Justified by Faith
Justified by Faith
Romans 3:20-24: (20) For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his
sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (21) But now the righteousness of
God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear
witness to it (22) the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who
believe. For there is no distinction: (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God, (24) and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus.
To put these verses in proper context, the Apostle Paul is teaching the Roman Church
that the entire world is guilty by describing the total sinfulness of mankind. The Law that
the Jews thought would save them merely condemns them; for the Law gives us the
knowledge of sin and points us to the need of a Savior. The Puritans taught us well; “we
need to convict with the Law and heal with the Gospel.” Jesus came to saves sinners.
As we continue with this text down to verse 26, Paul introduces several important terms
for us to know and understand correctly.
Justified, verse 24 – declared righteous in God’s sight through the merits of Christ,
secure in our position in Christ before the throne of God. Justification is God’s
righteousness imputed, put to our account.
Redemption, verse 24 – deliverance from sin and its penalties, by the payment of a
price. This price was Christ’s blood on the cross.
Propitiation, verse 25 – Christ’s sacrifice satisfied God’s holy law, thus making it
possible for God to forgive sinners and remain just Himself. God’s justice has been
satisfied; He may now look with kindness and grace upon a lost world.
In verse 24, Paul tells us we are “justified freely by His grace,” what an amazing
statement.
Not by works, good intentions, or religious activities, but freely by His grace as a gift,
(Ephesians 2:8-9). It is in this letter to the Roman Church that Paul explains how God
can be both “just and justifier” and the answer is the cross. When Jesus died, He bore
our sins in His body (1 Peter 2:24) and thus paid the price God’s law demanded. Then,
He rose victoriously from the dead. Thus, He is alive and on His Throne interceding for
us, our one and only mediator (1 Tim: 2-5), and able to save all who will believe and
trust in Him.
As we read the last few verses of chapter 3, we conclude that we are accepted by faith
alone. The Jews had nothing to boast of, because all sinners are justified by faith and
not by the works of the Law. If justification is by the Law, then He is a God of the Jews
only, because only Israel had the Law. But God is also a God of the Gentiles.
Therefore, both Jews and Gentiles are saved the same way – by faith. Salvation has
been available only by grace through faith ever since our first parents fell.
Paul takes us back to Abraham as the prime example of this: “Abraham believed God,
and it was reckoned (imputed) to him as righteousness” (Gen. 15:6, Romans 4:3).
Habakkuk 2:4 says. “The just shall live by faith.” And this means of salvation does not
cancel the Law, for the Law demanded death for sin, and Christ died for our sins. Thus,
the Gospel establishes the Law, God’s Law reveals my need in a very big way for His
grace, and God’s grace enables me to obey the Law.
Mike Gendron of Proclaiming the Gospel Ministry writes: “The heart of God’s Gospel is
the treasured doctrine of justification by faith. This is the hinge upon which the gates of
heaven open and close. Anyone who is wrong about justification is wrong about the
Gospel. The Gospel is good news because it reveals the only way a condemned sinner
on death row can be declared righteous and set free. Jesus Christ satisfied divine
justice so that God could be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus
(Romans 3:21-28). The sinless Savior went to the cross as a substitute for His
people. He endured the wrath of God in the place of sinners who would repent and
believe His Gospel.”
The doctrine of justification runs straight to the very heart of the gospel. In justification,
God provides the answer to mankind’s most basic theological and religious question:
How can sinners come to be in a right relationship with the holy God of the
universe?
Scripture is clear that justification by faith alone means I have been declared as
righteous as Christ Himself and will be considered as such for all eternity! Amazing
Grace Indeed!
Your brother in Christ – Jim Nelson
Romans 3:20-24: (20) For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his
sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (21) But now the righteousness of
God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear
witness to it (22) the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who
believe. For there is no distinction: (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God, (24) and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus.
To put these verses in proper context, the Apostle Paul is teaching the Roman Church
that the entire world is guilty by describing the total sinfulness of mankind. The Law that
the Jews thought would save them merely condemns them; for the Law gives us the
knowledge of sin and points us to the need of a Savior. The Puritans taught us well; “we
need to convict with the Law and heal with the Gospel.” Jesus came to saves sinners.
As we continue with this text down to verse 26, Paul introduces several important terms
for us to know and understand correctly.
Justified, verse 24 – declared righteous in God’s sight through the merits of Christ,
secure in our position in Christ before the throne of God. Justification is God’s
righteousness imputed, put to our account.
Redemption, verse 24 – deliverance from sin and its penalties, by the payment of a
price. This price was Christ’s blood on the cross.
Propitiation, verse 25 – Christ’s sacrifice satisfied God’s holy law, thus making it
possible for God to forgive sinners and remain just Himself. God’s justice has been
satisfied; He may now look with kindness and grace upon a lost world.
In verse 24, Paul tells us we are “justified freely by His grace,” what an amazing
statement.
Not by works, good intentions, or religious activities, but freely by His grace as a gift,
(Ephesians 2:8-9). It is in this letter to the Roman Church that Paul explains how God
can be both “just and justifier” and the answer is the cross. When Jesus died, He bore
our sins in His body (1 Peter 2:24) and thus paid the price God’s law demanded. Then,
He rose victoriously from the dead. Thus, He is alive and on His Throne interceding for
us, our one and only mediator (1 Tim: 2-5), and able to save all who will believe and
trust in Him.
As we read the last few verses of chapter 3, we conclude that we are accepted by faith
alone. The Jews had nothing to boast of, because all sinners are justified by faith and
not by the works of the Law. If justification is by the Law, then He is a God of the Jews
only, because only Israel had the Law. But God is also a God of the Gentiles.
Therefore, both Jews and Gentiles are saved the same way – by faith. Salvation has
been available only by grace through faith ever since our first parents fell.
Paul takes us back to Abraham as the prime example of this: “Abraham believed God,
and it was reckoned (imputed) to him as righteousness” (Gen. 15:6, Romans 4:3).
Habakkuk 2:4 says. “The just shall live by faith.” And this means of salvation does not
cancel the Law, for the Law demanded death for sin, and Christ died for our sins. Thus,
the Gospel establishes the Law, God’s Law reveals my need in a very big way for His
grace, and God’s grace enables me to obey the Law.
Mike Gendron of Proclaiming the Gospel Ministry writes: “The heart of God’s Gospel is
the treasured doctrine of justification by faith. This is the hinge upon which the gates of
heaven open and close. Anyone who is wrong about justification is wrong about the
Gospel. The Gospel is good news because it reveals the only way a condemned sinner
on death row can be declared righteous and set free. Jesus Christ satisfied divine
justice so that God could be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus
(Romans 3:21-28). The sinless Savior went to the cross as a substitute for His
people. He endured the wrath of God in the place of sinners who would repent and
believe His Gospel.”
The doctrine of justification runs straight to the very heart of the gospel. In justification,
God provides the answer to mankind’s most basic theological and religious question:
How can sinners come to be in a right relationship with the holy God of the
universe?
Scripture is clear that justification by faith alone means I have been declared as
righteous as Christ Himself and will be considered as such for all eternity! Amazing
Grace Indeed!
Your brother in Christ – Jim Nelson
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