How the Faith of Christ Frees You from Religious Performance
What Is the Faith of Christ? A Restorative Look at Jesus’ Saving Faithfulness
When we hear the word “faith,” we often think of our belief—something we must muster to be saved. But what if the Bible is telling a different story? What if salvation isn’t primarily about our faith in Christ, but about the faith of Christ?
The phrase “Faith of Christ” (Greek: pistis Christou) appears several times in Paul’s letters and has sparked theological debate for decades. While most English translations render it as “faith in Christ,” many biblical scholars—including N.T. Wright, Richard Hays, Karl Barth, and David Bentley Hart—contend that a more faithful rendering is “the faith(fulness) of Christ.”
This subtle shift has enormous implications. It means salvation begins not with our efforts, but with Jesus’ own trust-filled obedience—His unwavering faithfulness to the Father, even unto death. Let’s explore what the Faith of Christ truly means and why it’s at the heart of the restorative gospel.
✅ Traditional (Penal Substitutionary Atonement) View:
The traditional view interprets pistis Christou as “faith in Christ,” emphasizing our belief as the essential key to salvation. This understanding often treats faith like a transaction—we place our trust in Jesus as our substitute, and in return, we avoid God’s wrath.
In this framework:
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You are justified when you personally choose to believe.
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Emphasis is placed on the individual’s decision.
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Salvation hinges on how sincerely or consistently one believes.
While well-intentioned, this model can cause anxiety over whether we have “enough” faith.
💡 Restorative Understanding: The Faith of Christ
The restorative gospel reframes the discussion. Rather than a transaction dependent on human belief, it emphasizes union with Jesus and participation in His own faithfulness. The Faith of Christ is about His obedience, not our performance.
To say we are saved through the faith of Christ is to say:
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Jesus’ trust in the Father never wavered.
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His faithful life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection embody perfect covenant loyalty.
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We are invited into that loyalty, into His own faithful humanity.
You are not saved because you believe hard enough. You are saved because Jesus remained faithful, and you are now joined to Him.
📜 Scriptural Support for the Faith of Christ
Romans 3:22 – “This righteousness is given through the faith of Jesus Christ to all who believe…”
→ The Greek phrase dia pisteōs Iēsou Christou literally reads “through the faith of Jesus Christ.” It is His faith, not ours, that initiates righteousness.
Galatians 2:16 – “…a person is not justified by works of the law but through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ…”
→ Paul contrasts Torah observance not with human belief, but with Jesus’ own obedience.
Philippians 2:8–9 – “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him…”
→ Jesus’ unwavering faith and obedience result in resurrection and exaltation—not just for Him, but for all in union with Him.
Romans 5:19 – “Through the obedience of the one man, many will be made righteous.”
→ Salvation is grounded in Christ’s obedience, not in our intellectual assent.
2 Timothy 2:13 – “If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.”
→ This verse powerfully affirms the unshakable faith of Christ, even when ours falters.
🔄 Key Shifts in Understanding
| Traditional Lens (PSA) | Restorative Lens |
|---|---|
| “Faith in Christ” – your belief | “Faith of Christ” – His faithfulness |
| Justified by your decision | Justified by His covenant obedience |
| Emphasis on human effort | Emphasis on divine initiative |
| Risk of doubt-based anxiety | Rooted in Christ’s perfect trust |
🌿 The Big Picture: Living from the Faith of Christ
Understanding the Faith of Christ liberates us from performance-based spirituality. Faith is no longer a burden to earn God’s love—it’s an open door into Christ’s faithful humanity. We are saved, not by striving, but by surrendering to what Jesus has already accomplished.
This is the essence of the restorative gospel:
God didn’t send Jesus to secure a legal loophole.
He sent Him to embody perfect trust, to remain faithful even when we are faithless, and to restore us through union with Him.
“In Jesus Christ, God has made Himself ours before we ever made ourselves His.”
— Karl Barth
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself.”
— 2 Timothy 2:13
So when we speak of the Faith of Christ, we speak of the very heartbeat of salvation—His faithful love, into which we are graciously drawn.