LESSON 2 FREE AT LAST - JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
This prophecy of the Messiah was manifested in the ministry of Jesus Christ. It was He who came to open the spiritual understanding or eyes of those who had become darkened by sin and misunderstanding of God. It was Christ who came to release us from the bondage and prison house of sin. He is the light and truth of heaven that came to show us a way out of the darkness of error and superstition and to lead us into the glorious light of the gospel.
2. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed [trusted in, cling to, relies on] God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Romans 4:3
Is not this the way by which we are still saved? The individual who believes that some meritorious good works will recommend them to God, placing them on vantage ground with Him, works in vain. Salvation is not in wearisome pilgrimages, in good works, or appeasement of the deity; it is not in anything we can do. Salvation’s source is in God alone and received by an individual when, by faith and submission, they accept God’s free gift.
3. As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. There throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes. Romans 3:10–18
Truly these verses describe the state of man in his condition apart from God. We do not correctly understand spiritual realities; we do not naturally seek for God. It is only because of God’s work of love constantly exercised towards men that some respond to His grace.
4. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Romans 3:19
To whom does the law speak? The whole world has sinned and is under the burden of guilt and the dominion of sin. The law stands to condemn us as sinners—subject to the judgment of God. To whom does the law speak?
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
5. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified [made righteous, acquitted, and judged acceptable] in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20
We read here that law keeping, or even good works cannot save even one. Then what is the law’s purpose? It points out sin; it is the standard of righteousness, the standard in God’s judgment of man. Then how, and from what source is man to be made acceptable with God?
6. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. Romans 3:21, 22
Righteousness comes through Christ alone. His unmerited grace and favor is freely bestowed unto all. But it only rests upon them that believe. God has encircled the world with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air, which covers the globe. The sinner can resist this love, and may refuse to be drawn to Christ; but if they does not resist they will be drawn to Jesus; and a knowledge of the gospel will lead them to the cross in repentance for sin.
Jesus brings to an individual grace, leading to a recognition of our need and of the salvation God is offering us. And man is to accept the goodness of God and the gift of salvation by faith, which is also the gift of God. Therefore if you could bring together everything that is good, holy, noble and lovely in man, and then present this to God as acting a part in salvation or in gaining merit with Him, the idea would be rejected as totally insufficient to save even one soul.
7. How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a women? Job 25:4
How should man be just with [before] God? Job 9:2
• Job is asking the great question of life. And humanity seeks to answer this question in many ways. Most religions believe that works of one form or another is the way to be accepted of God.
• Reincarnation seems to be the answer for hundreds of millions more.
• For others the denial of God’s existence is yet another apparent answer.
• For still others, it is the cares and pleasures of this life and more or less ignoring God and our accountability to Him.
• For some a vain hope is their assurance. They adopt the idea that if God really exists they will be saved, because they believe that their life is generally more good than bad.
But what is the answer to this great question “how should man be just with [before] God?” Job 9:2
8. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24
Through faith in Christ we receive freely His love and are counted righteous in God’s sight. In receiving pardon freely bestowed upon us as a gift, is there any thing we can do to purchase it? Of course not, no one pays for a gift bestowed upon him or her in love.
To seek to pay for the gift would be considered an offense to the giver and we would not consider such a thing. In receiving the gift, our response is that of acceptance and thankfulness. And when the gift is given unexpectedly, and even undeservedly, the gift awakens in us thoughts of gratitude and love.
So it is with Christ’s free gift of justification or pardon and salvation; we do not merit it, neither do we work for it, but we simply accept it by faith. We are no longer “guilty before God,” but have “passed from death unto life.” Justification is wholly of grace and not obtained by any works that fallen man can do.
9. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8
As the repentant sinner, contrite before God, discerns Christ’s atonement in his behalf and accepts this atonement as his only hope for salvation, his sins are pardoned. This is justification by faith. Every believing soul is to conform their life entirely to God’s will, ever conscious of the mercy of God and the sinfulness of their own heart. Then continually exercising faith in the atoning merits of the Redeemer they will advance from glory to glory.
10. Where is boasting then? It is excluded by what law? of works? Nay; but by the law of faith. Romans 3:27
Is there anyplace for boasting of our merits of goodness? It is by grace through faith we are saved which eliminates any place for boasting. Christ for our sake became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. (See 2 Corinthians 8:9.) The idea of doing anything to merit the grace of pardon is an erroneous belief from beginning to end. The attitude of all who are justified by faith is “Lord in my hand no price I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.”
11. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Romans 3:28
There is danger in regarding justification by faith as placing merit on faith. Faith is merely the channel or the means to justification and not the end. For our salvation and standing before God is based on what He can do for us and our acceptance of that gift, not what we can do for ourselves. We are not pardoned or saved by faith in our faith, or by any works we can do.
Let us not stop here. For God is not only gracious to pardon but He is mighty to save.
12. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. Romans 4:4
If a person makes an offering to the Lord of their time, talents, money or property, false ideas often come in to spoil the offering. For it is sometimes thought or believed that they have merited the favor of God by what they have given. Somehow it is thought sometimes even imperceptibly, that the Lord is now under obligation to regard them with special favor because of this gift.
No one can give God anything that is not already His. Let us ever remember, “all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee” (1 Chronicles 29:14). We posses nothing, and can offer nothing of value to God, this includes our life, time, possessions, even our talents; all has been received from Him. Therefore what can we give to God to merit His goodness and favor? Nothing, but to receive His gift of salvation He does ask one thing. He says, “My son, give me thine heart” (Proverbs 23:26).
13. The only faith that will benefit us is that which takes hold of Christ as a personal Savior and which accepts His merits for our own. Many take faith as an opinion or casual belief. However saving faith is a transaction by which those who receive Christ join themselves in covenant relation with God, therefore genuine faith is life.
Know ye not the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9–11
14. What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. Romans 4:1, 2
This verse makes it plain that it is not possible to gain anything in our standing before God or make ourselves deserving of His gift of salvation through creature merit. If faith and works could merit the gift of salvation and pardon from sin for anyone, then the Creator is under obligation to the creature. Here is an opportunity for falsehood to be accepted as truth.
If any individual can merit salvation by anything they may do, then gaining salvation becomes like debt, which may be worked off. If we cannot, by any good works, merit salvation, then it must be wholly of grace, received by a sinner because they believe in Jesus. It is wholly a free gift.
15. Do we then by [this] faith make the Law of no effect, overthrow it or make it a dead letter? Certainly not! On the contrary, we confirm and establish and uphold the Law. Romans 3:31 AMP
The change in the heart of a man who is pardoned, justified and forgiven of God leads him to loving obedience to God’s commandments. (See Romans 8:1–4.)
16. No work can merit for us the pardoning love of God, yet the love of God filling the soul will lead us to do those things which are required of God.
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