Bob also made a good point that justification is personal. Its not just about the faith of God but it is about us. We are God's children.. and when we do get old enough to understand God will open our eyes to see that we are His.. we are part of His family. That is why I have no problem in interpretting those verses as faith in Christ or believing in Christ. Let's look at some of those verses again... and not just the one verse but the whole context. Please read
Galatians 2:15-21. Here's 16 and first your KJV
Galatians 2:16:
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by thefaith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in 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. KJV
NASB
Galatians 2:16 " nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law, since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified"
First Paul is talking to the Jews, and talking about works. They think it is their works that justify them. Whereas Paul says it is not that.. but by believing. EVEN your KJV says believing! " even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified" So if you believe faith as mere assent to the Truth, as believing in the Truth.. than even KJV says there's a personal aspect to justification.. Christ died for specific people.. "we have believed in Christ Jesus that we might be justified" That is connecting belief with justification. Since Christ made us right and got rid of our sins on the cross then we will have faith, and belief..
Plus I was also told once that the KJV when written didn't have the dead sea scroll manuscripts... is that right? That the translation is off some.. and NASB or such is closer?
Also what about the rest of Galatians?? Chapter 3 talks about faith.. not the faith of Jesus but the faith in us.. the faith we have in Christ, in believing. Kinda leads me to believe that KJV did interpret some of the previous verses wrong if it then says this:
Gal 3:26, (KJV), For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Hmm... we are children of God by
faith in Christ Jesus. There's that personal part of justification... so couldn't the other verse also be read this way? Like NASB has it? "that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through
faith in Christ Jesus"
Also what do you think of this verse?
Rom 9:32, (KJV), Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Would you say that is faith of Jesus? Or their own personal faith (which of course is a gift of God). How can one seek righteousness by the faith of Jesus? "they sought it not by the faith of Jesus" makes no sense. I believe the contrast is personal faith.. faith in Christ vrs works.. the law. I believe that contrast is also in Galations.. it is not the faith of Christ vrs works of the law.. but personal faith, belief in Christ vrs the works of the Law.
Sorry I think that was long.. and pry said before but I dont believe John that all of
Galatians 2 is saying faith of Christ. But also I dont believe that it's saying one has to believe or they wont be justified.. that would be a condition. I wouldn't twist those verses around like the arminians do.
I'll address your other responses later.. possibly, this is long enough.
Mary