By OUR faith we enter into CHRIST’S OWN faithfulness

Christ’s own faithfulness (Romans 1:17, 3:22, 26, Galatians 2:16, 16, 22, 3:2, 5, 22, 23, 23, 25, 26, Ephesians 3:12, Philippians 3:9), that is, the faithfulness that the Gospel manifested as being within his own heart toward God (Galatians 3:26 [Ephesians 1:15, Colossians 1:4], 1 Timothy 3:13, 2 Timothy 1:13, 3:15, James 2:1, Revelation 2:13, 14:12) is what inspires and indwells our faith[fulness] in response (Romans 1:17, 3:22[, 26], Galatians 2:16, 3:22, Philippians 3:9).  Secondarily, to “put on Christ” by baptism is ipso facto to enter into his own faithfulness by exercising our own measure of faith, and thereby to participate in all that his flawless faithfulness gained for us. [7/05/10]

CHRIST’S FAITHFULNESS SUPREMELY MANIFESTED AT THE CROSS; GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS SUPREMELY MANIFESTED AT CHRIST’S RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD

Michael J. Gorman* mistakes “the faithfulness of Christ/Jesus” as being inclusive of “the righteousness of God” and identical with “the faithfulness of God“.  He thus confuses what Paul keeps strategically distinct!  For although Gorman is fundamentally correct that “Christ’s faithfulness” focuses on his cross, yet “God’s righteousness/justice” focuses on his RESURRECTION!

*Cruciformity, pp. 116-120; Inhabiting the Cruciform God, pp. 80, 90, 104.

77 Questions about the Atonement (Q&A #67)

67.     Isn’t faith something from ourselves, so doesn’t God have to reject it as being tainted by depravity?

Not a problem.  Merely hearing the powerful Explanation of God about Jesus, along with all its intrinsic corroboration, generates faith; therefore that Explanation itself is God’s real dynamo for our salvation.  Faith must be based on evidence and proof or it’s misplaced and will make a person ashamed for exerting it without proper foundation.  That’s why the phenomenon of faith in God’s Proclamation actually gives credit to that Explanation for generating the faith in the first place.  Sweet!  And besides that, the faculty of believing is part of human nature, so is structurally good, not depraved.  What it attaches to makes all the difference.