The Doctrine of Christ - The Object of Faith
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SALVATION COULD NOT HAVE BEEN
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By Works
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Salvation could not come by good works
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The people did not keep the law (John 7:19).
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The law could not give life (Galatians 3:21-22).
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The law could not justify (Acts 13:39; Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:11, 24).
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The law was given to identify sin (Romans 7:7-13).
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The sacrifices within the law were meant to offer purification of the flesh (Hebrews 9:13-14).
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The New Testament gives light on the Old Testament
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An individual reading only the Old Testament might very well come to the conclusion that salvation could have been by keeping the law.
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The New Testament confirms the emphasis of the Old Testament on works, but shows that righteousness was not obtained by works (Romans 9:30-33).
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By Faith in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection
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The Lord Jesus began to preach the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 4:17.
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He began to call His disciples in Matthew 4:18.
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He began telling His disciples about the death, burial, and resurrection in Matthew 16:21.
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This message was rejected in Matthew 16:22.
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The disciples did not believe that Christ was risen from the dead (John 20:8; Mark 16:14; John 20:25).
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A POSSIBLE EMPHASIS OF THE OBJECT OF FAITH
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The Lords Questions to His Disciples
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He asked them who men said that He was (Matthew 16:13).
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He asked them who they said He was (Matthew 16:15).
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He Praised Simon Peters Answer
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Simon Peter claimed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16).
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The Lord paused everything to praise Simon Peters answer (Matthew 16:17-18).
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Other Mentions of Peters Answer
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When the woman at the well recognized Christ as the Messiah, she left her water pot (John 4:26).
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Peter made the same declaration in John 6:69.
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The Lord Jesus told the Jews they would die in their sins if they refused to believe that He was indeed the Son of God (John 8:24-28).
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This was the confession made by Martha (John 11:27).
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It was for this purpose that the Lord Jesus told the disciples of His betrayal (John 13:19).
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This was the purpose of the gospel of John (John 20:31).
