifying from sin and begetting a new creation.
Jesus Christ gives you the saving faith in the word of the truth of the gospel. Therefore the angel said to Cornelius about Peter who would preach to him the gospel: "who will tell you words by which you will be saved." Ac.11:14
Peter told to Cornelius about the crucified and risen Jesus who is the promised Messiah. The gospel is the seed of the new life. It gives birth to children of God. "You having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever." 1 Pe.1:23 Cornelius and his relatives came to the faith easily, immediately after they had heard the gospel. Their own righteousness didn't prevent them from hearing the gospel the way it should be heard in order to be saved.
The seed of the gospel is planted into the heart of a hearer. If it germinates there the hearer came to the faith. Paul had been planting the seed of the gospel into the hearts of the believers of Corinth. Therefore he said as follows: "For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." 1 Co.4:15
Man's own faith tries to displace the faith of the gospel and own righteousness wants to displace God's righteousness. Believers have often disgraced God's gospel with their deeds. "Let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." Php.1:27 Paul fought for the faith of the gospel against those with their own faith.
Nicodemus was a good man who believed in God. However, Jesus said that he needed a new origin for his life. "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Joh.3:3,5 Throughout the Bible words uttered in the Holy Spirit are compared with water. By being born of water of the gospel given by the Holy Spirit we enter the kingdom of God which is the same as to become a member of the Church of God.
Jesus offered Nicodemus the water He mentioned to drink by telling him God's gospel. "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Joh.3:13-16
Thus Jesus gave Nicodemus the word of the truth of the gospel in the Holy Spirit so that by drinking it he could be born again. Jesus promises that the words He gives us beget a fountain of eternal life in our heart. "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." Joh.4:14 The new creation in us is the fountain that wells forth God's life. Before you became obedient to the gospel you - as a new creation didn't exist.
God's words heard in the Holy Spirit are an extremely wonderful thing! God's Spirit is like wind blowing on dead hearts and making them alive. His words are like water purifying from sin and begetting a new creation.
The faith of Jesus
When hearing of the gospel of the crucified Jesus who was risen from the dead you experience it causes faith in you. It is not your own but God's faith. If you seize the word of the truth of the gospel with the faith you got, the faith of Jesus will settle in you.
After you believed the gospel God considers you as good as Jesus. You gained God's righteousness as a gift. What do you do with your own any more? "The righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Ro.3:22-24
The gift of righteousness and the own righteousness are at war with each other in the thoughts of the believers. We have to get rid of the thoughts of our own righteousness so that Christ would live in us, as promised. Paul says that the own righteousness is the reason for believers to fall in sin. "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor." Ga.2:17-18
The destroyed own righteousness can be built up again. Many believers have begun to fight against sin by trusting their own goodness. Instead they should have purged out the thoughts and attitudes of their own righteousness that is "to crucify the flesh with its passions and desires". Many don't do this, not even after they fell in sin, but only beg for a good conscience.
Nullifying our own goodness is the key issue so that Jesus could live in us. However, many believe in Jesus only to get forgiveness of their sins but stick to their own goodness. Actually this is the only problem among the believers of Jesus, because those others will be resolved as a result of letting Jesus live in His own.
Giving up one's own goodness makes one "great" in the kingdom of heaven. When the disciples asked Jesus "who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven", He called a little child to Him and replied: "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Mt.18:3-4 This little child proved to believe Jesus by coming to Him when He called. Whether it is a child or an adult we can know him having the faith only if we notice him obeying Jesus.
Jesus doesn't say that children would be greatest in the kingdom of heaven but those adults who humble themselves to be as dependent on God as little children are dependent on their parents. The own righteousness is lofty adulthood which considers the righteousness of Jesus childish idealism. An adult who has submitted himself to the righteousness of God is "one of these little ones" who believe in Jesus.
The faith of the Son of God wants to destroy the faith originated from man. Oh, how much believers have opposed to the death of their own righteousness!
When hearing of the gospel of the crucified Jesus who was risen from the dead you experience it causes faith in you. It is not your own but God's faith. If you seize the word of the truth of the gospel with the faith you got, the faith of Jesus will settle in you.
After you believed the gospel God considers you as good as Jesus. You gained God's righteousness as a gift. What do you do with your own any more? "The righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Ro.3:22-24
The gift of righteousness and the own righteousness are at war with each other in the thoughts of the believers. We have to get rid of the thoughts of our own righteousness so that Christ would live in us, as promised. Paul says that the own righteousness is the reason for believers to fall in sin. "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor." Ga.2:17-18
The destroyed own righteousness can be built up again. Many believers have begun to fight against sin by trusting their own goodness. Instead they should have purged out the thoughts and attitudes of their own righteousness that is "to crucify the flesh with its passions and desires". Many don't do this, not even after they fell in sin, but only beg for a good conscience.
Nullifying our own goodness is the key issue so that Jesus could live in us. However, many believe in Jesus only to get forgiveness of their sins but stick to their own goodness. Actually this is the only problem among the believers of Jesus, because those others will be resolved as a result of letting Jesus live in His own.
Giving up one's own goodness makes one "great" in the kingdom of heaven. When the disciples asked Jesus "who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven", He called a little child to Him and replied: "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Mt.18:3-4 This little child proved to believe Jesus by coming to Him when He called. Whether it is a child or an adult we can know him having the faith only if we notice him obeying Jesus.
Jesus doesn't say that children would be greatest in the kingdom of heaven but those adults who humble themselves to be as dependent on God as little children are dependent on their parents. The own righteousness is lofty adulthood which considers the righteousness of Jesus childish idealism. An adult who has submitted himself to the righteousness of God is "one of these little ones" who believe in Jesus.
The faith of the Son of God wants to destroy the faith originated from man. Oh, how much believers have opposed to the death of their own righteousness!
Own goodness is rubbish!
Paul says that we have gained something according to the flesh, when we have done something good from our own motives and in our own strength. "What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God." Ro.4:1-2 Abraham could boast about his good deeds before people. However before God they were worthless. The motives of the deeds give them their value. If the motives are not from God, the deeds are worthless before God, although they would be valuable and useful for men.
Pride of own goodness and boasting about it is poison. It is old leaven that must be purged out. "Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us." 1Co.5:6-7
Paul himself had a great temptation to boast about his good background, because what he had gained before he came to the faith was humanly respectable. However he counted loss what he had gained because of the knowledge of Jesus. "I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ." Php.3:4-7
Correspondingly many could boast as follows: "I am baptized and I am a Christian of Christians. I have lived according to the Christian values starting from my childhood and have been an eager churchgoer and I have never denied my faith." Who is able to count his loss his flesh-originated Christianity? Before gaining the gift of righteousness there can only be deeds of one's own righteousness.
For the sake of Christ, are you able to count your baptism and your Christian education as rubbish, because they existed before you were born again? All your good deeds you did before you came to the faith and the ones you did in your own righteousness, are you able to consider them dead deeds? Are you able to count as rubbish what the people of this world consider valuable? Yes, you can, if you thirst for the righteousness of God.
Paul wanted to lose everything preventing him from experiencing the righteousness of God. "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ." Php.3:8
It is really great grace to be allowed to be Christ's own, but it is even more to gain Christ. One who wants to live and to experience God's righteousness counts one's own righteousness as rubbish. Gaining Christ means that I am "found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith." Php.3:9
There was no new creation in you before you came to the faith. You were not a child of God in Christ Jesus, you only were created in the image of God in Adam and in Eve. It is the most essential rule in the life of a believer that he dies to his old nature and lives according to the new nature that is originated from God. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God." Ga.6:15-16
Paul says that we have gained something according to the flesh, when we have done something good from our own motives and in our own strength. "What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God." Ro.4:1-2 Abraham could boast about his good deeds before people. However before God they were worthless. The motives of the deeds give them their value. If the motives are not from God, the deeds are worthless before God, although they would be valuable and useful for men.
Pride of own goodness and boasting about it is poison. It is old leaven that must be purged out. "Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us." 1Co.5:6-7
Paul himself had a great temptation to boast about his good background, because what he had gained before he came to the faith was humanly respectable. However he counted loss what he had gained because of the knowledge of Jesus. "I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ." Php.3:4-7
Correspondingly many could boast as follows: "I am baptized and I am a Christian of Christians. I have lived according to the Christian values starting from my childhood and have been an eager churchgoer and I have never denied my faith." Who is able to count his loss his flesh-originated Christianity? Before gaining the gift of righteousness there can only be deeds of one's own righteousness.
For the sake of Christ, are you able to count your baptism and your Christian education as rubbish, because they existed before you were born again? All your good deeds you did before you came to the faith and the ones you did in your own righteousness, are you able to consider them dead deeds? Are you able to count as rubbish what the people of this world consider valuable? Yes, you can, if you thirst for the righteousness of God.
Paul wanted to lose everything preventing him from experiencing the righteousness of God. "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ." Php.3:8
It is really great grace to be allowed to be Christ's own, but it is even more to gain Christ. One who wants to live and to experience God's righteousness counts one's own righteousness as rubbish. Gaining Christ means that I am "found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith." Php.3:9
There was no new creation in you before you came to the faith. You were not a child of God in Christ Jesus, you only were created in the image of God in Adam and in Eve. It is the most essential rule in the life of a believer that he dies to his old nature and lives according to the new nature that is originated from God. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God." Ga.6:15-16
The Bible version used in references is NKJV