Faith "of" Christ not just "in" Christ

"[W]e have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ" - Galatians 2:16b

More than just having faith in Jesus Christ, we must have the faith of Jesus Christ; that is, we are to believe what Jesus, himself, believed.

It is a slippery slope to think of Christ, the Bible, or the apostles as being products of their environment's world view, currently regarded as uninformed and scientifically ignorant.

Jesus' abilities and approach to world renewal far surpasses anything modern "science" has been able to duplicate. What hospital can cure blindness, leprosy, or palsy with a touch? What psychiatrist can take hardened lunatics and turn them into wise counselors? What ethics class can take dishonest businessmen and turn them into upstanding citizens?

Early will a wise christian learn what Jesus, himself, believed and accept it as his/her own beliefs.

- fritz

Always Personal

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

Life changing faith is always personal; it has always been that way.

The love of Christ is not just for "us" but "me", individually.

- fritz

Living "In the Flesh" by Faith

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

Being "in the flesh" is not a bad thing if we mean, as the Bible periodically does, the physical body, indeed, that's why God gave us bodies in the first place.

Our individual bodies are intended for Christ's use:

"[T]he body is ... for the Lord; and the Lord for the body." - 1st Corinthians 6:13b

When we give ourselves to Christ our physical bodies become part of his, like my arm is to me.

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. - 1st Corinthians 12:27

-fritz

Christ in me

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

I'm not just living "in Christ", he is living "in me". I am not trying to do what he did and to be like him, instead I am allowing him to guide my daily tasks as if he were living through me, which he is. I become more like him as a byproduct.

Former pastor and author, Dallas Willard, puts it this way:

[H]e is, in any case, interested in my life, that very existence that is me. There lies my need. I need to be able to lead my life as he would lead it if he were I. So as his disciple I am not necessarily learning how to do special religious things, either as a part of “full-time service” or as a part of “part-time service.” My discipleship to Jesus is, within clearly definable limits, not a matter of what I do, but of how I do it. And it covers everything, “religious” or not

-fritz

^{1 - The Divine Conspiracy, by Dallas Willard, pg.276}