"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but BY THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST, even we have believed IN Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith OF Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Gal. 2:16).
God is just and in order for us to stand before God in eternity we must be made just, or be justified. That is what Jesus did for us.
We have eternal life through Jesus Christ because, by HIS FAITH IN GOD TO RAISE HIM FROM THE DEAD, HE WAS WILLING TO DIE FOR OUR SINS. That is the Faith Of Christ. Having faith that God would raise Him from the dead after His death for our sins. If I believe in Him and what He has done for me (i.e. He died for my sins, was buried, and rose again), I stand justified before God; (in this case, having no sin because Jesus took my sin, and I am justified because of the faith OF Jesus Christ.)
That is why the resurrection is a miracle. Because of His faith that God would raise Him from the dead, He willingly took our sin, and died, in faith that the penalty would be paid in full, God would be satisfied with the payment, and He would raise His Son as assurance to us that it had indeed been paid in full.
I read your post about the faith OF Christ and then did a little research, as I admitted quite freely yesterday that I had never heard of it.
I found only a few things about it and it seems there is quite a bit of debate as to whether it is valid theology. It seems to be another case of differing interpretations of the original word used in early copies of Scripture.
I can’t even hope to begin to debate that so I won’t even try.
I speak now for myself, not trying to explain a formal Catholic teaching, so bear with me as I explain how I see this.
At first it seemed rather harmless and it didn’t seem so odd to make the claim that it is the faith OF Christ and not faith IN Christ that saves.
But, then I thought of a couple of passages that seem to contradict the claim that Christ had to have faith that God would raise Him up again.
John 10:17-18, Jesus says, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. no one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
John 2:10, Jesus says, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”
Jesus, was God and therefore had the power to raise Himself up after death. He did not need faith that God would do so, as He knew, as one of the three persons in God, that He would raise Himself up.
I further looked into the definition of, of and found that under certain definitions and usages, one can be OF the faith of Christ in that one belongs to, is comprised of or adhering to or well many other things. I will include the link I used. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/OF I think you get my point.
There is also many verses in the NT which quite clearly state that to be saved one must have faith, repent, be baptized etc....
But, that we are saved because Jesus had faith in God seems a little far fetched as Jesus is God and knew that He could and would raise Himself. Remember, we were talking about the miracle of the Resurrection and since it was an Act of God, how could Jesus not know that He, as God, was capable of this act?
Now, Jesus did ask for the cup to pass from Him, in the garden. But, remember, as a human, Jesus endured all the pain that a human suffers. And it was the anticipation of that suffering that caused Jesus to say those words. It is a strong will indeed that knew what was coming and yet faced it. Jesus knew the outcome, for, it was what He was commanded to do and He always did that which pleased the Father. Praise be to God for it.