“When Paul talks about how you receive salvation, he never tells you to have faith… When Paul uses the word faith, he’s talking about Christ’s faith, not yours.”
This came across my desk this week as an example of the online error du jour about Jesus having faith for you. Do you recognize the error? You should if you are verifying what you hear online with the Bible.
“concerning your faith” – 1 Thess 3:2
“I sent to know your faith” – 1 Thess 3:5
“good tidings of your faith” – 1 Thess 3:6
“faith that is in thee” – 2 Tim 1:5
This is your faith, and it was important to Paul. Faith is crucial to receive salvation.
“the faith which he [Abraham] had” – Rom 4:9, Rom 4:12
“Therefore, being justified by faith …” – Rom 5:1
“if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain …” – 1 Cor 15:17
He ministered to grow “your faith”.
“the service of your faith” – Phi 2:17
“when your faith is increased” – 2 Cor 10:15
“the steadfastness of your faith” – Col 2:5
“perfect that which is lacking in your faith” – 1 Thess 3:10
In his epistles, Paul did not appeal to men to “have faith” because he was writing to those who already had it. A fact that some fail to notice.
“all men have not faith” (but they had it) – 2 Thess 3:2
“Holding the mystery of the faith” – 1 Tim 3:9
“mutual faith both of you and me” – Rom 1:12
“I have kept the faith” – 2 Tim 4:7
You can only hold and keep what you first have. The faith that is required of a faithful steward to hold and keep is of Christ Jesus, but it is their own. This is why he thanks God for hearing about “your faith”.
“we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus” – Col 1:4
“your faith to God-ward is spread abroad” – 1 Thess 1:8
“Hearing of thy love and faith” – Phm 5
Don’t let the error of “Jesus having faith for you” shipwreck your faith. Doctrinal errors have a history of overthrowing “the faith of some” (2 Tim 2:18).
Always verify claims about the Bible with your own study. These days, much of what you hear online about the Bible is only artificially intelligent (i.e., not true).
Your faith is important. It comes from hearing of Christ Jesus and his work by the cross (Rom 10:17).
That your faith may abound,
Justin “grace through faith” Johnson