The contents of this booklet are unique,
because it investigates rationally and
Biblically, the possible meanings of the word
“Faith.” Does it mean believing? Is it
trusting? Or is it believing and trusting? Does
it mean believing and trusting and obedience
to God’s Law? Or is it none of these? Could it
be the word of truth, the Spirit of Truth, the
reveal truths of the word of God? Just what
does Faith mean?
Many are the claims made today by fallen
Seventh-day Adventists and Evangelicals,
but their expositions are so confusing, that a
person cannot hold an intelligent view of
Faith in his mind and thus understand how it
works according to Scripture. Because of
this, certain ideas as to the identity of Faith in
some SDA writings has been investigated
and shown to be erroneous when properly
considered with the aid of the Holy
Scriptures.
Faith as to its real meaning, as evidenced in
the text of the Bible is clearly deduced, making
no mistake and leaving no doubt as to the
real teachings of the Bible. May all be
blessed as they carefully study and consider
this booklet, in Jesus’ holy name. Amen
LOOKING AT THE POSSIBLE MEANING OF FAITH
1. We are to study the Bible in such a way as
God approves. 2 Timothy 2:15.
2. We are told that our Faith saves us. 1 John
5:4.
3. The importance of Faith is seen in that it
is impossible to please God without it.
Hebrews 11:6.
4. The Faith that saves us is identified in the
Bible as the Faith of Jesus Christ. Romans
3:22; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9.
5. Again, that same Faith is called the Faith of
God, (since Jesus is God). (Romans 3:3;
1 John 5:20).
6. It is this same “Faith of Jesus Christ” that
we are to have as our Faith. James 2:1;
Revelation 14:12.
7. However, the Scripture clearly identifies our
believing as different from the saving Faith
that is called the Faith of Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:22; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:22.
8. In fact, the Scriptures show that our lack of
believing does not make the Faith of God
powerless. This means that God’s Faith is
what it is apart from, and separate to our
believing. Romans 3:3.
9. We must recognize that this Faith which is the
subject of our inquiry, we are told that coupled
with love, it is in Christ Jesus (in a source—
sense), not in us. 2 Timothy 1:3.
10. What summary have we gained from the
ii. This Faith belongs to Jesus Christ who is
God.
iii. This Faith of Jesus Christ is different to
our believing.
iv. This Faith of God is potent even though we
have unbelief.
v. It is this same Faith of Jesus Christ that we
are to have.
vi. This same Faith coupled with Love is in
Jesus Christ as the source of it.
11. What we have seen so far to be NOT taught in
the above Scriptures. What we have NOT
seen.
i. That the Faith of Jesus Christ is Faith IN
2
Jesus Christ.
ii. That Faith is the same as believing.
iii. That Faith is the same as believing in
Jesus Christ.
iv. That the Faith of Jesus Christ (or if one
prefers to erroneously say “faith in Jesus
Christ”) is in the believer as a source.
v. Trusting in Jesus isn’t even referred to at
all.
12. We must not take this to mean that we do not
believe in “believing” “trusting,” and “believing
and trusting in Jesus Christ.”
a. The work of God is that we as individuals
MUST believe. John 6:29.
b. We must believe in the Lord Jesus. John
6:40; John 11 25,26.
c. We must trust in Jesus/God. Proverbs 3:5;
Hebrews 2:13.
13. Traditional Seventh-day Adventists has a
wrong understanding about what “Faith” is, as
used in the following Scriptures. Romans
3:22; Galatians 2:16;ollowing Scriptures. Romans
3:22; Galatians 2:16; Romans 3:30,31;
Romans 4:5,11,16; Romans 10:6.
14. Observe the concept of Faith ratified by an
Adventist theologian.
“A due faith in Him is immoderate, absolute
trust.” P.T. Forsyth, George R. Knight, My
Gripe With God, p. 121.
15. Another top SDA theologian tells us what Faith
is in different ways:
“‘Faith’ here means faith in Christ as the
promised Lamb of God, faith in Christ’s
righteousness as ours, trust in His merits
as all-sufficient for us with God.” Hans
Larondelle, Christ Our Salvation, p. 43.
“One must believe and trust Christ to be
justified. The gospel is in its core not “do!” but
“done!” Not “work!” but “believe!”” Ibid, p. 44.
“Our sincere self-condemnation and
acceptance of Christ as the perfect
representative of the Father is our act of faith
that glorifies God …” Ibid, p. 48.
16. A summary so far shows us that these men do
not really understand the Biblical explanation
of the Faith of Jesus Christ, or saving Faith.
They tell us the following:
i. Faith is “absolute trust.”
ii. Faith is “faith in Christ.”
iii. Faith is “believe and trust.”
iv. Acceptance of Christ.
17. But one exceptional definition of Faith in highly
philosophical and theological ways is found in
the teachings of SDA minister, Jack Sequeira.
He first clearly states to us:
4
“Faith is our human response to the objective
facts of the gospel. In order to be genuine
faith, this response must always be motivated
by love, a heart appreciation of the gospel …
faith is our heartfelt response to God’s love …”
Jack Sequeira, Beyond Belief, p. 90.
18. We have seen so far, the complete “self
sourcing” of Faith according to Sequeira. In
summary it states:
a. Faith is our human response. Which is:
i. A heart appreciation of the gospel.
ii. Our heartfelt response to God’s love.
19. But Mr. Sequeira clearly states what this
human response is. He says:
“What is saving faith? It is not simply trusting
Christ … Although saving faith includes
absolute trust in God, it involves much more.
True saving faith is motivated by love and
always includes three important elements:
i. knowing the truth as it is in Jesus;
2. believing the truth as it is in Jesus; and
3. obeying the truth as it is in Jesus.” Ibid,
p. 91-92.
20. Thus we see that saving faith according to
Mr. Sequeira is the following Human
response:
a. Knowing the truth.
b. Believing the truth.
c. Obeying the truth.
21. What does Mr. Sequeira mean when he
says that part of faith is obeying the truth?
He tells us the following nebulous and
impossible philosophy.
“Third, saving faith involves total submission
to the objective facts of the gospel. … Thus a
saving faith means that we will identify ourselves
with that fact [“… that when Christ died
to sin on the cross, we also died there in him]
…” Ibid, p. 93.
22. Thus the obedience to the truth that is a part
of faith is presented as:
i. Total submission to the facts of the
gospel.
ii. Self identity with us dying to sin in Christ.
23. From all the wrong of these definitions we do
NOT see how to explain the Faith of Jesus
Christ/God to be the following:
a. Jesus’ heartfelt response to God’s Love.
b. Jesus’ knowing the truth.
c. Jesus’ believing the truth.
d. Jesus’ obeying the truth, which is:
i. Jesus’ total submission to the gospel.
ii. Jesus’ self identity with His dying to sin
for man.
24. It is the Faith of Jesus Christ that justifies
us. Galatians 2:16.
a. Therefore we can NEVER be …
i. Justified by Jesus’ heartfelt response to
God’s Love.
ii. Justified by Jesus’ knowing the truth.
iii. Justified by Jesus’ believing the truth.
iv. Justified by Jesus’ obeying the truth.
v. Justified by Jesus’ submission to the
gospel.
vi. Justified by Jesus’ self-identity with His
own dying to sin for man.
b. Finally, Mr. Sequeira says that this saving
Faith is, not the faith of Jesus Christ, it is
our human response. Thus it cannot be
Jesus’ Faith.
c. We also can NEVER see the Faith of
Jesus Christ to be:
i. Our human response plus the divi
24. It is the Faith of Jesus Christ that justifies
us. Galatians 2:16.
a. Therefore we can NEVER be …
i. Justified by Jesus’ heartfelt response to
God’s Love.
ii. Justified by Jesus’ knowing the truth.
iii. Justified by Jesus’ believing the truth.
iv. Justified by Jesus’ obeying the truth.
v. Justified by Jesus’ submission to the
gospel.
vi. Justified by Jesus’ self-identity with His
own dying to sin for man.
b. Finally, Mr. Sequeira says that this saving
Faith is, not the faith of Jesus Christ, it is
our human response. Thus it cannot be
Jesus’ Faith.
c. We also can NEVER see the Faith of
Jesus Christ to be:
i. Our human response plus the divine
object of that response.
ii. Our human response IN the divine
object of that response.
iii. The divine object of our human
response (God), can NEVER be our
human response as Sequeira says
Faith is.
7
25. Despite all this, Mr. Sequeira rightly states this
important truth.
“Some Christians believe and teach that our
faith saves us. This is not true. Faith, in and
of itself, can save no one. Nowhere does the
Bible say that we are saved because of our
faith or on account of our faith. If faith saves
us, then it becomes a form of works that we
can boast about. I can say, “I am saved
because I believe in Christ. I have done
something!” The Bible teaches that we are
saved by faith or through faith. Faith is only
the instrument or channel by which we receive
Christ as our righteousness. It is Christ—His
life, His death, His resurrection—that saves us,
nothing else: The function of faith is to unite us
to Christ.” Ibid, p. 95.
26. Before we advance on what exactly Faith
possibly could be, we need to ask ourselves a
few eye opening questions. The Bible speaks
of justified by faith. Romans 3:28:30;
Galatians 2:16.
27. The Bible speaks of the Righteousness of
God by faith … Romans 3:22; Romans 4:11;
Romans 9:30; Romans 10:6; Philippians 3:9.
28. Now, is Justified by faith …
a. Justified by Believing?
b. Justified by trusting?
8
c. Justified by believing and Trusting?
29. Is Justified by the Faith of Jesus Christ …
a. Justified by the believing of Jesus Christ?
b. Justified by the trusting of Jesus Christ?
c. Justified by the believing and trusting of
Jesus Christ.
30. Is Justified by Faith …
a. Justified by believing in God?
b. Justified by trusting in God?
c. Justified by believing and trusting in God?
31. Are we justified by …
a. Our mental acts?
b. God’s mental acts?
c. Jesus’ mental acts?
d. Jesus’ and our mental acts?
32. What is Faith? is Faith ….
a. Multi-composed?
b. Singled natured?
How does the Bible explain it?
33. How does the Bible explain it? Is Faith
composed of …
a. Mere human ability?
b. Divine ability?
c. Divine and human ability together?
9
34. How does the Bible explain it? Is Faith …
a. Solely human?
b. Solely divine?
c. Divine and human together?
35. How does the Bible explain it? Is Faith …
a. God’s Truth?
b. God’s Truth plus our believing and
trusting?
36. We need to understand some of the prepositions
that go with Faith and Justification and
Righteousness to get a better understanding of
what Faith possibly could be. The following
chart shows us.
10
37. This helps us to understand a proper under
standing of Romans 3:30.
“… justify the circumcision (ek) out of faith …”
“and uncircumcision through (dia) the faith …”
38. Concerning Galatians 2:16, we can now see
clearly what it really says:
“… not justified (ek) out of the works of the
law …”
“… but (dia) through faith of Jesus Christ …”
“… we might be justified (ek) out of faith of
Christ …”
“… and not (ek) out of the works of the law …”
39. A proper translation of Romans 3:22 is.
“… the righteousness of God which is (dia)
through faith of Jesus Christ.”
40. A proper translation of Romans 9:30 is as
follows:
“… righteousness but the one (ek) out of faith
…”
41. In Romans 10:6 we get a proper translation.
11
“… The righteousness which is (ek) out of
faith …”
42. Concerning Philippians 3:9 we can clearly see
a true translation.
“… not having mine own righteousness which
is (ek) out of the law …”
“… but that which is (dia) through the faith of
Christ …”
“… the (ek) out of God righteousness (epi)
upon the faith.”
43. Thus while Romans 3:28 speaks about “…
justification to faith…” and Romans 4:11
says “… righteousness of the faith …”, the
majority use of ek “out of” faith with regards to
Righteousness, shows that Faith CANNOT be
believing and/or trusting, because Righteousness
does not come out of believing and/or
trusting. Nor is Righteousness found upon
believing and/or trusting.
44. The translated portions of versus show us that,
as against works, Faith is really the instrument
used by God to justify us, but the instrument
that contains, carries or “receives” God’s
Righteousness. This is not a human instrument,
this is a divine instrument. Romans
9:30; Romans 10:6; Philippians 3:9.
12
45. We can specifically see that Righteousness is
out of God and upon the instrument of Faith
that is imputed or given to the penitent.
(Philippians 3:9; Romans 4:5,9).
46. We can now test the sense of some of the
explanation of what faith is.
a. To say that Faith is believing and/or
trusting, is to say that “justified by faith” is in
fact “justified by believing and trusting.”
b. It is also to say “justified through believing
and trusting.”
c. It is also to say “justified out of (ek) believing
and trusting.”
The fundamental flaw with this concept
is that justification happens by virtue of
human believing and trusting. It also
happens out of human believing and
trusting as the trigger of our justification.
47. To say what one really means by justification
by faith which is justified by believing and
trusting, is that “you are justified by God when
you believe and trust” is not an explanation of
“justified by faith.”
a. The concept thus presented is “justified by
God because a person believes.”
48. We need to look at some more ideas here.
13
a. The idea that to be justified by faith
(believing and trusting) is really God
justifying us when we believe and trust,
does not show what change Justification
brings in us, or what is in us when we are
justified.
b. This causes an outside, objective justification
that affects only the records, or credit of
the justified person, not his inner life. This
is why Adventists tells us:
“Justification by faith in Christ is by biblical
definition the divine imputation of Christ’s
righteousness to the believer’s individual
name. It is the legal “setting right” with
God …” Hans Larondelle, Christ Our
Salvation, p. 46.
“The idea here is not that our confessed
and forgiven guilt is destroyed or annihilated,
as if God suddenly overlooks the
whole problem of sin.” Ibid, pp. 46-47.
c. No inner change can be seen from this
system.
“Justification in Romans 3 does not mean
“to make righteous,” but rather “to declare
righteous …” … The new relationship that
brings justification, it should be noted, does
not make a person intrinsically righteous …”
George R. Knight, My Gripe With God, p.
14
72.
“R.C. Moberly was right when he wrote that
in every individual the work of Christ must
be “objective first, that it may become
subjective.”” Ibid, p. 131.
d. This causes a connective teaching of “two
men”, (an old and new man), being in the
person at his justification. Failure to be
free from this old man causes the person
to think he does not have enough faith,
that is, enough intensity of believing and
trusting.
e. If faith is believing and trusting, then strong
or great faith is strong believing and trusting
or the rank or intensity of our believing and
trusting. This is Pentecostalism.
f. After trying to believe and trust with a
personal inciting and intensity of believing
and trusting, failure to deal with this old
man from overcoming the new man leads
to the following:
i. Doubt or skepticism.
ii. Backsliding.
iii. Apostatizing to Religions one is comfortable
with
iv. Setting down in a lukewarm, irreligious or
undevoted state while yet attending
Church meetings.
15
v. Developing a strong reactionary
self-righteous spirit to make oneself holy.
vi. Settling in a theology that justifies sin in
the person while he is saved.
49. Thus whole lukewarm “plan of salvation”
results from the false concept of faith. The
plan basically says:
a. Faith is believing and trusting (God).
b. We are justified by believing and trusting.
c. God puts righteousness to our account.
d. We are given the Spirit with a resulting old
and new man in us.
e. This internal struggle is sanctification to
overcome sin, it is a work of a lifetime.
f. We must do the Law to be saved.
g. When Jesus comes again, we shall then be
free from sin.
50. All these points and the concepts that lead to
them, especially about what Faith is, is false
and must be given up. Faith is the revealed
truths of the word of God. Romans 10:8.
Fin.
16
17
Notes
Thusia Seventh Day Sabbath Adventist Church
PO Bag 59 Lady Young Road, Morvant
Republic of Trinidad an24. It is the Faith of Jesus Christ that justifies
us. Galatians 2:16.
a. Therefore we can NEVER be …
i. Justified by Jesus’ heartfelt response to
God’s Love.
ii. Justified by Jesus’ knowing the truth.
iii. Justified by Jesus’ believing the truth.
iv. Justified by Jesus’ obeying the truth.
v. Justified by Jesus’ submission to the
gospel.
vi. Justified by Jesus’ self-identity with His
own dying to sin for man.
b. Finally, Mr. Sequeira says that this saving
Faith is, not the faith of Jesus Christ, it is
our human response. Thus it cannot be
Jesus’ Faith.
c. We also can NEVER see the Faith of
Jesus Christ to be:
i. Our human response plus the divine
object of that response.
ii. Our human response IN the divine
object of that response.
iii. The divine object of our human
response (God), can NEVER be our
human response as Sequeira says
Faith is.
25. Despite all this, Mr. Sequeira rightly states this
important truth.
“Some Christians believe and teach that our
faith saves us. This is not true. Faith, in and
of itself, can save no one. Nowhere does the
Bible say that we are saved because of our
faith or on account of our faith. If faith saves
us, then it becomes a form of works that we
can boast about. I can say, “I am saved
because I believe in Christ. I have done
something!” The Bible teaches that we are
saved by faith or through faith. Faith is only
the instrument or channel by which we receive
Christ as our righteousness. It is Christ—His
life, His death, His resurrection—that saves us,
nothing else: The function of faith is to unite us
to Christ.” Ibid, p. 95.
26. Before we advance on what exactly Faith
possibly could be, we need to ask ourselves a
few eye opening questions. The Bible speaks
of justified by faith. Romans 3:28:30;
Galatians 2:16.
27. The Bible speaks of the Righteousness of
God by faith … Romans 3:22; Romans 4:11;
Romans 9:30; Romans 10:6; Philippians 3:9.
28. Now, is Justified by faith …
a. Justified by Believing?
b. Justified by trusting?
c. Justified by believing and Trusting?
29. Is Justified by the Faith of Jesus Christ …
a. Justified by the believing of Jesus Christ?
b. Justified by the trusting of Jesus Christ?
c. Justified by the believing and trusting of
Jesus Christ.
30. Is Justified by Faith …
a. Justified by believing in God?
b. Justified by trusting in God?
c. Justified by believing and trusting in God?
31. Are we justified by …
a. Our mental acts?
b. God’s mental acts?
c. Jesus’ mental acts?
d. Jesus’ and our mental acts?
32. What is Faith? is Faith ….
a. Multi-composed?
b. Singled natured?
How does the Bible explain it?
33. How does the Bible explain it? Is Faith
composed of …
a. Mere human ability?
b. Divine ability?
c. Divine and human ability together?
34. How does the Bible explain it? Is Faith …
a. Solely human?
b. Solely divine?
c. Divine and human together?
35. How does the Bible explain it? Is Faith …
a. God’s Truth?
b. God’s Truth plus our believing and
trusting?
36. We need to understand some of the prepositions
that go with Faith and Justification and
Righteousness to get a better understanding of
what Faith possibly could be. The following
chart shows us.
37. This helps us to understand a proper under
standing of Romans 3:30.
“… justify the circumcision (ek) out of faith …”
“and uncircumcision through (dia) the faith …”
38. Concerning Galatians 2:16, we can now see
clearly what it really says:
“… not justified (ek) out of the works of the
law …”
“… but (dia) through faith of Jesus Christ …”
“… we might be justified (ek) out of faith of
Christ …”
“… and not (ek) out of the works of the law …”
39. A proper translation of Romans 3:22 is.
“… the righteousness of God which is (dia)
through faith of Jesus Christ.”
40. A proper translation of Romans 9:30 is as
follows:
“… righteousness but the one (ek) out of faith
…”
41. In Romans 10:6 we get a proper translation.
“… The righteousness which is (ek) out of
faith …”
42. Concerning Philippians 3:9 we can clearly see
a true translation.
“… not having mine own righteousness which
is (ek) out of the law …”
“… but that which is (dia) through the faith of
Christ …”
“… the (ek) out of God righteousness (epi)
upon the faith.”
43. Thus while Romans 3:28 speaks about “…
justification to faith…” and Romans 4:11
says “… righteousness of the faith …”, the
majority use of ek “out of” faith with regards to
Righteousness, shows that Faith CANNOT be
believing and/or trusting, because Righteousness
does not come out of believing and/or
trusting. Nor is Righteousness found upon
believing and/or trusting.
44. The translated portions of versus show us that,
as against works, Faith is really the instrument
used by God to justify us, but the instrument
that contains, carries or “receives” God’s
Righteousness. This is not a human instrument,
this is a divine instrument. Romans
9:30; Romans 10:6; Philippians 3:9.
45. We can specifically see that Righteousness is
out of God and upon the instrument of Faith
that is imputed or given to the penitent.
(Philippians 3:9; Romans 4:5,9).
46. We can now test the sense of some of the
explanation of what faith is.
a. To say that Faith is believing and/or
trusting, is to say that “justified by faith” is in
fact “justified by believing and trusting.”
b. It is also to say “justified through believing
and trusting.”
c. It is also to say “justified out of (ek) believing
and trusting.”
The fundamental flaw with this concept
is that justification happens by virtue of
human believing and trusting. It also
happens out of human believing and
trusting as the trigger of our justification.
47. To say what one really means by justification
by faith which is justified by believing and
trusting, is that “you are justified by God when
you believe and trust” is not an explanation of
“justified by faith.”
a. The concept thus presented is “justified by
God because a person believes.”
48. We need to look at some more ideas here.
a. The idea that to be justified by faith
(believing and trusting) is really God
justifying us when we believe and trust,
does not show what change Justification
brings in us, or what is in us when we are
justified.
b. This causes an outside, objective justification
that affects only the records, or credit of
the justified person, not his inner life. This
is why Adventists tells us:
“Justification by faith in Christ is by biblical
definition the divine imputation of Christ’s
righteousness to the believer’s individual
name. It is the legal “setting right” with
God …” Hans Larondelle, Christ Our
Salvation, p. 46.
“The idea here is not that our confessed
and forgiven guilt is destroyed or annihilated,
as if God suddenly overlooks the
whole problem of sin.” Ibid, pp. 46-47.
c. No inner change can be seen from this
system.
“Justification in Romans 3 does not mean
“to make righteous,” but rather “to declare
righteous …” … The new relationship that
brings justification, it should be noted, does
not make a person intrinsically righteous …”
George R. Knight, My Gripe With God, p.
14 72. “R.C. Moberly was right when he wrote that
in every individual the work of Christ must
be “objective first, that it may become
subjective.”” Ibid, p. 131.
d. This causes a connective teaching of “two
men”, (an old and new man), being in the
person at his justification. Failure to be
free from this old man causes the person
to think he does not have enough faith,
that is, enough intensity of believing and
trusting.
e. If faith is believing and trusting, then strong
or great faith is strong believing and trusting
or the rank or intensity of our believing and
trusting. This is Pentecostalism.
f. After trying to believe and trust with a
personal inciting and intensity of believing
and trusting, failure to deal with this old
man from overcoming the new man leads
to the following:
i. Doubt or skepticism.
ii. Backsliding.
iii. Apostatizing to Religions one is comfortable
with
iv. Setting down in a lukewarm, irreligious or
undevoted state while yet attending
Church meetings.
v. Developing a strong reactionary
self-righteous spirit to make oneself holy.
vi. Settling in a theology that justifies sin in
the person while he is saved.
49. Thus whole lukewarm “plan of salvation”
results from the false concept of faith. The
plan basically says:
a. Faith is believing and trusting (God).
b. We are justified by believing and trusting.
c. God puts righteousness to our account.
d. We are given the Spirit with a resulting old
and new man in us.
e. This internal struggle is sanctification to
overcome sin, it is a work of a lifetime.
f. We must do the Law to be saved.
g. When Jesus comes again, we shall then be
free from sin.
50. All these points and the concepts that lead to
them, especially about what Faith is, is false
and must be given up. Faith is the revealed
truths of the word of God. Romans 10:8.
Fin.
Thusia Seventh Day Adventist Church
PO Bag 59 Lady Young Road, Morvant
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
.
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