Paul the Apostle was ever impacted by the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!

And he is also keenly interested in proving that Jews and Gentiles alike are saved “by Grace through faith!”

Listen to him review this vital theology, soteriology …

“We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Galatians 2:15-16

The Law (of Moses) does NOT save!

“Justified” means “made right” with God, in God’s Sight.

The Faith of Jesus, faith in Jesus … does save!

But the way Paul words this faith/Jesus relationship is intensely captivating!

Specifically … “a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith OF Jesus Christ.”

Then again in the same verse, only a clause later … “that we might be justified by the faith OF Christ.”

Sounds like here, the grammar almost demanding it, that Jesus’ Faith plays a part in our salvation as well! (Not just our faith in Him!)

We are saved by “Jesus’ Faith?” Again, “by the faith OF Christ!”

Which word, “faith” (in Greek “pistis”) can often mean (and does here) “faithfulness!”

Get this now …

Because of Jesus’ Faithfulness to obey His Father’s Will, to come to earth and die for us sinners, to shed His Blood on Calvary …we can be saved! We indeed ARE SAVED by the Faith OF Jesus Christ our Lord!

But still, and equally important, we are saved by believing in Jesus, exercising our personal faith in God’s Son, the Saviour of the world. Trusting His Finished Word on the Cross! The empty tomb as well!

And here is this vital Truth expressed in our Text today … “even we have believed in Jesus Christ!” I have underlined the preposition “in” for emphasis.

In Greek it is “eis,” we have believed “into” Christ Jesus!

One of Paul’s favorite words, ideas!

“Therefore if any man be IN Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

We, under Holy Spirit conviction, believed on the Lord Jesus Christ … and the same Holy Spirit instantly put us “in” the Body of Christ!

Thus we have trusted “into” Christ our Lord!

Saved, not by law, but by belief, by faith!

And now we are found “IN HIM!”

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell