I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me

Much of the centuries-old debate on “faith versus good works” is based on the writings of St. Paul, such as that found in Galatians: “We know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ” (2:16). However, scripture scholars such as Luke Timothy Johnson point out that Paul frequently uses this expression pistis christou to refer to the human response of the man Jesus to God. Thus, it is “the faith of Jesus Christ” – his faithful obedience to the Father in his life and death – that enables us, his followers, to “have faith” and “to be made righteous by faith.” In other words, our faith does not originate within ourselves, but is the faith of Jesus given to us as gift.

This change of preposition makes a profound difference in understanding the source of our salvation! It is not our confession of faith that saves us (gives justification) but the loving, obedient faith of Jesus bestowed upon those who accept the gospel. Thus, Galatians 2:20 should be understood as: “I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me”.  And it is the faith of Jesus active in us through the gift of his Spirit, that enables us, his followers, to serve one another in self-sacrificing love (“do good works”). So much for the “faith versus good works” debate. It is groundless!