Faith and Christ's Death

Salvation is "through faith", not "at faith". I have come to understand that faith in the death of Christ does not complete our salvation but is the beginning of our part, faith in Christ's death then empowers us to move forward through the covenant. There is a big distinction that has to be recognized between these two concepts, :through faith" is different than :at faith.

 Antinomial baptist and pentecostals like the Assemblies of God have taught "at faith" for many generations, but "through faith" is the appropriate terminology. It emphasizes that faith is what empowers us to move through the salvation process.

Ephesians 2:8 (uses the word dia) through not at

by grace through faith 

Galations 3:2 uses the greek word ek which is sometimes translated at, through, or with. When translated "at" it isn't emphasizing beginning, but the presence of something, so in Galations 3:2 it is translated "by" or "with". Ek when translated "at", does not emphasize beginning but presence as in Revelations 19:2 (at the hands). It implies that it could not be in the absence of faith. Galations 3:8 ek is translated through.

So how does faith tie in with the cross, it is simple, faith is only as strong as the sacrfafice that ratifies a covenant. We believe the death of Christ ratified a covenant, that covenant was made binding and effectual by the death of Jesus.

Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as assurance.

Heb 11:1 (WNT Translation)

Now faith is a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of things which we do not see.

Assurance is made possible by sacrafice and deposits.

Since Christ was the sacrafice and the Holy Spirit the deposit we as Christians have greater assurance. As in Abraham's day Abraham's assurance was strengthened after a sacrafice where God passed between two pieces of flesh.

Gen 15:8

But he replied, "Lord GOD, how will I know that I will inherit it?"

Gen 15:9

The LORD responded, "Bring me a three year old cow, a three year old female goat, a three year old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."

Gen 15:10

So Abram brought him all these animals and cut each of them in half, down the middle, placing the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut the birds in half.

It was through the sacrafice that men saw a covenant as binding and final. Thus, when God went through the sacrifice of Christ assurance was elevated and faith in the covenant was made possible. Instead of the cross being the final act in forgiveness it is the beginning act whereby faith was made possible throgh a covenant ratifying death.

Gen 15:18

That very day the LORD made this covenant with Abram: "I'm giving this land to your descendants, from the river of Egypt to the great Euphrates River—

Our faith is made possible because the death of Christ ratified all in the covenant, and made our assurance stronger. The promise of God is sufficient to bind his word, but placing an oath and then committing the sacrifice of Christ our assurance in God's commitment is made perfect and complete.

Saving faith is based in believing the strength of God's sacrifice, it is through this faith we complete the covenant.