Our True Identity
I believe our true identity comes from God’s faith in us, not our faith in God. So, what about the faith needed for our salvation? Where does faith come from? How much faith is needed? Whose faith saves us? These are all valid questions that many people ask, but I think they ask them because they don’t fully understand the reality of what God has done. They think we need to do something to make what God has done work for us.
I believe God wants us to understand that the very fabric of the universe is founded on grace and faith—but not ours, His. His grace is limitless. Ephesians 2:8 says, “By grace, you have been saved through faith; that is not of yourselves.” It’s very clear here: the faith through which we are saved is not ours; it’s the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
So, I can’t come to God and say, “Look at my great faith that saved me,” because I never had that measure of faith—and I don’t think anyone does. What we do have is the gift that enables us to come to the realisation of what the truth is, so it’s not by works. This is what defines the difference between the Old and New Covenants: how faith worked in the Old Covenant and how it works in the New. The key question is whether faith is a gift from God or something we try to generate ourselves through works or effort. The reality is that it has nothing to do with what we do at all—by grace, through the gift of God’s faith, not by our own faith or works.
Saved by Our Faith?
So, we are not saved by our faith in God but by the faith that comes from God. The meanings are slightly different. The faith of God means God has enough faith for our salvation, and the faith from God means He gives us the faith to come to the realisation of how He feels about us. It’s often translated as “our faith in God,” but it isn’t actually our faith—we didn’t create it; it was freely given to us by God.
God has an amazing way of looking at us, filled with wonderful thoughts, and each one of those thoughts is good. In English, it’s usually translated as “faith in,” but in Greek, it’s more accurately “faith of” or “faith from.” That small change in wording can make a huge difference to our experience, understanding, and daily walk with God.
One perspective drives us to constantly strive to have enough faith, often leaving us afraid we don’t. The other invites us to simply receive faith from Him and rest in the fact that His faith is enough for us. We don’t need to strive.
Let’s look at some Bible verses that address this. Philippians 3:9 says, “And may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ.” That’s the usual English translation. If we read it as “faith in Christ,” it suggests that righteousness comes from my own faith. But if we change the wording to “faith from Christ,” it reads: “And may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the law, but that which is through faith from Christ—the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of the faith that comes from Christ.” That makes a huge difference in how we understand righteousness. It’s no longer based on our faith but on the righteousness Christ imparts to us.
‘In’ Fits a Works-Based Theology
The word ‘in’ fits with a works-based theology, but “of” or “from” fits with a grace-based understanding. Galatians 2:20 is another scripture: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Now, how many people have tried to crucify themselves daily, taking up their cross, trying to follow Him, and living in misery, wearied and burdened by the attempt to be good enough to please God or earn His love? So many are still caught in that trap.
We were crucified with Christ because when He died, we died with Him—not because we did anything, but because He did it on our behalf. It’s no longer I who live; Christ lives in me, and I now live as a new creation in Christ. The life I live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God—or, more accurately, by faith from the Son of God. This changes everything. My relationship with God isn’t based on how much I can believe, but on His faith and the faith He gives me to enable that relationship.
The King James Version gets this right: “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives 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.” It’s all about the unconditional love of God and the gift of life through Jesus. Through Him, the world can rediscover its lost identity as children of God.
Who Is More Faithful: God or Me?
So, whose faith saves me and sustains me: my faith in God or God’s faith in me, given to me? Definitely the latter. Am I relying on my small measure of faith, or am I trusting in God’s faithfulness? God is faithful to do what He promised. He predestined us to a face-to-face, restored relationship in love, and this has always been His intention for each of His children.
So, does “in” or “of” really matter? Absolutely, it does. It makes a huge difference in how we live our daily lives. One places the burden of faith on us; the other reveals faith as a gift, enabling us to rest in God’s grace and faithfulness. So, who do you think is more faithful—Jesus or us? I know the answer to that, and I’m sure you do too.
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Sons of Issachar 