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For I am not ashamed of the gospel (of Christ), for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek; For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Romans 1:16,17
I put (of Christ) in parentheses, because most texts do not include those words. The word translated “gospel” is the Greek word evangellia, from eu, meaning “well” or “good,” and angellia, meaning “message.” We get the word “angel” from this last Greek word, which can be, and often is, translated “messenger” in the Bible.
“The gospel” is often understood as “the good news” regarding Jesus Christ, and that is a good understanding. However, an even better understanding is “the good message.” The difference? News is general and a message is specific. How is the gospel specific? Let’s take a look…
And Jesus answered him (the devil), saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word (rema) of God. Luke 4:4
The word “word” is the word rema (or rhema), meaning “that which is individually received and understood of that which is communicated.” Another familiar word which is translated “word” is the Greek word logos, and that means “that which is communicated.” So this word rema has a powerfully specific meaning to it. It is specifically referring to the understanding of the individual which results after something is communicated.
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (rema) of God. Romans 10:17
This word “hearing” means to be instructed; to hear to the end of “getting it.” Faith comes by specifically receiving God’s communication to you, to the end of you “getting it.”
A person’s faith, the faith that is required to walk in the righteousness of God which is revealed by the gospel (from Romans 1:17 above), comes as a result of receiving into the understanding what God is revealing. Here’s where things get real interesting.
But the righteousness of faith speaks on this wise, Say not in your heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what does it say? The word (rema) is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart; that is, the word (rema) of faith, which we preach; That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; ;and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:6-10
Our “job” as believers is not to determine who is in and who is out of the faith (who’s going to heaven and who’s going to hell). Our “job” as believers is to share the word (rema) of faith which we receive of God specifically. Paul preached the specific word (rema) which he received from God by revelation. When you hear and “get” what Paul preaches, due to God Himself revealing the truth of what is being spoken or written into your heart, it then becomes your faith. Thus, the righteousness of God is revealed “from faith (Paul’s) to faith (yours).”
How that by revelation He (God) made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote before in few words), Whereby (by revelation) when you read, you may have my understanding in the mystery of Christ; Ephesians 3:3,4
This is a perfect example of “from faith to faith.” What is required of “the just” when God reveals something to their heart? Believe it and walk in it; live by it. That specifically tailored good message that is received from the spirit of God by one believer, is thus passed on to another, and thus the righteousness of God is revealed from one’s faith to another’s. And where did it all begin?
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if (when) I depart, I will send him unto you. Howbeit when he, the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will show you things to come (things which were not true then, but which became true in the future he is speaking of). He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. John 16:7,13,14
The word “show” is the Greek word anangello (there’s that angellia word again!), one of 20 different Greek words which are translated “to show.” This word means to report back, notify, announce. I get a picture of a soldier in the midst of the fighting sending a messenger back to the general who is directing the battle, filling him in on specific details. The holy spirit of God, the spirit of the Christ within; is going to glorify the Christ within us, by revealing to us specific details concerning him and his spirit within.
These verses reveal that the faith which now exists on the earth began with the faith of Jesus Christ himself.
But now the righteousness of God without (apart from) the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference (between Jew and Gentile).
Romans 3:21,22Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in (eis – unto) 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. I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives 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. Galatians 2:16,20
Jesus Christ, after he ascended off the earth and was glorified, sent his spirit into the world. His spirit testifies (witnesses) specifically of things concerning Christ. This is what is being communicated by the faith of Jesus Christ. As each specific thing of Christ is revealed to the heart of a man, who accepts it as true (in other words, believes it), the faith of Jesus Christ is thus transmitted to that man. And so the righteousness of God is revealed from faith (Christ’s) to faith (that man who believes). The same is true when that man preaches to another (or others) from out of the faith he has received, and a hearer (or a reader) receives what is revealed by the spirit and believes what he hears. Thus through the years, the righteousness of God, the reality of the Christ within, has been revealed from faith to faith to faith to faith, all by the spirit from Christ.
Now unto him who is able to establish you according to my gospel (his specific good message), and (which is) the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (the spirit reported, the rema was heard and faith came), which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest (by revelation, which is a manifestation of the spirit), and by the writings of the prophets (not just Paul, but others) according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for (eis – unto) the obedience of faith. Romans 16:25,26
The just shall live by the faith which comes from the spirit of the Christ within upon hearing the good message from another who has received from the spirit of Christ!
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Check out these other related studies:
The Faith of Christ has Come! | Give Me Christ
How Do We Get Faith? ….. God GIVES It To Us | Give Me Christ
The Shield of Faith | Give Me Christ
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