Posts Tagged ‘Justified’
Justified by the Faith of Jesus Christ – Alone
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (KJV – also found in the 1599 Geneva Bible)
Salvation by Grace is accomplished by what Jesus has done for us because we cannot do for ourselves what is necessary to be given the right to become a child of God. Galatians 2: 16 is a fine example of justification by Faith Alone by what Jesus has done for man.
We need to be justified by the faith of Jesus for we cannot justify ourselves by our faith “IN” Christ Jesus. You see, faith is an action of our own will and in Ephesians we read:
Eph 2:8, 9 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Therefore, if we are justified – made righteous – by our faith in Christ then we have something about which we can boast for we can say, “it was by my faith in Jesus that I was justified.” That would mean we were justified by the work of our own will, and Ephesians 2: 8, 9 says otherwise.
Remember, Grace is the act of regeneration (born again) and at that time, we are not only justified by the faith of Jesus but we are also given the gift of this faith, mentioned in Ephesians, and it is with this faith we believe in Jesus. We need this gift of faith for before we are born again, we have no faith with which we can believe, and neither can we use the work of our will to generate the faith needed to be justified. Justification occurs at the time we are born again by God’s Grace and we are given the gift of faith with which to believe in Jesus.
However, be forewarned, many of the newer versions of the bible have drifted away from Reformation Theology and have discreetly brought to their readers a theology of the Law of works by changing many verses that say, “faith of Jesus” to “faith in Jesus”. In doing so they have taken the whole theology of Grace Alone and changed it into a grace plus works or a more open version of man-centric theology that says man can save himself of his own free will.
It takes God’s will to open ones understanding of His plan of Salvation and that man is born again (justified), not by blood nor by the will of flesh nor by the will of man but by the will of God.
Salvation is all of God from start to finish and salvation is all of Grace, and Grace Alone, and we are Justified by the Faith of Jesus and by His Faith Alone.
To What Or Whom Are Christians Under Authority?
Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Every time I hear someone say that Christians are to be obedient to the Law (Ten Commandments) I cringe. What they do not realize is that to be obedient to the Law puts one under the authority of the Law, and that makes that person a doer of the Law.
According to the Romans 2: 13 – above – anyone who becomes a doer to the Law, putting themselves under the authority of the Ten Commandments, will result in being justified by their obedience to the Law. Just the opposite of what we read in Galatians 2: 16…
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
What I do not understand is why would one want to be under the authority of the Ten Commandments and not, by God’s Grace, be under the authority of Jesus, to obey Him?
The Old Covenant is obsolete and is no longer in authority over man, as you can read for yourself in Hebrews 8: 7 – 13. It has been replaced by a new and a more excellent Covenant, one that is based on what Jesus has done for man.
Think of this, as a Christian, either you are under the authority of the Law to obey it, or you are under the authority of Jesus to obey Him.
Ummm, I know under whose authority I am. How about you?
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