JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
At the end of last week, we focused on the
need to trust God, to rely on His strength, and to believe in
His promises. That kind of faith is an active trust which flows
out of a regenerate heart. Today we will be more particular in
our examination of faith by focusing on the kind of faith
necessary for our salvation. In other words, we will be looking
at that cardinal doctrine of the Protestant Reformation
"justification by faith alone." Justification by faith
alone is the heart of the Gospel. The Good News that we are to
proclaim to all nations is that we are saved not by our own
works but by the righteousness of Christ, which is accounted to
us through faith.
Let us look at the classic passage which defines the doctrine
of justification by faith: Romans
3:21-31. Paul begins back in middle of chapter 3 explaining
to the Roman church that no one is righteous. He is painting in
the background which is necessary in order to understand
justification by faith. We are all sinners in need of
redemption. We cannot redeem ourselves, we cannot justify
ourselves (be declared righteous) by works: "Therefore no
one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the
law" (Rom. 3:20 NIV). Without the intervention of God's
grace in our lives, we have no hope. We cannot be declared
righteous by our own works.
So what is the answer? Paul tells us in chapter 3: "But
now righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made
known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This
righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to
all who believe. . . . For we maintain that a man is justified
by faith apart from observing the law" (Rom. 3:21-28 NIV).
Because we cannot obtain righteousness by ourselves, we need the
righteousness of another, of Jesus Christ. That righteousness
comes "from God" because it belongs to Him. It does
not come from our observance of the law. Therefore, those who
have faith in Jesus Christ, who believe that His righteousness
is sufficient to cover all sin, are justified before God. That's
the Good News! Salvation is all of grace. Even our faith, the
instrument through which we obtain the righteousness of Christ (Eph.
2:8-9), is a gift from God. Praise to the grace of our
beloved Lord, Jesus Christ!
