Dave... said:
Many people today stop short in their understanding of justification because the larger context does not allow for their "church" doctrines.
Justification cannot be a process because that which justifies us, the righteousness of God is not given in doses. Some make justification process to accommodate works because they don't understand the relationship between works and faith. Works cannot save save you, in part or as a whole, but can only be a result of one who is already saved.
It basically comes down to the order of events. Assuming the 'Who' and 'what' we are putting our faith into is accurate to the truth of God's Word, this is where they stumble, they believe...
Faith = good works = imputed righteousness = justification. Thereby making justification a process depending on your works.
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
You can't have both grace and works before justification. You cannot both glory in the blood of Christ and the cross while at the same time disparaging it.
Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.â€Â
For those of you who think that you are justified by your works, even in combination with faith, Jesus has a test for you, which is basically to bring home the same point that the law require perfect obedience, and you will fail.
Jesus said...
Matthew 5:20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Do you know how hard that it would be to do that? They had up to twenty or more separate books of law that they added to the scripture, and obeyed it all of it, to the letter. Even those scribes and Pharisees will suffer for eternity.
The Bible teaches...
Faith = imputed righteousness = justification = evidenced by good fruit/works This puts works in its proper place, as an evidence.
Faith is evidenced by works, as James tells us, but this is after the fact of justification. Jesus said, "You can tell a tree by it's fruit". The only question left to ask after one initially believes is whether or not ones faith is real. Are we are deceiving ourselves with a faith in idols, another Gospel, another Jesus? That's why Paul tell us to test ourselves daily. ***While works will evidence faith, works are separate and distinct from faith.***
When Jesus tells us that people who don't obey His commandments are not saved, He's not saying that the commandments are necessary to save you, He's saying that if you are giving evidence of a bad tree, you are a bad tree, you are not saved.
Faith = imputed righteousness = justification = evidenced by good fruit/works
***What is faith, Paul?***
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Where are works in that defining of faith? We can see from the rest of the chapter, the works come as a result of faith, a faith that has already justified us.
Understanding this, we can place the statement by James within it's proper context, a faith without works IS dead, and proves what Jesus said that the a bad tree does not bare good fruit, and a good tree does bare good fruit. Also proving what Jesus said, that those who are His will obey His commandments. You will also see that all the scripture posted below about justification that you might usually ignore all fits together perfectly with James staements when we understand this within it's proper context. What we are are not doing is putting the cart before the horse, namely, works before justification simply because works are an evidence of faith, thus forcing justification to be a process depending on our works.
Justification is a one time act that comes the moment we believe.
Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Your works will be an indicator of where your faith is at. But make no mistake about it, it's faith ( Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen ) that saves. Because it is only by faith ( Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen ) that we are imputed with the righteousness of God. How do we know if our faith is real and we are justified by the blood of Christ on the cross? You can tell a tree by it's fruit. Works come after justification.
Faith = good works = imputed righteousness = justification.
This puts you under the law.
Faith = imputed righteousness = justification = evidenced by good fruit/works This puts works in its proper place, as an evidence.
This puts you under Grace.
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Justification before God
Promised in Christ.
Isaiah 45:25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Is the act of God.
Isaiah 50:8 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.
Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
UNDER THE LAW
Requires perfect obedience.
Leviticus 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.
Romans 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Man cannot attain to.
Job 9:2-3 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
Job 25:4 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
Psalms 130:3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
Psalms 143:2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 9:31-32 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
UNDER THE GOSPEL
Is not of works.
Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Galatians 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.
Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Is not of faith and works united.
Acts 15:1-29 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. ...
Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Galatians 2:14-21 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 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. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. ...
Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Is by faith alone.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Romans 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Galatians 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.
Is of grace.
Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
Romans 5:17-21 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. ...
In the name of Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
By imputation of Christ's righteousness.
Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Jeremiah 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
By the blood of Christ.
Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
By the resurrection of Christ.
Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Blessedness of.
Psalms 32:1-2 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
Frees from condemnation.
Isaiah 50:8 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Romans 8:33-34 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Entitles to an inheritance.
Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Ensures glorification.
Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
The wicked shall not attain to.
Exodus 23:7 Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
BY FAITH
Revealed under the old dispensation.
Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Excludes boasting.
Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
1 Corinthians 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1 Corinthians 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Does not make void the law.
Romans 3:30-31 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
1 Corinthians 9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
Typified.
Zechariah 3:4-5 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
Illustrated.
Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Exemplified.
Abraham,
Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Paul,
Philippians 3:8-9 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
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