Righteousness Through Faith Not Law
Saved By Grace Through Faith
Rom 3:19-26, James 2:10, Rom 3:10, Gal 3:24-26, John 14:6, 1Pet 1:18-19, Gal 2:19-20, Acts 16:31
The Law here refers to the rule of obedience that God requires of us; God’s standard of obedience is absolute perfection. No one will ever be justified in the sight of God by keeping the Law because no one can keep the whole Law perfectly all their life. James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. The Law was given so that we would all know that we are sinners and in need of a Savior. Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: The Law says the same thing to all of us, “You are a guilty sinner before God”. There is no way to defend ourselves against the Law, we have all broken it and are without excuse.
Rom 3:21-23 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 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: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
The Law was not given as a means of justification, it was given to lead us to Christ. The Law proves each of us to be guilty and in need of a savior. Gal 3:24-26 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Our faith in Jesus Christ has not only resulted in our being justified and declared righteous before God, but it also results in our being made sons of God. The Law has proven us all to be sinners. There is no distinction, we are all guilty before God, and righteousness, that is salvation is offered to each of us through faith in Jesus Christ. There is only one way and Jesus is the way. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. So now God has made His righteousness known to us, a righteousness that does not come through our keeping the Law, but through Jesus Christ keeping the Law. The righteousness that God demands of each of us is the same, it is His righteousness, it is absolute perfection. The righteousness that God demands of each of us is found only through faith in Jesus Christ and it is available to everyone who believes in Him. When we believe in Jesus Christ, God imputes or credits the righteousness of Christ to us, His righteousness becomes our righteousness and we become sons of God. Furthermore, as sons of God we have life that will never end, eternal life.
Rom 3:24-25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
When we are justified we are not only declared not guilty before God but we are declared to be righteous through faith in Christ. All who believe in Jesus Christ are justified as a gift, it is not earned, it is freely given. Justification is by God’s grace, we did not do anything to deserve it, it is totally unmerited. Jesus Christ redeemed us, paid the penalty for our sins, we did not redeem ourselves; the penalty for sin is death and He died for us in our place. The shed blood of Jesus Christ made atonement for our sins, appeased the wrath of God against our sin, satisfied God’s anger against us, if we believe in Him. 1 Pet 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: The blood of Old Testament animal sacrifices only covered sin so that God could pass over those sins, but the blood of Jesus Christ removes sin. Without the blood of Jesus Christ all the Old Testament sacrifices would be of no value.
Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
God is just in justifying us who have faith in Jesus because Jesus Christ has fully paid the penalty the Law demands for sins. The Law has no more claim on us, it cannot condemn us because the penalty the Law demands has been paid in full, by Jesus Christ. Our justification is complete as far as God is concerned, the penalty for our sin has been paid in full by Christ and God’s justice has been satisfied. Justification is free and it is for all those who have faith in Jesus Christ. The righteousness of Jesus Christ is now ours. Gal 2:19-20 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.The Law demanded the death penalty for sin and Jesus Christ fulfilled that demand on our behalf; He gave Himself up to be our sin bearer to die in our place for our sins, not His own, for He had none. As far as God is concerned when Christ died we who are believers in Jesus died and when Christ rose to new life we rose. Christ now lives in us and God sees His righteousness as our rightesousness. As far as God is concerned we are as perfect as Christ is perfect.
GOD’S WAY OF SALVATION
- Believe in Jesus Christ.
- Believe He is the Son of God. He is the Creator. He is God.
- Believe He lived a holy life. He was without sin. He fulfilled the Law.
- Believe He died for your sins. He took your sins upon Himself. He completed the work of redemption.
- Believe He rose from the dead. He is at the right hand of the Father. He intercedes for us.
- Believe He is coming again. He will return as KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS.
To be sure of salvation:
Turn away from all religion and self righteousness. Believe in Jesus Christ with all your heart and mind.Admit that you are a sinner. Believe He has forgiven your sins.
Ask Him to accept you. Believe He has accepted you.
Believe in Him, Trust in Him, Rest in Him, and in Him only.
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
All Scripture taken from King James Bible
* Bible Studies by Max Swan
Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. (NAS) Jer 9:23-24