JC Disciples
Justification by Faith
What does justification mean?
- Websters definition of justify:
"2. to free from blame; declare guiltless; acquit; absolve."
- Biblical definition of justify:
"is a forensic term meaning acquit, declare righteous, the opposite of condemn (cf. Dt. 25:1; Pr. 17:1). Justifying is the judge's act. From the litigant's standpoint, therefore, be justified means get the verdict. In Scripture, God is the Judge of all the earth (Gn. 18:25), and his dealings with men are constantly described in forensic terms. Righteousness, i.e. conformity with his law, is what he requires of men, and he shows his own righteousness as Judge in taking vengeance on those who fall short of it (cf. Ps. 7:11, Is 64:5-7; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:5). There is no hope for anyone if God's verdict goes against him.
- Paul further defines Justification:
"Justification means to Paul God's act of remitting the sins of guilty men, and accounting them righteous, freely, by his grace, through faith in Christ, on the ground, not of their own works, but of the representative law-keeping and redemptive blood-shedding of the Lord Jesus Christ on their behalf (For the parts of this definition, see Rom. 3:21-26; 4:5-8) Paul's doctrine of justification is his characteristic way of formulating the central gospel truth, that God forgives believing sinners.
Justification by Faith
- Understanding Faith
What is another word for faith? Trust
Christianity is a faith system not a religion. We trust (faith) God. Our faith is coherent and consistent in its reasoning and on the evidence that it is based. Peter writes "For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty." (2 Peter 1:16)
Christians do not have blind faith. In the book of Hebrews we find the definition of faith as being "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
Christian faith includes believing in God, but that kind of faith is not considered particularly praiseworthy by Scripture. James writes: "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe --- and tremble!" (James 2:19) Even demons know that God exists, but they don't trust God.
- Working in table groups, spend the next ten minutes discussing the theology concerning faith in the following verses. Which verses are key in this theology.
Galatians 3:1-14 (Legalism can have no part of a Christian's faith walk. Justification comes only through the work of Jesus on the cross. Key verses: 3:3, 3:11, 3:13)
Ephesians 2:1-10 (Previous life involved sin, but God demonstrates His love by saving us. We are saved by grace and not by works. Key verses: 2:3, 2:4, 2:8)
James 2:14-26 (Faith demands trust. Trust brings about action. Key verses: 2:14, 2:22, 2:26)
Romans 3:21-28 (Righteousness comes through Jesus to believers. God demonstrates justice by the death of Jesus. Key verses: 3:22, 3:28)
Justification by Faith
- Can anyone give there definition of Justification by faith?
Martin Luther stated that the article by which the church stands
or falls is justification by faith. Martin Luther writes about how he came to this conclusion:
"I greatly longed to understand Paul's Epistle to the Romans and nothing stood in the way but that one expression, 'the justice of God,' because I took it to mean that justice whereby God is just and deals justly in punishing the unjust. My situation was that, although an impeccable monk, I stood before God as a sinner troubled in conscience, and I had no confidence that my merit would assuage him. Therefore I did not love a just and angry God, but rather hated and murmured against him. Yet I clung to the dear Paul and had a great yearning to know what he meant."
"Night and day I pondered until I saw the connection between the justice of God and the statement that 'the just shall live by faith.' Then I grasped that the justice of God is that righteousness by which through grace and sheer mercy God justifies us through faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise. The whole Scripture took on a new meaning, and whereas before the 'justice of God' had filled me with hate, now it became to me inexpressibly sweet in greater love. This passage of Paul became to me a got of heaven ...."
"If you have a true faith that Christ is your saviour, then at once you have a gracious God, for faith leads you in and opens up God's heart and will, that you should see pure grace and overflowing love. This it is to behold God in faith that you should look upon his fatherly, friendly heart, in which there is no anger nor ungraciousness. He who sees god as angry does not see him rightly but looks only on a curtain as if a dark cloud had been drawn across his face."
The phrase 'justice of God' is found in the NIV in Romans 3:25-26. Looking at the context of these verses can you see how Luther would have seen that phrase with dread? Explain why you think this?
- Working in table groups, spend the next ten minutes discussing the theology concerning faith in the following verses. Which verses are key in this theology.
Romans 5:12-19 (Sin and death came through Adam. Moses codified what sin is. Jesus act on the cross brings the grace and mercy we need to be saved. Key verses: 5:12; 5:16)
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (Christians are a new creature in Christ. The old person is gone and new person is now in place. We are involved in a ministry of reconciliation. Key verses: 5:17, 5:18)
Galatians 2:11-21 (We are justified by our faith in Jesus Christ, not by observing the law. Key verses: 2:15-16)
Philippians 3:7-11 (Knowing Jesus is better than anything else in the world. He gives us his righteousness as a free gift. Key verses: 3:7-9)
David Tannen