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Life & Love, Who is God?

On Faith and Works

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The issue on faith and works is always a hot topic. One group claims that salvation is by faith alone while another group claims that salvation is not only by faith but also at the same time, by works. That is, salvation by faith and works. By “works” or “good works” they mean the keeping of the ten commandments and all of God’s commands. This belief is sometimes called, “salvation by works.” They place a high value and importance on the keeping of the law for salvation.

So what is really God’s Word on this matter? Is there a conflict between Paul and James? Getting the context for each of the epistle will tell us that the Bible is in harmony throughout each book or epistle. There is actually no conflict between Paul and James.

The Context of Paul

In the case of Paul’s epistles (please read through Romans, Galatians and Colossians), he was addressing issues where some Jewish Christians — take note, they were Christians too — were insisting that the Gentile Christians should also obey of the law of Moses in addition to believing in Christ (Acts 15:1, 5, Gal. 3). Please be sure to read the verses quoted to fully understand the context.

These Jewish Christians were insisting that the Gentile Christians needed to also keep the law of Moses. aside from following Christ. Christ was insufficient for salvation, according to them (Colossians 1-2). They needed to keep the Law of Moses as well in order to be saved, they claimed. For them, believing in Christ was not enough.

But Paul argued that they were complete in Christ—they had fullness in Christ (Col. 1:19, Col. 2:9-10). Nothing more was needed. All they needed was Christ. All they needed was faith in Christ. This was what Paul was arguing about and is the context of his epistles. Paul insisted that Christians were not under the law of Moses but rather, they were under the law of Christ (1 Cor. 9:20-21; Gal. 6:2). They were not under law but under grace (Rom. 6:14).

So in Paul’s epistles, the issue was: What can justify them before God? Is it faith or is it works? Paul’s answer? Faith alone, without the observance of the law of Moses (works). Here’s Galatians 2:16:

know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

This verse is quite clear and needs no further explanation. Can we gain righteousness through the law of Moses (or any other law for that matter—including the ten commandments)? Galatians 2:21 says, No!

“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Lest you think Paul is against good works, please take note that in the epistle to Titus (in another context), Paul emphasized the importance of doing good works. To do good works is encouraged for Christians (Eph 2:10). But the main issue in Paul’s other epistles is whether the Law of Moses (or any other law you could mention) is required for salvation and the clear answer from Paul is, NO! We are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8).

The Context of James

In the case of James, it is altogether a different set of circumstances. The first two chapters of James show that the early Christians — take note again, these were Christians whom James addressed — were showing partiality, favoritism, and the love of some (their “faith,” their religion) were merely lip-service. They were not actually loving and helping their fellow brethren. They were merely listening but not doing (James 1:22). They were not practicing pure and undefiled religion which is to actually help the widows and fatherless (James 1:27).

With this context in mind, James explained that real faith is evidenced by good works. Perfect faith is shown by good works. These early Christians needed more than mere acknowledgement of the truth. They needed to live out the truth. If their faith were for real, it will naturally show in good works. That is the context.

Is this in conflict with Paul’s argument? Of course not! This is a totally different context. James was talking to Christians whose “faith” was not lived out in Christian love for the brethren.

While, in Paul’s epistles, he was arguing against the Jewish Christians who insisted that the Gentile Christians should also keep the Law of Moses aside from believing in Christ in order to be saved. Therefore Paul said, salvation is by faith alone without the observance of the law! Faith alone, without works. That is the real context.

Paul and James were not in conflict. The Bible is in harmony.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Yes, we were created to do good works. For a convicted criminal on death row who has been given a presidential pardon, to obey the law (doing good works) when he goes out of jail is expected of him. It’s the right thing to do. He’s not supposed to break the law again. The keeping of the law is not something that saved him. In this illustration, it’s the presidential pardon that saved him. It is the same with salvation. Christ alone saves. To keep the law does not save us. We are expected to keep the law. It’s the right thing to do after having been saved by Christ.

So, are we saved by doing good works? No, we have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. So, is “salvation by works” biblical? No. What then is the Bible’s teaching on salvation? We are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone!

Paul-James

A commentary from the Thompson Chain Reference Bible

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Who is God?

What is Tithing and Offering?

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tithe image

One church member asked me to give my thoughts on what (in his own words) is this “New Testament tithing and offering.”

Well, first of all, the word “tithe” is an old English word which simply means, “ten percent.” A tithe simply means a tenth of something or ten percent. The idea of giving a tithe or ten percent of what one produces out of his labor in the land was part of the package of laws and statutes which was called the Law of Moses given at Mt. Sinai to the Israelites (Deut. 14:22).

Tithing and Offering in Ancient Times

Before the Law of Moses was given, tithing or the giving of offerings was already practiced by people such as Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:2-5), Abraham (Genesis 14:20) and Jacob (Genesis 28:22). It was usually an act of voluntary giving of one’s own resources to give thanks, honor and worship to God. It was their way of giving glory and honor to the Lord. Tithing and the the giving of offerings were a cultural practice during those ancient times.

Before the giving of the Law of Moses which commanded the Israelites to tithe, Abel, Cain, Abraham and Jacob were already tithing or giving offerings of what they had. It showed before God the worshipper’s heart — whether good or bad. But the practice was already there.

Law of Moses Added Until Christ

Many years later when the Law of Moses was given at Mt. Sinai to the Israelites, tithing was among those laws that the Israelites were commanded to obey and diligently follow. As a young new nation of about 3 million people who came out of Egypt, they needed the tithes for the upkeep of the tabernacle and for the support of the Levites who took care of the tabernacle and other priestly duties. When Christ came, the purpose of the Law of Moses as our tutor (Greek, paidagogos) ended. The real Tutor, Jesus Christ has arrived and the tithing law (which was part and parcel of the Law of Moses) ended (Gal. 3:19, 24-25).

The Bible Teaching Throughout: Generosity

Today, there is no Law of Moses that commands Christians to tithe. We could say that today, we have the “law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). The Law of Moses was for the Israelites until Christ came. But please take note, that the act of giving voluntarily from the very beginning was never abolished. The tithing law enforced under the Law of Moses that ended when Christ came did not end the principle of giving. Giving from the heart has always been there. Generosity was never abolished. Giving especially for those in need has always been encouraged and is the right thing to do. It reflects who God is, the God of love, the God who is love. This is not just the New Testament teaching but the teaching of the Old Testament as well. Generosity or giving from the heart is the teaching of the whole Bible.

If one were to check the whole Bible—from the Old Testament to the New Testament—what God is teaching is the voluntary act of giving, from the heart. It is generosity that is being taught all throughout. It was never about percentages or ten percent. The New Testament teaching emphasizes giving from the heart—a cheerful giver—not merely the compliance-mode of giving ten percent just to follow the letter of the law (2 Cor. 9:7).

Nowadays in our modern age, some people don’t actually know the literal meaning of the word “tithe” and people just normally use the word “tithe” loosely to mean “giving an offering” without thinking of a literal ten percent. I have no problem with that. That is just a terminology they use to mean giving. That then to me is the “New Testament tithing and offering.”

To me, it’s just a terminology that people today use. I take it to mean, the voluntary act of giving offerings to God in honor and worship to him. I take it to mean generosity. I don’t make a big issue out of it when people use the word, “tithe.” I think I understand what they mean.

We give not because we are forced to do so because of a law (the Law of Moses) or for fear that we will not be blessed financially if we don’t give. Giving in order to get is not real giving at all. But rather, we give from the heart because we love God and we love our fellowmen. We want to honor him and worship him through our voluntary giving. This has always been God’s teaching all along—before, during and after the Law of Moses—since the time of Abel and Cain up to now. God has always taught us generosity.

Who is God?

Is the Law Our Schoolmaster?

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“I believe that God’s law is a ‘schoolmaster’ that brings me to Christ. I do not perfectly walk with Christ yet, so I need my “schoolmaster”, hence I strive to obey the Ten Commandments.”

The above quote comes from a well-meaning Christian and I respect his passion to love God and to obey God’s commandments. I have nothing against that. But I believe the Apostle Paul meant something different in Galatians 3:24 and not exactly the way this Christian has interpreted this particular verse.

So, let’s answer the question: Is the law our schoolmaster for Christians of today which we all need to strive to obey? Let’s study several points on this issue.

Here’s the actual verse in Galatians 3:24 in the King James Version: “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

First, please take note that Paul said that the law was their schoolmaster. This word “schoolmaster” comes from the Greek word, paidagogos, which meant a slave tutor or a guardian. This tutor or guardian took care of training and guiding a child heir until the time the child’s father gives him his inheritance. That’s the “schoolmaster” (KJV) during those days in their culture.  In other words, Paul was saying that the law (Greek, nomos) was their schoolmaster (Greek, paidagogos). Please take note of the temporary nature of this law which was their schoolmaster, guardian or slave tutor! It was not meant to be the child’s tutor forever!

Secondly, please take note that this particular law WAS (past tense!) their “schoolmaster” according to the Apostle Paul (check again verse 24). When Paul said that it WAS their schoolmaster, he meant that this particular law no longer was their schoolmaster when he wrote this epistle to the Galatians sometime in 49-50 AD.

Thirdly, please also take note that Paul said it was THEIR schoolmaster. Paul no longer considered this law as their schoolmaster when he became a Christian. Previous to this, he was a devout Jew and a pharisee of the pharisees who excelled in Judaism.

Fourthly, what was this law that is under discussion here? Galatians 3:10 tells us it was the “book of the law”—a clear reference to the Law of Moses, the whole first 5 books of the Old Testament or the Torah. This law was their paidagogos—schoolmaster. Clearly, the whole Law of Moses was for Israel and not for Christians. It was “theirs”—not “ours.”

Fifthly, Paul said that the purpose of this temporary law (schoolmaster) was to eventually bring or lead him and his fellow Israelites to Christ — the real Master and Teacher!

Let’s us now please take note of the next verse: “But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (KJV Gal. 3:25).

Here are a few other translations of Galatians 3:25:

  • New American Standard Bible: “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”
  • New International Version (old version): “Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.”
  • New International Version (2011): “Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”
  • New Living Translation: “And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.”

One thing is clear here in these various translations: Faith has come. Therefore, the temporary guardian is no longer needed. Justification by faith in Christ has come when Christ came and Paul showed that no man could be justified by the works of the law (Gal. 2:16). The schoolmaster was no longer needed. The slave tutor was no longer needed. And this paidagogos which was no longer needed was the law! Why? Because Christ has come! (Paul further elaborates this point in Galatians 4:1-11.)

Please take note that whatever particular law was being referred to by Galatians 3:25, Paul clearly stated that they were no longer under that law or schoolmaster! According to Paul, now that faith HAS COME, there was no longer any need for that law as their guardian. Now that Christ himself was with them, they no longer needed a tutor, a guardian or a schoolmaster (Greek, paidagogos). Christ was with them already—the Master himself has come!

So what law was introduced 430 years later after the Abrahamic covenant? Please read Gal. 3:17.

“What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.” (Galatians 3:17)

It was clearly the Law of Moses that was given at Mt. Sinai. (Please read Exodus 19 trough 24 thoroughly—from the proposal to the ratification by blood of the old covenant. And yes, it included the “ten words.”)

Was this law “added?” Yes. It’s quite clear. Please read Galatians 3:19a.

“What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come” (Galatians 3:19a).

So we see that this Law of Moses was “added” and that it was temporary in nature until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some will argue that it was only the rituals or the sacrificial laws that were added but that is not accurate. The sacrificial laws, rituals or ceremonial laws were not added. These were all part and parcel of the laws given at Mt. Sinai. It was the whole Law of Moses that was “added” according to Paul. The Abrahamic covenant already existed and 430 years later, the Law of Moses was added.

Are Christians under this law? Is this law our “schoolmaster” or tutor? Do we need this schoolmaster or shall we instead look to Jesus Christ? Please read again Gal. 3:24-25 .

“So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.  25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.” (Galatians 3:24-25)

This is clearly a reference to 430 years later after the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 12) which leads us to Mt. Sinai where the Law of Moses (Exo. 19-24) was given! It was a temporary law that came and went and ended when Christ came.

The Abrahamic covenant was never abolished and continues up to now and we are heirs of that promise as Paul explained (Gal. 3:29). The Law of Moses is not our “schoolmaster” or “tutor” as Paul clearly shows here. This Abrahamic covenant is based on better promises—a better covenant (the new covenant) than the one that was abolished.

In context—in Galatians 3—this particular law cannot make them righteous. That was the issue that was being discussed by Paul. The righteous shall live by the faith of Jesus Christ and no one will be declared righteous by the obeying this particular law (Gal. 3:1-14, Gal. 2:16-17)! Please take note how Paul was filled with righteous anger because of this wrong teaching that was spreading among Christians in Galatia. He called them “foolish Galatians!” (Galatians 3:1). Why? What was this wrong teaching all about? Just read through Galatians 3 and you’ll be surprised! It was salvation by works of the law!

Lest I be misunderstood, I am not against the law. There is a law which Christians should follow. But definitely it’s not the package of laws that was called the Law of Moses. Rather, it is God’s law even before the giving of the Law of Moses. Paul called it the “Law of Christ.” These are laws which do include many parts of the Law of Moses which can be categorized as moral laws (not animal sacrifices or rituals).

It is truly exciting and liberating to study Paul’s letter to the Galatians! May the Lord give us all full understanding of the good news! It truly is good news!

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Life & Love, Who is God?

The Abundant Life in Christ

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Note: This was a sermon I gave to the local church of Grace Communion International in Sta. Rosa, Laguna during their 10th church anniversary on July 10, 2011.

Congratulations on your 10th church anniversary! Thank you for inviting me to join this wonderful celebration. It also gave me and my wife the opportunity to visit my mother-in-law.

Ten years ago, this group was declared a church. I do remember that being the senior pastor of GCI Manila South and because my parents-in-law lived here in Sta. Rosa, we started sometime in 1999 a small group in this area upon the insistence of some of the church members here at Laguna Bel Air. That’s how it all started and many of you were part of that pioneering small group.

Glad to know that through the ups and downs that we go through in life—in trials and in triumphs—this local church has continued to be in the faith up to now. Congratulations to all of you brethren on your 10th anniversary!

The Good Life

10thanniv sta rosa
Photo credit: Didz Raduban

We all want the good life right? We want good health, prosperity, assurance, security. That’s what everybody is looking for—the good life. In John 10:10 it says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” In the King James Version it says, “that we might have it more abundantly.” The abundant life is what Jesus is offering us! But what is this good life anyway?

Does this mean, continued good health and material prosperity? Just what is “Experiencing life in God’s love”—which is your anniversary theme—all about?

The Two Questions

To answer life’s questions, we need to answer two questions. The first one is: 1) Who is God as revealed in Jesus Christ? Who is God anyway? And the second question is, 2) who are we—humans—in relation to Jesus Christ?

Who is God?

So, who is God? God who is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is love. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit—a community—if you please. The early church fathers used the Greek word, perichoresis to describe this relationship in the Trinity. It means mutual indwelling. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are mutually indwelling each other. It’s a web of relationships—loving relationships. Everything God does is because of love and the result of what God does is always love. Jesus reveals to us who the Father is. He is love. That’s who God is.

Who is Man?

Why are we here on earth? It’s because of God’s love. That’s what it says in Ephesians 4:4-5: “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”

God’s Plan

God’s plan is to include us into that family, that community, into that loving relationship enjoyed by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit through our Lord Jesus Christ. Why? So that we will also experience the joy that they are experiencing in their life and love in the Trinity. This is what was in God’s mind when he said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”

Community of Believers

I think that is the reason why God said that “it is not good that man should be alone” when he created Adam. He wants us to be part of a community. He provided a partner in life—Eve—so that Adam may have a companion. From the very beginning, God intended us to become part of a community — to have union and communion. And that’s what the church is—a community, a community of believers where you can belong, where you can share your life and love with others. Where you can share your joys and your sorrows as we go through life. That’s the church—where there is supposed to be mutual love, mutual help, mutual understanding for each other, supporting each other, encouraging one another.

Here is what Jesus said in John 14:20 “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”

In a nutshell, this is the good news of Jesus Christ! God who is love, all along wanted us to become part of his loving community as his children! And that’s good news!

Clarifying John 10:10—The Abundant Life

Many preachers quote John 10:10 to support the idea that Christianity leads to physical prosperity and “every good thing.” The verse has been used as a description of the Christian life, the normative pattern of life that Christians can expect because of God’s blessings.

Context of John 10

Chapter 10 of John’s Gospel develops the biblical theme of sheep and the shepherd. The shepherd is accessible to the sheep. Strangers do not have a personal relationship with the flock, but the good shepherd does. Verse 10 draws the contrast between Jesus and false shepherds, the thieves who come to kill, steal and destroy.

John 20:31 describes the purpose of this gospel. Speaking of the miracles and signs, John says, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

The New International Commentary on the New Testament says: “Life is one of John’s characteristic concepts. He uses the term 36 times. ‘Life‘ in John refers to eternal life (see on 3:15), the gift of God through His Son. Here, however, the term must be taken in its broadest sense. It is only because there is life in the Logos that there is life in anything on earth at all.” (John, page 82).

In summary, John 10:10 should not be used as though it gives some promise of an improved physical life for the Christian. Such a view, in light of the context, is shallow, and it overlooks the profound truth of the passage. The passage promises superior, superabundant spiritual life, life empowered by the indwelling of Jesus Christ. Because Christians “have” Jesus Christ, because he lives within them, they have the riches of the superabundant life.

John 10:10 promises a spiritual dimension to life, not physical abundance. A focus on the physical trivializes the profound depth of John 10:10.

Experiencing Life in God’s Love

Here then is how to experience life in God’s love:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Such is the wording of Galatians 2:20 in the KJV, which I believe is a correct translation of the Greek.

When we look back deeply into our lives and think about how many times we have been disobedient and continue to be, it is marvelously comforting to know that Jesus Christ gives us his life of obedience to the Father and that it is Christ’s obedience which counts. We are saved by his obedience, not ours. It is his life, his faith and his obedience that saves us and includes us into that salvation.

This is how to understand Gal. 2:20. “I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me.”

That is exactly what the Lord Jesus does and is doing when in giving of himself for us he completely takes our place, makes our cause his very own in every aspect of our lives.

Here is what Jesus said in John 14:20 “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”

Count it all joy!

For a follower of Jesus Christ, life is full of meaning and purpose. For an unbeliever, it is meaningless. You just live and die and that’s it. But for a follower of Christ, even trials cannot dampen our spirit. We know what’s in store for us now and in the future.

So, you want the abundant life brethren? You want to experience life in God’s love? Then let us allow Christ to live in us. Count it all joy when we are under severe trials or persecution. Life has meaning for a Christian despite life’s trials. Just like the Apostle Paul, let us all say, “I live yet not I but Christ lives in me.” Despite difficult circumstances in life and despite severe trials, we can experience and enjoy life in God’s love even right now and we can also look forward with hope and assurance into the future. Jesus came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly! Congratulations and happy 10th church anniversary!

Life & Love, Who is God?

I Believe, Yet Not I, But Christ Believes for Me

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“Christ in our place and Christ for us in every respect” —Thomas F. Torrance

Christ lived and died for us. As our vicarious representative and substitute, he assumed everything and took our place. As our High Priest, Christ stands in for us in every way. He obeyed for us. He believed for us. He got baptized for us. He prayed on our behalf. He lived for us. He died for us. We got implicated in him—in what he did to us and for us. Even our faith has been implicated in his faith. Our faith is enveloped and taken hold of by the faith of Jesus Christ.

In Our Place

“The Bible tells us that Jesus is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:13). That is why we can freely trust him to be our all in all and not even worry about whether our faith itself is good enough or strong enough. Thomas F. Torrance explains it this way:

“Jesus steps into the actual situation where we are summoned to have faith in God, to believe and trust in him, and he acts in our place and in our stead from within the depths of our unfaithfulness and provides us freely with a faithfulness in which we may share…. That is to say, if we think of belief, trust or faith as forms of human activity before God, then we must think of Jesus Christ as believing, trusting, or having faith in God the Father on our behalf and in our place….

“Through his incarnational and atoning union with us our faith is implicated in his faith, and through that implication, far from being depersonalised or dehumanised, it is made to issue freely and spontaneously out of our own human life before God. Regarded merely in itself, however, as Calvin used to say, faith is an empty vessel, for in faith it is upon the faithfulness of Christ that we rest and even the way in which we rest on him is sustained and undergirded by his unfailing faithfulness (The Mediation of Christ, pp. 82-84).

“It is the life, faith and obedience of Jesus Christ that saves us and includes us in that salvation.”

Not By Your Works Nor by Your Faith!

How often do we hear of people say that it is their faith that saves. But the truth is, it is the faith of Christ that saves. Our faith has been implicated in his faith. This is how to understand Gal. 2:20 . “I live, yet not I but Christ.” In the same manner we can say, “I believe yet not I but Christ.”

It is important that we understand that Christ takes our place in every aspect of our human lives. Let me quote again from Thomas F. Torrance:

“It is curious that evangelicals often link the substitutionary act of Christ only with his death, and not with his incarnate person and life—that is dynamite for them! They thereby undermine the radical nature of substitution… Christ in our place and Christ for us in every respect. Substitution understood in this radical way means that Christ takes our place in all human life and activity before God, even in our believing, praying and worshiping of God, for he has yoked himself to us in such a profound way that he stands in for us and upholds us at every point in our human relations before God.” (Preaching Christ Today: The Gospel and Scientific Thinking, Thomas Torrance, pp. 30-31)

Vicarious Faith of Christ

Here is more from Thomas F. Torrance on Galatians 2:20 about the faith of Christ:

“Galatians 2:20 has long been for me a passage of primary importance. The faith of the ‘Son of God’ is to be understood as not just my faith in Christ but as the faith of Christ himself, for it refers primarily to Christ’s unswerving faithfulness, his vicarious and substitutionary faith which embraces and undergirds us, such that when we believe we must say with Paul, “not I but Christ,” even in our act of faith. This is not to denigrate the human act of faith on our part, for it is only in and through the vicarious faith of Christ that we can truly and properly believe. Faith in Christ involves a polar relation between the faith of Christ and our faith, in which our faith is laid hold of, enveloped, and upheld by his unswerving faithfulness…this is precisely what the Lord Jesus does when in giving of himself for us he completely takes our place, makes our cause his very own in every respect, and yields to the heavenly Father the response of faith and love which we are altogether incapable of yielding.

Oftentimes, our human faith fails us and we doubt. But thanks be to God, we don’t have to worry about anything. Through our perfect substitute and representative, the Lord Jesus Christ, his faith sustains and upholds our faith. There’s no need to worry at all!

In the photo illustration above, we see two hands: that of a little child and that of a father. As the little child begins learning how to walk, he holds on to his dad with his weak grasp while his dad holds on to him to support him and make sure he doesn’t stumble and fall. The stronger and firm grasp of the father represents the faith of Christ which upholds and supports our faith. The strong faith of Christ upholds and takes hold of our weak human faith. “I believe yet not I but Christ believes for me.”

Yes, we can be thankful, that Christ stand in for us—our faith has been implicated in his faith. Truly, the just shall live by the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.