Christ Assembly │The Daily Power of Justification │ Justification by Faith Alone
The Daily Power of Justification
Part One
Justification by Faith Alone
Romans 5:1
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I see many people who seldom read their Bible, unless they are sitting with me. Of course, I also have friends who regularly read their Bible to hear Jesus speaking to them, so that they might live His life today. But I remain very concerned about my friends who do not read their Bibles, and have little interest in reading what God has said to them. As we study passages in Romans, I want to take the time with you to listen to Jesus speak to us, and hear directly from His Word.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1
Justification by Faith Alone. In the Book of Romans, Paul the apostle has written to the people of Rome a long letter about theology. Theology means the study of God, and in this case, a study of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. To know God means that we must learn about God and His ways. He reveals His ways to His children by faithful reading and study of His Word. Paul wrote down the revelations he received from God, so that we would benefit from knowing God better. Throughout the first three chapters of Romans, Paul praised the power of God in the Gospel of Jesus Christ to bring salvation to everyone, both Jews and Gentiles. He then explains that everyone needs the Gospel, for everyone, both Jews and Gentiles, have fallen short of the glory of God. Salvation came from God through Jesus Christ, being witnessed by the Law and prophets, but separate from the Law of the Old Testament (Romans 3:21). Believers have been justified as a gift by redemption which is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24). The Law of the Old Testament never saved anyone, and could not save anyone (Romans 3:20). Only faith in Christ dying for you brings salvation from sins (Romans 3:26). Paul then shows in Romans 4 that justification by faith alone is nothing new, but the only plan of salvation in the Old Testament. Abraham was saved by faith alone, long before the Law was given through Moses (Romans 4:1-25). In fact, King David also, born after the Law was given, was saved by faith alone, being credited with righteousness, because of his faith, not works (Romans 4:6-7). Jesus emphasized many times in the Bible that only faith brings justification before God. But what does the word “justification” mean in the Bible?
Justification Defined. In Romans 5:1, the term “having been justified” (“Δικαιωθέντες“) means that you have been acquitted of sin by God acting as Judge, who has entered a final judgment of acquittal in your favor. God declares you to be righteous before Him, because you have received the gift of eternal life by faith in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross. Justification has this legal meaning, and it is a legal declaration. In this verse, God emphasizes that we have been justified (aorist participle), once and for all.
The Sole Means of Justification. Only faith (“πίστεως“) in Christ Jesus brings justification. This faith refers to “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith means you take Christ at His word, and trust Him to do what He says. Just to be very clear, you can never earn your way into heaven by doing good works (Ephesians 2:8-9), but only by faith alone. Jesus promised to forgive your sins as a free gift, if you would accept His gift by believing He died for you on the cross, for all the things you have done wrong in life, called sin, against God.
Peace with God. Justification brings lasting and permanent peace with God. Can you imagine living every day with the certainty that God has no anger towards you, because He poured all of His wrath towards your particular sins, mounting over a lifetime, upon His Son, Jesus Christ, when He died on the cross. In His body, Jesus took the full punishment for our sins (1 Peter 2:24-25). Instead of living with a constant sense of God’s disapproval of us, we can now live in a constant state of having peace with God, because He declared us acquitted of all charges, and righteous before Him by virtue of Christ’s righteousness in us.
So we learn more about Jesus and the power of justification today.
● We have peace with God because God has justified us, and declared us innocent of all charges of sinful guilt, deserving the death penalty. We walk free, because Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross.
● Because we have peace with God, we now live each day with the blessings of God resting upon us. Indeed, God has already blessed us with every blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).
● The power of peace for daily living relates directly to the power of justification before God. I know God loves me and likes me every day of my life. I am not guilty before Him, because Jesus took all my sins away. Happy day! Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!
Application for Today
As I live today, I will live in justification by faith today. Because I have been acquitted by God Himself, and I know it, I can live in peace with God. I will not worry about whether God likes me today, because all my sin has already been forgiven by Christ, and God has declared me justified before Him. I have died to sin, and now I live to righteousness. Will you be living in peace with God today?
Christ Assembly │The Daily Power of Justification │ Justification by Faith Alone
