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The Doctrine of Christ - The Object of Faith
Scripture Passage:
John 3:1-18 - SALVATION COULD NOT HAVE BEEN
- By Works
- Salvation could not come by good works
- The people did not keep the law (John 7:19Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
See All...). - The law could not give life (Galatians 3:21-22 [21] Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
[22] But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
See All...). - The law could not justify (Acts 13:39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
See All...; Romans 3:20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
See All...; Galatians 3:11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
See All..., 24). - The law was given to identify sin (Romans 7:7-13 [7] What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
[8] But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
[9] For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
[10] And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
[11] For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
[12] Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
[13] Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
See All...). - The sacrifices within the law were meant to offer purification of the flesh (Hebrews 9:13-14 [13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
See All...). - The New Testament gives light on the Old Testament
- An individual reading only the Old Testament might very well come to the conclusion that salvation could have been by keeping the law.
- The New Testament confirms the emphasis of the Old Testament on works, but shows that righteousness was not obtained by works (Romans 9:30-33 [30] What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
[31] But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
[32] Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
[33] As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
See All...). - By Faith in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection
- The Lord Jesus began to preach the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 4:17From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
See All.... - He began to call His disciples in Matthew 4:18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
See All.... - He began telling His disciples about the death, burial, and resurrection in Matthew 16:21From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
See All.... - This message was rejected in Matthew 16:22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
See All.... - The disciples did not believe that Christ was risen from the dead (John 20:8Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
See All...; Mark 16:14Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
See All...; John 20:25The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
See All...). - A POSSIBLE EMPHASIS OF THE OBJECT OF FAITH
- The Lord’s Questions to His Disciples
- He asked them who men said that He was (Matthew 16:13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
See All...). - He asked them who they said He was (Matthew 16:15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
See All...). - He Praised Simon Peter’s Answer
- Simon Peter claimed that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
See All...). - The Lord paused everything to praise Simon Peter’s answer (Matthew 16:17-18 [17] And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
[18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
See All...). - Other Mentions of Peter’s Answer
- When the woman at the well recognized Christ as the Messiah, she left her water pot (John 4:26Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
See All...). - Peter made the same declaration in John 6:69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
See All.... - The Lord Jesus told the Jews they would die in their sins if they refused to believe that He was indeed the Son of God (John 8:24-28 [24] I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
[25] Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
[26] I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
[27] They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
[28] Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
See All...). - This was the confession made by Martha (John 11:27She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
See All...). - It was for this purpose that the Lord Jesus told the disciples of His betrayal (John 13:19Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
See All...). - This was the purpose of the gospel of John (John 20:31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
See All...).
Proverbs 1:15
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: