Justification by Faith
Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. Galations 3:24
The teaching of justification by faith is what separates biblical Christianity from all other belief systems. In every religion, and in some branches of what is called “Christianity,” man is working his way to God. Only in true, biblical Christianity is man saved as a result of grace through faith. Only when we get back to the Bible do we see that justification is by faith, apart from works.
The word justified means “pronounced or treated as righteous.” For a Christian, justification is the act of God not only forgiving the believer’s sins but imputing to him the righteousness of Christ. The Bible states in several places that justification only comes through faith (e.g., Romans 5:1; Galatians 3:24). Justification is not earned through our own works; rather, we are covered by the righteousness of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8; Titus 3:5). The Christian, being declared righteous, is thus freed from the guilt of sin.
Justification is a completed work of God, and it is instantaneous, as opposed to sanctification, which is an ongoing process of growth by which we become more Christlike (the act of “being saved,” cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). Sanctification occurs after justification.
Understanding the doctrine of justification is important for a Christian. First, it is the very knowledge of justification and of grace that motivates good works and spiritual growth; thus, justification leads to sanctification. Also, the fact that justification is a finished work of God means that Christians have assurance of their salvation. In God’s eyes, believers have the righteousness necessary to gain eternal life.
Once a person is justified, there is nothing else he needs in order to gain entrance into heaven. Since justification comes by faith in Christ, based on His work on our behalf, our own works are disqualified as a means of salvation (Romans 3:28). There exist vast religious systems with complex theologies that teach the false doctrine of justification by works. But they are teaching “a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all” (Galatians 1:6–7).
Without an understanding of justification by faith alone, we cannot truly perceive the glorious gift of grace—God’s “unmerited favor” becomes “merited” in our minds, and we begin to think we deserve salvation. The doctrine of justification by faith helps us maintain “pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). Holding to justification by faith keeps us from falling for the lie that we can earn heaven. There is no ritual, no sacrament, no deed that can make us worthy of the righteousness of Christ. It is only by His grace, in response to our faith, that God has credited to us the holiness of His Son. Both Old and New Testaments say, “The just shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38).
In this excerpt from a conference message, R.C. Sproul explains why it's imperative to hold fast to the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Transcript: https://www.ligonier.org/blog/standin... Full Message: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/confer...
Scripture
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!
Who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.
And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”
And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible verses are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Special thanks to OpenBible.info for the data on the most well-known Bible verses.
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