Romans 3 . . Faith of God? work of God? Power?

[Mr GLee]

Romans 3What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

What I ask could make it (not of ourselves) that kind of Christ faith without effect ? Many say he need none. that faith has to do with us

Faith as "Let there be" power of God or faith of the faithless?

Deuteronomy 32:20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

In that way it would seem the accuser of the brethren accusing believers day and night 24 /7 .

Has no idea as to the difference between the word faith and doubt.

Doubt is not the opposite of faith unbelief, no faith is

Doubt is needed in decisionism making

Not doubting Thomas. but unbelieving (no faith power ) Thomas. Christ gave him living word so he could

John 20:27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.esus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

 

[Mr GLee]

Is Creative faith a "Let there be and it was good work?

The unseen "will be" creating things seen .

The law of faith It would seem to oppose the law of works the outcome of "Let there be"

Like the cart before the horse. No power from the cart. Love before the marriage.

Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

 

[DialecticSkeptic]

What, I ask, could make it (not of ourselves) that kind of Christ faith without? Many say he need none, that faith has to do with us.

Faith as let-there-be power of God, or faith of the faithless?

Here is how the New English Translation rendered that important clause (Romans 3:1-3):

Therefore what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the value of circumcision? Actually, there are many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?
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Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true (v. 4).

 

[Josheb]

Doubt is needed in decisionism making

Hmmm....

James 1:5-7
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and [h]without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

That was written about the believer. Doubt leads to double-mindedness, vacillation, (cognitive) instability. Note this condition exist knowing God's knowledge! For the whole-Bible reader, this is contrasted to what Paul wrote about some fairly basic realities of living in a pagan culture...

Romans 14:22-23
The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.

Paul bluntly calls actions (or lack thereof) from this lack of faith "sin." OR... the verse could be read about one's motives. As with James, the believer might know God's knowledge (and/or will) but not be motivated by that knowledge, not moved by that information. This implies an alternative source for action. While not explicitly stated, the implication of Paul's commentary is the Romans believers were also vacillating. Shall I eat? Shall I not? Shall I attend or not? What should I believe? What should I do? Both writers immediately tie faith to faithfulness.