Sunday Sermons
Justification by Faith
Justification by Faith
Clearly the Bible teaches that faith is an essential condition for salvation (Romans 5:1; John 3:16). Yet there is a huge misunderstanding in the denominational world concerning how a person is actually saved, and what must one do to be saved (Acts 2:37).
Saved by Faith Alone?
In searching the Internet I found many articles entitled, “Justification by faith alone”. The problem here is that the Bible teaches the exact opposite, and makes it very clear that one is not justified by faith alone (James 2:24). In fact, there are individuals mentioned in the Bible who believed in Him (John 12:42-43), and yet were not saved because they refused to confess Him. Paul placed confession and faith side by side as being both necessary for salvation (Romans 10:9-10). Jesus placed faith and baptism side by side as being both necessary for forgiveness of sins as well (Mark 16:16). The idea that one is saved at the instant they believe that Jesus is their Savior does not fit the Biblical text. The people in Acts 2:37 clearly believed that Jesus was the Christ and yet they were told to repent and be baptized to be forgiven of their sins (Acts 2:38). Saul of Tarsus obviously knew that Jesus was the Lord after seeing Him, and yet three days later he still was in an unforgiven state prior to his baptism (Acts 22:8; 22:16).
Adding up Passages?
One attitude I have seen recently is that if there are more passages that mention “faith” rather than “repentance”, “confession” or “baptism”, then somehow “faith wins”, and is the sole condition for salvation. Some points to consider:
· The number of passages that mention that one is saved by faith alone: 0
· Faith is often placed with another condition for salvation (Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 10:9-10).
· Baptism is included in salvation by faith through grace: Ephesians 2:5-6 “Made us alive together with Christ—and raised us up with Him”; Colossians 2:12 “Having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith”. These passages plainly contradict the idea that water baptism is only a symbol or sign of one’s previous salvation. Such passages actually teach that water baptism is an essential step in being saved by grace through faith.
“This passage mentions only faith”
Others think that if they find a passage that links faith with salvation with no other mentioned that such teaches salvation by faith alone, seeing that faith is the only condition mentioned in that particular passage, i.e. John 3:16. Yet this view is shortsighted. There are passages that mention “repentance” as being necessary for salvation that do not mention faith, confession or baptism (Luke 24:47; 2 Corinthians 7:10), yet no one argues that one is saved by “repentance alone”. There are also passages that mention baptism as a condition for salvation that do not mention faith (1 Peter 3:21; Acts 22:16), yet no one argues that one is saved by “baptism alone”.
The Need for Repentance
“We believe that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, the Just for the unjust; freely, and by divine appointment of the Father, taking the sinner's place, bearing his sins, receiving his condemnation, dying his death, fully paying his penalty, and signing with His life's blood, the pardon of every one who should believe upon Him; that upon simple faith and acceptance of the atonement purchased on Mount Calvary, the vilest sinner may be cleansed of his iniquities and made whiter than driven snow”
“We believe that upon sincere repentance, godly sorrow for sin, and a whole-hearted acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ, they who call upon Him may be justified by faith, through His precious blood and that in place of condemnation they may have the most blessed peace, assurance and favor with God; that with open arms of mercy and pardon the Savior waits to receive each penitent who will in unfeigned contrition and supplication for mercy, open the door of his heart and accept Him as Lord and King” (Declaration of Faith (Foursquare) complied by Aimee Semple McPherson).
Observation:
In this creed repentance is linked with justification by faith, as it should be (Luke 24:47 “that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations”). Yet the creed does not go far enough, for the Lord through Peter links baptism with repentance as both being conditions for salvation (Acts 2:38). Repentance is not a symbol of one’s salvation and neither is baptism (Mark 16:16).
The Source of Faith
“God, through His regenerating power, enables a person to believe. He gives a person the gift of faith, and then by faith a person embraces Jesus Christ and all His benefits. ‘Regeneration is the act of God and of God alone. But faith is not the act of God; it is not God who believes in Christ for salvation, it is the sinner. It is by God’s grace that a person isable to believe, but faith is an activity on the part of the person and of him alone. In faith we receive and rest upon Christ alone for salvation’” (www.reformed.com).
The above quote is fairly typical of the view that man is so sinful that God must give or enable the sinner to believe in the first place. Yet the quote is also contradictory, for it first maintains that God gives a person the gift of faith, and then it says that faith is an activity on the part of the person and of him alone. The Bible actually teaches that faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17), and this word is preached to all men (Mark 16:15). Thus God does not give a gift of faith to one and withhold it from another. The gospel is to be preached to all men, it is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16), and anyone who chooses to listen and obey it will be saved (Romans 6:16-17). In this last passage notice that obedience is linked with righteousness (i.e. justification), and that both obeying sin or obeying God are both in the realm of our free-willed choice.
“The Imputed Righteousness of Christ?”
“When a man by faith lays hold of Jesus Christ and His merits, God imputes that person’s guilt for sins past, present and future upon Christ on the cross. God also imputes Christ’s perfect righteousness to that sinner. The Father then declares that man righteous or just in the heavenly court. Because Christ has removed the guilt of that man’s sins past, present, and future legally before God, it is as though that man never committed sin. He is white as snow (Isa. 1:18). His record is perfect. Judicially, he is just as righteous and perfect as Jesus Christ. Since Christ’s perfect obedience is imputed to him, he has eternal life because Christ merited it for him” (www.reformed.com).
One of the errors that I find often linked with a denominational view of justification by faith is the above claim that when one is saved, not only are their sins forgiven, but Jesus’ perfect obedience is imputed to them, that is, when God sees them from now on, He sees the perfect obedience of Christ.
· Of course, if this were true then one could never be lost, yet the Bible teaches that the Christian can lose their salvation (Hebrews 10:26-29).
· And when Christians did sin, God did not see the perfect obedience of Christ, rather He saw sin (Acts 5:4; Acts 8:22-23 “For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity”; 2 Corinthians 12:21).
· These verses equally contradict the claim that Jesus has unconditionally removed all of one’s future sins. When Christians did sin, they were not automatically covered by the blood of Christ, rather, they first needed to repent and pray (Matthew 18:15).
Romans Chapters 4-5
· I am viewed as righteous, not because God sees only the perfect obedience of Christ, but because I have been forgiven (4:6-8).
· Justification by faith is linked with forgiveness of sins and this once again reminds us of the links between forgiveness and faith, repentance, and baptism (Acts 2:37-38).
· The faith that results in justification is not a mere mental acceptance that Jesus is my Savior (4:18-22).
· Justification involves coming into contact with the blood of Christ (5:9), this also brings us back to baptism (Romans 6:3-6).
· Romans 5:19 is not teaching that the perfect obedience of Christ is imputed to the Christian, any more than the disobedience of Adam was imputed to all men. Adam’s disobedience did not unconditionally make everyone a sinner (Romans 5:12), and Jesus’ obedience did not unconditionally make anyone a saint. Adam opened up the door for sin and rebellion and men have a choice to enter. And praise the God of heaven that Jesus opened the door for salvation and men have an equal choice to follow Him and reap all the blessings of doing so.
Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net/mdunagan@easystreet.com
