Justification by Faith

I. What is justification?

A. Justification means ” to declare righteous.”

B. Though we have sinned and become unrighteous, through Jesus we can be declared righteous AND uphold the justice of God.

II. We need justification because of sin

A. All have sinned.

B. Romans 3:12 - All have gone out of the way and do evil Romans 3:23 - All have sinned

C. Some say that we inherit sin

D. This passage says that we are lost because we have left the way. Ezekiel 18:20 - The soul that sins shall die Romans 2:2f teach that we are judged by what we have done. We are only accountable to God for what we have done, not Adam.

E. When we sin, we are worthy of death.

F. Garden of Eden: Genesis 2:17 - ” The penalty of sin is spiritual death.” Romans 1:32 - Those who commit such things are worthy of death. Romans 2:6-11 - God will render eternal death to the disobedient.” Worthy” means that this is what sin deserves or is worth.

G. When we sin, we become unrighteous.

H. Though we might live moral lives for the rest of our existence, we still are unrighteous because of our rebellion. No amount of good works will ever pay off an unrighteous act.

III. Justification comes by the grace of God

A. Justification did not come through the law of Moses

B. Romans 3:28; 4:1-4

C. Romans 10:5 - Under the Old Law it was possible to earn one’s salvation by keeping the law entirely. Though it was in theory possible, no one did it except Jesus—everyone sinned and was worthy of death. No amount of obedience to the law could right any wrong. Instead of providing justification, the law made sin more evident by declaring the righteous commands of God and the guilt of the disobedient. The law did lead to Christ so we could be justified, Galatians 3:24.

D. Justification did not come through circumcision

E. Abraham is an example of one who was justified by faith, Romans 4:3.

F. He was declared righteous by God Romans 4:3 (Genesis 15:6) He was declared righteous before he was circumcised, Rom. 4:9-12. Remember: Circumcision was a sign of the covenant between the Jews and God. Paul makes the point that Abraham is the spiritual father of the Jews AND the Gentiles since he was declared righteous before he was circumcised. This was not an obvious point. The early church had a problem with this that had to be addressed in Acts 15 (summarize briefly).

G. Justification comes through Jesus

H. Romans 3:24-26 - Jesus’ redemptive sacrifice provides justification

I. Jesus was sent to the earth to be a sacrifice to satisfy the judgment of God (propitiation).His sacrifice redeemed those who were faithful before His death. His sacrifice provides the means of righteousness for all who have faith in Him.

J. This declares God’s righteousness for He can forgive the sins that have been committed and pay the penalty of death due for sin.

K. We are still declared guilty, but our punishment is paid by Jesus. Jesus is declared innocent, but suffered as one who was guilty. Since salvation is by justification through faith, it implies work that we must do.

IV. Justification through faith

A. What doesn’t work?

B. We know that we cannot earn our salvation since we have sinned. We know that circumcision does not matter in regards to salvation.

C. We are justified by faith

D. Romans 3:26 - God justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 5:1 - Through justification we have peace with God.

E. Justification by faith is not simple belief without any acts of obedience.

F. When the book of Romans talks about justification by works, it is talking about trying to earn your salvation by keeping the law completely; Paul proved that it would not work since all have sinned.

G. It is wrong to take passages that say we will not be saved by works and conclude that we are not supposed to do anything.

H. James 2:21-26 Abraham’s example is used by Paul and James. Abraham’s faith was not simple belief but a working faith. By works, faith is made perfect (or complete).James declares that justification comes from faith that works. Salvation without works would be salvation by a dead faith.

I. The example of Abraham shows that the works of Romans 4:1-4 are the works of the law and not works done in response to belief.

J. He did not earn his salvation by serving God. Abraham did have to do something, and by works made his faith perfect.

K. Another problem of those using Romans to say you can do nothing in regards to salvation is found in Romans 4:5-6.

L. If by works we many any response of faith (usually used of baptism), then Romans 4:5 would mean that we shouldn’t do anything at all, ever! The blessed man is the one who just believes and does nothing! This, of course, contradicts James and would contradict Paul’s earlier warning that our works do affect our salvation (Romans 2:6-13).No works—belief, repentance, baptism or godly living—will allow us to earn our salvation, but they still are required by God.

M. How are we justified?

N. We are justified by belief in Jesus, Romans 3:22. We are justified by confessing our belief, Romans 10:4, 6-10.

O. We are justified through repentance and baptism, Romans 6:1-8.

P. We die with Christ when we are baptized into His death. We are raised to walk a new life with Jesus. Salvation does not come before baptism; we would be buried alive.1 Corinthians 6:11 - we were washed, sanctified and justified. Titus 3:4-7 - Baptism leads to justification by grace. Baptism is tied to justification as much as belief and repentance.

Q. When we obey the doctrine of Christ, we are set free from sin and are enslaved to righteousness and must continue in righteousness

R. Romans 6:17-18; 11-13. Titus 3:8

S. Both God and man work towards a man’s justification.

T. God has grace towards man, gave Jesus as a sacrifice to satisfy the penalty of sin and calls men by the gospel to obedience of faith. Man must respond by obedience of faith, by believing the word taught in the gospel, turning from sin which leads to further unrighteousness, dying with Christ being buried with Him in baptism, and being raised to walk a new life that maintains good works. We do not earn our salvation, but are justified by faith, a faith that made perfect by good works, that is, works commanded by God.