Faith in Jesus and the Faith of Jesus

The Word says faith without works is dead, meaning faith without action is meaningless. 

• Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?...Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?...Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only...For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:17, 20, 22, 24, and 26.

Salvation is a gift of God, but faith is needed for salvation and salvation has some works associated with it, or salvation through faith is dead, i.e., you aren't saved. Confession of sin and repentance from sin are the first works of faith for the born-again believer. The Bible is not inconsistent, but compare: 

• For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9.

and

• I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:3 and 5.

Thus, the "not of works" in Ephesians 2:8-9 (above) should be considered the "works to earn" salvation because salvation cannot be earned; it is a gift. That gift is the power to become the sons of God like Jesus is if we believe in Him first.

• But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name... John 1:12.

The power to become a son of God is exercised through belief in Jesus (the Word) and He said to repent from sin or perish. When we believe in Him and repent we have exercised the power to become a son of God and become a child of God. 

The faith/works connection also means without faith (and the associated first works) we cannot prove the will of God and please Him. 

• But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6.

As a child of God, we now have the faith of Jesus. The problem is, most people don't believe or know that part, and they stay an infant and bear little fruit.

• Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:8.
• For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:12-14.

Recall that the spirit (truth) of Jesus is the Word of God the Father. The Father sent His Word to mankind inside Jesus the man, the Jewish Messiah. Because there are two kinds of faith (1. mankind's faith and 2. the faith of Jesus-the Messiah), there must be two kinds of works that are associated with each of the two kinds of faith, the "works of the flesh" and the "works of the Spirit (God)". 

Compare:

• Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6:28-29.
• Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.  John 14:12.
• I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Revelation 2:19.

and

• Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:22-23.

The Word says the “first works” of faith for the believer ARE the acts of confession and repentance. Those first works are associated with the power to become sons of God (John 1:12). They are the precursors to an amendment of lifestyle we shall experience as we grow in the Spirit, often referred to as "in Him" in the scriptures, meaning the body of believers in Christ, i.e., the children of God. 

The “last works” are the type of works Jesus did Himself (as the works of God) as a son of God, and they are “greater” than the “first works” we do as sons (children) of God the Father. 

Again, our first works of confession and repentance are the exercise of the power Jesus gave us to become the sons (children) of God. Consider Jesus as the "man bridge" to God the Father. When we are born again, the "later works" we do originate in Him (Jesus the Christ) because we live as part of His body and do the will of the Father by the quickening of the Holy Ghost (the Father's spirit-the Spirit of Truth) the same way He (Jesus) did as a man. Thus, our later works are of the Father by His Word and the power of His Spirit of Truth (the Holy Ghost) according to His will and not our own. The glory always goes to Jesus, who made it possible lest we glory in men or ourselves.

Yes.  In short, the first works originate in us by the choice of our will, the will of man, to become sons of God through exercising the power to become sons of God that Jesus gave us. We do that through belief in Him as stated above.  

• Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6:28-29.

For the Unbeliever:

Whoever is not born again will do works of the flesh according to the will of their flesh based on their own belief in a faulty truth extracted from the ways of the world and the god of this world. The unbeliever remains of the dammed.

For the Believer:

Our first works of confession and repentance are the exercise of the power Jesus gave us to become the sons (children) of God. Consider Jesus as the "man bridge" to God the Father. When we are born again, the "later works" we do originate in Him (Jesus Christ) because we live as part of His body on earth now that He has gone to heaven leaving us to represent Him.

We do the will of the Father by the Spirit including the quickening of the Holy Ghost (the Father's spirit-the Spirit of Truth) the same way He (Jesus) did as a man. Thus, our later works are of the Father according to His will and by His Word and the power of His Spirit of Truth (the Holy Ghost). The glory always goes to Jesus, who made it possible lest we glory in men or ourselves.

Simply stated, the "first works" originate in us by the choice of our will, the will of man, choosing to believe the truth of God and exercising the power to become sons of God. We do that through belief in Him as stated above. The “last works” or the believer are the type of works Jesus did Himself (as the works of God) as a son of God, and they are “greater” than the “first works” we do as sons (children) of God the Father. 

Yes. 

• Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21.

Is there any wonder why the god of this world–the devil, tries to make the world seem so attractive to our flesh? As a result, some people love the world and its ways, have faith in it, and concentrate their efforts on temporal gain in the world for the sake of enjoyment. The works of the flesh are the result.

Conversely, the born-again live to promote the ways of God according to His will, and our actions prove we are His children. As His children, Jesus included, we seek to do God's good works even if our flesh has no interest in it, which is often the case. For example, no doubt the flesh of Jesus did not want to go to the cross and suffer the excruciating death He ultimately suffered.

• I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. John 5:30.
• And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt...He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. Matthew 26:39 and 42, see also Luke 22:42.

As His disciples, everyone born again of the Spirit has a ministry because we represent Him as His ambassadors!