WHY SAVING FAITH JUSTIFIES

By Gary Ray Branscome

The words, “A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law,” plainly tell us that faith cleanses us of sin [justifies us] “without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28). As it is written, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9). It is true that “faith… produces works through love,” but those works come after we are “justified by faith,” not before (Galatians 5:6). The words, “Without faith it is impossible to please God,” tell us that it is impossible for works to make us righteous (Hebrews 11:6). As it is written, “No flesh will ever be justified in God’s sight by the deeds of the law: because the knowledge of sin comes by the law.” (Romans 3:20). In fact, without the forgiveness that is ours in Christ, “All of our righteousnesses are like filthy rags,” in the sight of God (Isaiah 64:6).

The reason that faith justifies has nothing to do with any value or virtue in faith itself. In fact the words, “You are saved by grace through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God,” tell us that our faith is itself a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). “No one can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1Corinthians 12:3). The words, “We have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,” tell us that faith justifies us because it gives us access to God’s grace (Romans 5:2). In other words, faith is like a hand that receives God’s free gift of forgiveness.

It is only after “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us of all sin,” that the Holy Spirit enters our heart through faith (1John 1:7). As it is written, “After you believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,” (Ephesians 1:13). And, the words, “The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and they are opposed to each other: so that you cannot do the things that you would,” tell us that any improvement in our behavior comes after the Holy Spirit is at work in our heart (Galatians 5:17). In saying this, I do not want to imply that those who are saved never have to struggle against the flesh. The words, “God who is faithful, will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear; but when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out, giving you the ability to bear it,” tell us that the Holy Spirit does not take away our sinful desires, but enables us to resist them (1Corinthians 10:13).