JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE

By Gary Ray Branscome

In the third chapter of his Epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul describes Justification by Faith, as, “The righteousness of God which comes through faith in Jesus Christ” (Romans 3:22). And, to prevent all misunderstanding, he goes on in the next chapter to describe it as imputed righteousness. A righteousness that is ours, not because of anything we have done, but because when we trust in Christ, no sin is imputed to us. In that chapter he tells us that:

Righteousness Was imputed to Abraham

Romans 4:3-5 “For what does Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was counted (imputed) to him for righteousness. Now to him who works is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him who does not work, but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

Righteousness Was Imputed To David

Romans 4:6-8 “Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, to whom God imputes righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”

Righteousness is Imputed Apart From The Law

Romans 4:9-12 “Does this blessedness only come upon the circumcised, or also upon the uncircumcised? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it reckoned? when he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not circumcised, but uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had while still uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed to them also: And the father of circumcision to those who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, that he had while still uncircumcised.”

Righteousness is Imputed by Faith

Romans 4:13-16 “The promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of no effect: Because the law works wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is by faith, that it might be by grace; that the promise might be sure to all the seed; not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,”

Righteousness is Imputed To All Who Trust In Christ

Romans 4:23-25 “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it will be imputed, if we believe on Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

Righteousness is Imputed Without Works

The words, “God… did not save us by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy… Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,” specifically say that we are saved by mercy, not works (Titus 3:4-6). The words, “I [Paul] have suffered the loss of all these things, and regard them as dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in Him, not having any righteousness of my own, which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God by faith,” tell us that righteousness comes from God by faith, not by “the law” (Philippians 3:8-9). The words, “The Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness that is by faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it through faith, but through the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling-stone… For I bear witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one who believes,” tell us that the Gentiles who looked to God for mercy had their sins forgiven, while the Jews who sought to make themselves righteous were condemned (Romans 9:30 – 10:4). And, the words, “We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace,” tell us that we have forgiveness through the blood of Christ, the same blood that “cleanses us of all sin” (Ephesians 1:7, 1John 1:7).

Although the Bible plainly tells us that works do not make us righteous, and play no part in our salvation, Satan attacks that doctrine on two fronts. On one hand he attacks it through those who say, “Let us do evil that good may come. Whose damnation is just” (Romans 3:8). On the other hand he attacks it through those who, seek “to establish their own righteousness” (Romans 10:3). Furthermore, because Satan blinds whomever he can to “The light of the glorious gospel,” those who believe that the law makes them righteous cannot understand how we can be righteous apart from the law (2Corinthians 4:4). And, they will not be able to understand it until they can say with Paul, “I know that nothing good dwells in me (that is, in my flesh,)” and truly see that all of their own “righteousnesses are like filthy rags” in the sight of God (Romans 7:18, Isaiah 64:6). For it is only as we see that the law condemns everything we do to make ourselves righteous, that we can understand that freedom from the law is not freedom to sin, but freedom to be righteous. It is freedom to walk in a clean conscience without constantly being condemned. It is the freedom to “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1Timothy 2:2). And, “The goal of our instruction is love flowing from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith” (1Timothy 1:5).