JUSTIFICATION AND WORKS

By Gary Ray Branscome

The words, “Whoever keeps the whole law, yet fails in one point, is guilty of all,” tell us that in the eyes of God there are no shades of gray (James 2:10). A person is either totally condemned, or totally innocent, there is no middle ground. Therefore, if a person has not been justified by faith [forgiven] God sees no good in him. Even his “righteousnesses are like filthy rags;” (Isaiah 64:6). In contrast, once a person has been justified by faith [forgiven] God sees no fault in him. His “iniquities are forgiven,” his “sins are covered,” and “the Lord will not impute sin” to him (Romans 4:7-8).

That means that there are two ways of looking at those who trust in Christ. In the light of God’s law, we are all sinners. Judged by the law, none of us “will ever be declared righteous in God’s sight… because the knowledge of sin comes by the law” (Romans 4:20). We stress that fact because we are saved by “the forgiveness of sins,” and Satan does all he can to keep people from seeking forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7).

At the same time, because no sin is imputed to those who trust in Christ, apart from willful sin God sees all who are justified by faith as righteous. That is why we read that, “David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and did not turn aside from any thing that He commanded him all the days of his life, except only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite” (1Kings 15:5). And, that is why John said, “Whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who is born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him” (1John 5:18).

That being understood, the words, “Joseph her husband, being a just man,” are telling us that Joseph was justified by faith [in the promised Messiah] (Matthew 1:19). We know that because the Bible plainly tells us that no one will ever, “be justified in God’s sight by the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:20). And, the same holds true for all of the passages in which someone is said to be just. [See Proverbs 9:9, 13:22, 24:16 and 29:27.] At the same time, when judged by the law, “There is not a just man on earth, who does good, without sinning” (Ecclesiastes 7:20).

Since the only way to be righteous in the sight of God is to be justified by faith, the words, “Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?” are telling us that those who are not justified by faith “will not inherit the kingdom of God” (1Corinthians 6:9). Likewise, the words, “They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless,” tell us that Zacharias and Elisabeth were justified by faith (Luke 1:5-6).

The same holds true in every place where the Bible speaks of a particular work bringing God’s favor. Without forgiveness that work would be “like filthy rags” in the sight of God (Isaiah 64:6). For example: When God said to Abraham, “In your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice,” we know that without forgiveness Abraham’s “obedience” would have been “like filthy rags” in the sight of God. Likewise, when the Bible says, “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,” we know that without faith any forgiveness would be “like filthy rags” in the sight of God (Matthew 6:14). The words, “Without faith it is impossible to please God,” tell us that no work will ever be acceptable to God unless it is done in faith, that is, by one who trusts in Christ.

At the same time, those who truly have “a heart that is humbled and sorry for sin,” will not sin willfully, and if they did they would be grieved over it as David was (Psalm 51:17). For that reason, those who are truly justified by faith (and not double-minded) conduct themselves in a way that reflects the righteousness that they already have through faith in Christ.