Christ Jesus, the Source and Object of Faith

07.21.10
J.A. Matteson

“In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”
Ephesians 3:12 KJV

Delightful is the access saints enjoy into the blessed presence of God Almighty. Conceived in sin as a consequence of the Fall man makes his debut onto the world stage of history as a child of wrath, at enmity with his Creator, proud, disobedient to and detesting the oracles of God, vainly searching for a balm to quell the ache of his heart which longs for eternity, all the while observing the slow and distressing steady decay of his person as the twilight of his brief tenancy on earth draws nigh.

Access into the very presence of the Ancient of Days is the entrance point to eternal bliss, that which the sons of Adam intuitively desire during their momentary stay upon the earth, yet unable to come to the knowledge of the truth. The Lord Jesus Christ in answering his disciples' question regarding His public speaking in parables quoted Isaiah 6:9, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN" (Mk. 4:11-12). And to those who do not believe the Gospel the Apostle John reflected on the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, “But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT? AND TO WHOM HAS THE ARM OF THE LORD BEEN REVEALED?" For this reason they could not believe....” (Jn. 12:37-39a).

The merciful arm of the Lord is sovereignly revealed to those whom “it has been given” and the rest are hardened, for the Apostle Paul quotes the Lord's disclosure in this matter to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION" (Rom. 9:15). Salvation is of the Lord. The fruit of the arm of the Lord extended to an individual is known by lips that confess Jesus as the Christ and a heart of faith in His redeeming work on their behalf (Rom. 10:9), for none can confess Christ as Lord except by the Spirit of God (1 Jn. 4:2).

Into this marvelous grace of faith leading to access Paul speaks in the passage under consideration. The KJV is more accurate than other translations in expressing the Greek construction used by Paul and the last four words in the sentence are remarkable in their implication, “by the faith of him” (διὰ τῆς πίστεως αὐτοῦ). Διὰ is a Greek preposition meaning by or through. Τῆς is the definite article meaning the and as such denotes a specific or particular faith; viz., that saving faith supplied by Christ. Πίστεως can be used in context as either a noun or verb and means faith. Αὐτοῦ is a preposition in the genitive, singular, masculine case meaning of him. It is Paul's use of αὐτοῦ that is striking. For had he intended to convey that access into the throne of grace was by a faith that finds its origin within the sinner he would likely have chosen a different construction of words, such as, διὰ πίστις ἐν αὐτω, meaning by faith in Him. Remarkably, this is the rendering offered by some commentators and Bible translators and apart from the possible intent of guarding or advancing a particular theological viewpoint in soteriology (i.e., the Arminian view that saving faith originates within man) it is difficult to account for it. On the other hand if the Apostle's words are taken at face value then they harmonize perfectly with the rest of Scripture that declares faith is a grace gift of God and that Christ is both the author (originator) and finisher (perfecter) of that gift (faith). What Paul appears to be stating is that the Lord Jesus Christ is both the source of saving faith and the object of saving faith granting access, “by the faith of him.” It is the faith that He gives through regeneration that enables (or activates within) the sinner to demonstrate faith in Him, so that by Him, and through Him, and to Him is due all the honor and praise to the glory of God the Father.

So it is Christ Jesus who, as the Giver of the gift, brings full circle to Himself the consummation of the Father's eternal decree (“I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy”), through the saving agency of the Spirit (Jn. 6:37, “All that the Father gives me will come to me” ), as the object of the believers affections and faith (1 Pet. 1:8, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.). Pilgrim, we love Him because He first loved us. May we His sheep, by His grace, and by the faith of Him grow to love Him completely to the praise of His wonderful Name.

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