Justified By Faith: Grace And Our Response

The question of whether we are justified by faith or grace is central to Christian theology. Justification is the process by which sinners are made or declared righteous in the eyes of God. The Protestant doctrine of justification by faith alone is what separates biblical Christianity from all other belief systems. In other religions, and some branches of Christianity, people are working their way to God. In biblical Christianity, people are saved as a result of grace through faith. This means that God does not require people to be righteous or obey the law to be saved. Instead, he offers salvation as a free gift to those who have faith in Jesus Christ. This is possible because Jesus lived a perfect life and died as a sacrifice for our sins. Through faith in Jesus, we are credited with his righteousness and forgiven for our sins. We are justified by grace through faith.

Justification by faith is a whole-Bible doctrine

The doctrine of justification by faith is found in both the Old and New Testaments. In Genesis, we see that Abraham, in response to God's promise, "believed the Lord, and it was counted to him as righteousness" (Gen. 15:6). Job, who sought to justify himself before God, eventually renounced his own righteousness (e.g., Job 32:2; 42:1–6). David, a man after God's heart, speaks of the blessing of justification apart from works: "Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered" (Ps. 32:1). Isaiah prophesies that the servant of the Lord will "make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities" (Isa. 53:11). Habakkuk teaches that "the righteous shall live by his faith" (Hab. 2:4), and Jesus himself teaches this doctrine in his parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9).

The doctrine of justification by faith is most clearly articulated by the Apostle Paul in his letters to the Romans and Galatians. Paul sums up his letter to the Romans by saying, "For in it [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed by faith to faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith'" (Rom. 1:17). In Galatians, Paul emphasizes that justification is by faith in Jesus Christ and not by works of the law: "we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ" (Gal. 2:16).

Justification by faith is another way of saying that we are not justified by our works. As Paul states, "we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law" (Rom. 3:28). He contrasts the worker, who expects wages as his due, with the believer, whose faith is counted as righteousness (Rom. 4:4–5). Jesus also teaches that it is the sinner who cries out to God for mercy, not the one who boasts in his own righteousness, who is justified before God.

While our faith is essential for our justification, it is not the ultimate cause. The ultimate reason we are justified is Christ, who was "delivered up [by God] for our trespasses and raised [by God] for our justification" (Rom. 4:25). Our faith unites us to Christ, and it is through this faith that we are justified. Justification by faith necessarily leads to good works, as Paul teaches that "faith working through love" is what truly matters (Gal. 5:6).

Justification by faith is a doctrine that includes all believers, whether Jewish or Gentile, as part of God's family of faith. This doctrine was formulated by Protestant theologians during the Reformation, emphasizing that we cannot be justified by our own righteous obedience but only by faith in Christ's merit. While "faith alone" is essential, it is never alone but is accompanied by love and good works.

Justification by faith is an ancient Christian doctrine, found not only in the Bible but also in the writings of the church fathers, such as the Epistle to Diognetus from the second or third century. The doctrine has been embattled throughout history, with Paul confronting false teachers and Protestant theologians clashing with the Western church during the Reformation. Despite the controversies, justification by faith brings glory to God, as it emphasizes that our salvation is not based on our own works but on Christ's redemption and God's grace.

Justification by faith is articulated most clearly by the apostle Paul

The doctrine of justification by faith is most clearly articulated by the apostle Paul in his letters, especially in his letters to the Romans and Galatians. Paul sums up the point of his letter to the Romans in Romans 1:17: "For in it [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed by faith to faith, as it is written, 'The righteousness shall live by faith.'".

Paul often contrasts justification by faith with justification by works of the law. He writes in Romans, "we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law" (Rom. 3:28). He also draws an enlightening contrast between the worker and the believer: "Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness" (Rom. 4:4–5).

Paul sums up his argument in Galatians 2:16: "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.".

Paul's letters are not the only place in the Bible where the doctrine of justification by faith is found. It is also present in the Old Testament. For example, Genesis tells us that Abraham, in response to God’s promise, “believed the LORD, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (Gen. 15:6). Job sought to justify himself before God and in the end renounced his own righteousness (e.g., Job 32:2; 42:1–6). David speaks of the blessing of justification apart from works: “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Ps. 32:1); “Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you” (Ps. 143:2).

The doctrine of justification by faith is what separates biblical Christianity from all other belief systems. Justification is the act of God not only forgiving the believer’s sins but imputing to him the righteousness of Christ. It is a completed work of God, and it is instantaneous, as opposed to sanctification, which is an ongoing process of growth.

Justification by faith is another way of saying we are not justified by our works

The Christian doctrine of justification by faith is a way of saying that we are not justified by our works. This means that we are not saved by our own efforts or good deeds, but by our faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and that we are "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24). This justification is a gift from God, received through faith in Jesus' work on our behalf. As the apostle Paul writes, "we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law" (Romans 3:28).

The idea of justification by faith is a central teaching of Christianity, distinguishing it from other religions and belief systems. It is the belief that we are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus, and not by our own works or efforts to keep the law. This doctrine is most clearly articulated in the letters of the apostle Paul, especially in his letters to the Romans and Galatians.

Justification by faith does not mean that our faith is the ultimate cause of our salvation. Instead, our faith rests upon and unites us to Christ, who is the basis for our salvation. As John Calvin commented, "When therefore we are justified, the efficient cause is the mercy of God, the meritorious is Christ, the instrumental is the word [of God] in connection with faith."

Justification by faith also does not mean that our outward actions don't matter. Good works and acts of love necessarily follow from our faith as the fruit of our faith. As James writes, "faith without works is dead" (James 2:20). However, it is important to understand that these good works are not the basis for our salvation but are the result of our faith and justification.

In conclusion, the doctrine of justification by faith is a fundamental teaching of Christianity, emphasizing that we are saved by God's grace through our faith in Jesus Christ, and not by our own works or efforts. This teaching is a source of comfort and assurance for Christians, knowing that their salvation is not dependent on their own efforts but on the finished work of Christ.

Justification by faith does not mean that our faith is the ultimate cause of our justification

The doctrine of justification by faith is a central tenet of Christianity, and it is important to understand what it means and what it does not mean. One key clarification is that justification by faith does not mean that our faith is the ultimate cause of our justification.

While it is true that we are justified by faith, this does not mean that our faith is the reason or basis for our righteous status before God. Instead, the ultimate reason we are justified is "the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24). It is Christ's work on the cross and his resurrection that forms the basis for our justification. Our faith is not what earns us God's favour; rather, it is God's unmerited favour that motivates the work of Christ, which we benefit from for our justification when we believe the gospel.

John Calvin, a prominent Protestant Reformer, explains this relationship between faith and justification well: "When therefore we are justified, the efficient cause is the mercy of God, the meritorious is Christ, the instrumental is the word [of God] in connection with faith." In other words, God's mercy is the primary cause of our justification, Christ's work is the basis or ground for it, and our faith is the instrument or means by which we receive it.

This distinction is crucial because it highlights that our justification is not dependent on our own efforts or merit but is entirely a gift of God's grace. We cannot boast about our faith or claim that it is something we have achieved, for even our faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). If our faith were the ultimate cause of our justification, then our weak or wavering faith could call into question our right standing before God. But because Christ is the basis of our justification, we can have assurance and peace with God, knowing that our faith rests upon Him and His finished work.

In summary, while it is true that we are justified by faith, this does not mean that our faith is the ultimate cause or reason for our justification. Our faith is the instrument by which we receive the benefits of Christ's work, which is the true basis for our righteous status before God.

Justification by faith affirms that good works necessarily follow from faith

The doctrine of justification by faith is a central tenet of Christianity, and it is important to understand what it means and implies. Justification by faith is the belief that sinners are made or declared righteous in the eyes of God, not by their own actions or merits, but solely through their faith in Jesus Christ. This is a gift from God, received through faith in Jesus' work of redemption and is not something that can be earned through good deeds or ritualistic practices.

The Bible clearly teaches that "the just shall live by faith" (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). This means that our standing before God is not based on our own efforts or righteousness but solely on our faith in Christ's finished work on our behalf. The apostle Paul emphasises this point in his letters, particularly to the Romans and Galatians, where he states that "a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ" (Galatians 2:16).

Now, this raises an important question: if we are justified by faith, doesn't that place the responsibility for our justification on us? The answer is no. Our faith is not the ultimate cause of our justification. Instead, it is Christ's sacrifice and resurrection that serve as the basis for our righteous status before God. Our faith is what unites us to Christ and allows us to benefit from His redeeming work.

In conclusion, justification by faith is a fundamental doctrine in Christianity, and it has far-reaching implications for our understanding of salvation and our relationship with God. It is not just an abstract theological concept but a transformative reality that should lead to a life characterised by good works and love for God and others.

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