What is the faith of Jesus? There is the faith in Jesus and the faith of
Jesus. What’s the difference? The difference is…significant.
In the King James translation, there are four Scriptures that address the faith of Jesus (Rom3:22, Gal 2:16, 3:22, Rev. 14:12). The Scripture this article will focus on is Rev 14:12
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
However, before we address this Scripture, we must take a look at precisely who it addresses.
Those Who Follow the Lamb
Those who follow the lamb (Jesus) will receive the Seal of God and be saved. [Rev. 7:3,14:1]
Rev 14:4 describe the ones that follow the lamb. Keep in mind that Revelation is highly symbolic, which will be explained as we move through.
4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
The “ones” mentioned in this verse are in reference to the 144,000. This symbolic number represents the saints that follow the Lamb in spite of all they have gone through. They have lived through the experience of overcoming the beast, his image, and the mark of the beast. They have been victorious. The Scripture says that these are the ones who are “not defiled with women.”
In prophecy, a woman represents the church. However, the church depicted here is not God’s church. Rather, the women mentioned represent the false, apostate churches. These women are the daughters of the harlot mentioned in Revelation 17 (Rev.17:4). This harlot rides the beast powered by Satan, the dragon, and these women, her daughters, defile all who partake of her wine or false teachings.
These “ones” are not defiled by the false teachings of the apostate churches of Catholicism or apostate Protestantism.
The Scripture describes these “ones” as virgins. They are pure because they come from a pure church and have not allowed themselves to be defiled by the women that commit fornication. Fornication in Revelation represents worship that is not true worship or false doctrine.
The Scripture says that these “ones” follow the Lamb wherever He goes” This Lamb represents Jesus Christ. This is how these “ones” kept themselves from being defiled by the “women”
of the apostate churches: by following Christ.
The Scripture says these “ones” “were redeemed from among men.”
When all the world wonders after the beast, as it states in Revelation 13:3, and receives his mark, these “ones” are “redeemed”
from the earth, from among men.”
The Scripture says these “ones” “are the firstfruits to God and to the lamb.” First fruits represent the best of the harvest. These “ones” are separate from the multitudes of the harvest mentioned in Revelation 7. They are the best of the harvest. They keep the Sabbath along with all of the other Commandments. They have followed Jesus into The Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary. They have survived the most difficult time in Earth’s history.
What does this mean for us? I’m sure all of us would like to be included in the group with these “ones.” Therefore, we must study and follow the Scriptures carefully.
The Faith of Jesus
So what is the faith of Jesus? Rev 14:12 reads:
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
This is our primary text that was introduced at the beginning.
This Scripture is from the third angel of the Three Angels Messages and the conclusion of the third angel’s message. This is a pronouncement of the integrity of the 144,000.
The Greek word translated as “patience” is hupone which means endurance. Not only will they have patience, but they will be of those who will “keep the commandments of God.” They will steadfastly keep all ten of the Commandments, including the fourth one, by keeping the seventh-day Sabbath. In spite of the fury of the dragon (the devil), these saints will prevail for keeping the Commandments through the power of God.
Heb 12:1-2 Reads:
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The most poignant point made in this verse is that Jesus “endured the cross.” The Geek word translated endured is hupomeno which means to strive or undergo. It refers to having patience, endurance, and steadfastness under trials. This endurance is what Jesus exhibited on the cross. Jesus totally submitted Himself to the will of the Father when He suffered the cross.
Because the 144,000 will have the faith of Jesus, they will be empowered to keep the commandments of God and have the patience necessary to live through the last and trying days on earth.
In Revelation 14:12, we are called to run with patience, or endurance, the race that is set before us. To have victory over sin and run the race before us with patience, we must keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus.
As we personally experience the redemption of the cross, we must run with endurance the race set before us. Looking to Jesus, the “author and finisher of our faith.”
At the beginning of the race, we need faith in Jesus as our savior. But to finish the race, we need the faith of Jesus. There is a difference between faith in Jesus and faith of Jesus. We need the same faith Jesus had when He was on earth as He endured the temptations of this world and then the agony and shame of the cross. It is this
faith that allowed Him to sit at the right hand of the throne of God, the faith He had in His Father.
How do we develop the faith of Jesus?
Since Jesus fully submitted Himself to the will of the Father, we must fully submit ourselves to Christ. Romans 6:1-8 reads:
1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—
7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. NIV
In the previous chapter, Paul addressed grace; that no matter how sinful we may be, there is enough grace to free us from sin and to sin. However, he makes it clear in this passage that when we accept Christ Jesus and are baptized, we are dead to sin.
When immersed in the waters of baptism, it publicly symbolizes the burial of our sins and Christ’s death. When we are raised from the water, it publicly symbolizes a newness of life and Christ’s resurrection. This action is exercising faith in Jesus. Faith in Jesus gets us there (salvation); the faith of Jesus keeps us there – through it all.
This action represents death to self. Just as Jesus totally submitted Himself to God, His Father, on the cross, when we are crucified with Christ, we totally submit ourselves to Him. He then lives out His life through us. The faith that is exercised in a life that is crucified with Christ is the faith of Jesus.
So the first step to achieving the faith of Jesus is the remission of sins—to stop sinning. The second step is to allow our faith to grow through the power of the Holy Spirit. Christ promised the Holy Spirit upon His departure for this purpose.
Gal 3:13-14 says:
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
In summary, God’s Spirit takes up residence in a person who has trusted Christ and is now living by faith.
The power of the Holy Spirit enables us to obtain the faith of Jesus.
In Rev 3:21, Jesus said”
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. KJV
This statement of Jesus represents the faith He had while on earth.
We need this faith, brothers and sisters to “overcometh” because the time is coming when we must; when we will have to endure our own, ultimate, attack of the beast. We must allow the crucibles of life to prepare us for having the endurance required to make it through the final crisis.
James advises us in James 1:2-4
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. NKJV
If we are going to finish the race, if we are going to be included with these “ones,” we need patience and the faith of Jesus and “follow the lamb whithersoever he Goeth.”
Amen
Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.
Blessings!
