BY FAITH AND THROUGH FAITH: A DISPENSATIONAL DISTINCTIONS
By: Brother Albert Gran
Romans 3:28-30King James Version (KJV)
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Introduction:
There were many citations in the Holy Scriptures of which "by faith" and "through faith" are slightly taken as majority thought these had not differ in its sense and application. This simple study somehow will shed light to show distinctions between these phrases as Paul stated above.
As it reads, Paul concluded that "man" is justified by faith. He spoke this before the time under the dispensation of grace. It means that our justification still is in view "by faith" however by faith without the DEEDS OF THE LAW which I considered "through faith" under this dispensation of grace for the uncircumcision. Is there a truth of which God had dealt certain group of people by faith with inclusions of the deeds of the law?
CIRCUMCISION BY FAITH : BY THE DEEDS OF THE LAW
31 Do we then make void THE LAW THROUGH FAITH? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
It's so plain however that Paul sensed something with dispensational connotation what time and operation in matters of God's dealing is involved prior the "through faith" as Paul referred to. It's crystal clear, it's THE LAW before "THROUGH FAITH". How did Paul established the law in the "through faith" which I referred to as under the period of grace? Let's consider this matter:
Romans 13:8-9
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
While those circumcision who had been given the law stressed out its details, the uncircumcision through Paul's revelation established all those details by LOVE. Under grace, we believers fulfilled all those moral applications under the law and its moral value as long as our present walk are governed and motivated by LOVE.
Let's consider these facts below how the circumcision UNDER THE LAW stressed out the deeds of the law in order to attain justification by faith. We will start from Abraham when God set him as a pattern being justified by faith plus his works when the promise was first declared to him as a father of the circumcision.
BY FAITH AND WORKS OPERATES TO THE CIRCUMCISION: FROM ABRAHAM TO MOSES
Romans 13:8-9
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Hebrews 11:17King James Version (KJV)
17 BY FAITH Abraham, when he was tried, OFFERED UP Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Hebrews 11:20King James Version (KJV)
20 BY FAITH Isaac BLESSED Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Hebrews 11:21King James Version (KJV)
21 BY FAITH Jacob, when he was a dying, BLESSED both the sons of Joseph; and WORSHIPPED, leaning upon the top of his staff.
Hebrews 11:22King James Version (KJV)
22 BY FAITH Joseph, when he died, MADE MENTION of the departing of the children of Israel; and GAVE COMMANDMENT concerning his bones.
Hebrews 11:24-31King James Version (KJV)
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
These are all accounts and citations by which the "by faith" starting from the given promise of Abraham and his lineage incorporate "WORKS" for their justification.
BY FAITH AND WORKS OPERATES TO THE CIRCUMCISION: FROM MOSES TO CHRIST
When the law was added to the promise through Moses, God used it for His people to keep so that by faith they may also obtain justification in doing so. Let's consider the following below.
Exodus 16:27-28King James Version (KJV)
27 And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.
28 And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?
Exodus 20:5-6King James Version (KJV)
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Leviticus 22:30-31King James Version (KJV)
30 On the same day it shall be eaten up; ye shall leave none of it until the morrow: I am the Lord.
31 Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the Lord.
Leviticus 26:2-3King James Version (KJV)
2 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.
3 If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;
Deuteronomy 5:10King James Version (KJV)
10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
Deuteronomy 5:29King James Version (KJV)
29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
1 Kings 3:14King James Version (KJV)
14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
1 Kings 6:12King James Version (KJV)
12 Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:
1 Kings 9:6King James Version (KJV)
6 But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:
1 Chronicles 29:19King James Version (KJV)
19 And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
Nehemiah 1:9King James Version (KJV)
9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.
When the LAW OF GOD was given to Moses at Mt. Sinai, really it accounts for the circumcision to observe as were those being given the LAW. Paul attested the truthfulness of it who were those specific group of people through which the law had been given. Reading the whole chapter of Romans 9, you would notice how Paul desired for his kinsmen to be saved through His message of grace even though at time they were once people ever been blessed by God.
Romans 9 King James Version (KJV)
9 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
Clearly you would noticed in Paul's epistle how Christ came to the circumcision in the flesh. Paul even remarked that Christ is the minister of the circumcision to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.
Romans 15:8King James Version (KJV)
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
As a minister to the circumcision, he clearly points out how the law was still in view during His earthly ministry account. Christ's teaching clearly emphasized in view of keeping the law.
Matthew 5 King James Version (KJV)
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 WHOSOEVERY THEREFORE SHALL BREAK ONE OF THESE LEAST COMMANDMENTS, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
James 2:10King James Version (KJV)
10 For whosoever shall KEEP THE WHOLE LAW, and yet OFFEND IN ONE POINT, he is guilty of all.
John 14:14-15King James Version (KJV)
10 For whosoever shall KEEP THE WHOLE LAW, and yet OFFEND IN ONE POINT, he is guilty of all.
John 14:14-15King James Version (KJV)
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15 If ye love me, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.
John 14:20-21King James Version (KJV)
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that HATH MY COMMANDMENTS, and KEEPETH THEM, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
John 15:10King James Version (KJV)
10 If ye KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
These accounts held us convicted that CIRCUMCISION clearly were justified "by faith" along with the PERFORMANCE for their justification. We can't integrate all these accounts in the "through faith" under the dispensation of grace wherein PERFORMANCE basis or works are not counted for our justification. Many are still confused as they recognized all accounts in time past including the account of whom Christ was a minister to the circumcision to seek the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Christ's doctrines and teachings when he was manifested in the flesh is clearly in view of the prophetic promise concerning him for the circumcision's hope of the kingdom as the kingdom of priests and in view of Israel as His children above all nations.
CIRCUMCISION THROUGH FAITH: BY THE GRACE OF GOD
30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
It's not the issue here who will justify the person since we all know THERE'S ONLY ONE GOD who can do it. However, it sees fit for every person how God operates in the justification process of man through out times. We must dispense the truth of God's plan and wisdom as this is how he dispensed men in the history of human kind past, present, and future. His blue print over the ages had already set into completion even though our times have not yet ended.
Accounts which shall come hereafter in the Holy Scriptures were already set by God and it will never be changed. Our direction as avid students of Gods words who longed to understand the finest counsels of God based on His wisdom and prudence adhered the principle of rightly dividing the word of truth ( 2 Tim. 2:15) and COMPARING SPIRITUAL THINGS with spiritual (1 Cor. 2:13).
"Uncircumcision through faith" indeed has its significant change in view how our justification in this present dispensation of grace is singled out WITHOUT WORKS OR APART FROM HUMAN WORKS. Consider these things:
It's not the issue here who will justify the person since we all know THERE'S ONLY ONE GOD who can do it. However, it sees fit for every person how God operates in the justification process of man through out times. We must dispense the truth of God's plan and wisdom as this is how he dispensed men in the history of human kind past, present, and future. His blue print over the ages had already set into completion even though our times have not yet ended.
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