Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Friday, June 06, 2008 12:38:27 PM
There are many important doctrines in the Bible, but is there any other doctrine which brings together so much of Biblical Christianity than the doctrine of Justification by Faith Alone?
The cavilers say that the term is not in the Bible, but this verse and the apostolic interpretation is in the Bible…
‘Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness’ [Genesis 15:6 quoted in Romans 4:3].
Is there any other verse in the Bible which demonstrates the unity of the revelation of the everlasting gospel? In his letter to the Romans the apostle expounds the doctrine of justification and he uses the example of Abraham…
‘Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification’ [Romans 4:23-25].
What is the source of righteousness and how is it obtained by men? These are the great questions that the apostle answers.
The apostle first demonstrates the need for the doctrine in his declaration that all men are under sin, therefore no man can be justified by the works of the law. Then he reveals to us the wisdom of God…
‘Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace’ [Romans 4:16].
Now this is the heart of the Gospel. Sinners do not earn entrance into the kingdom of heaven, but God has provided a way for grace to be shown in order to magnify His glory. The promise of salvation comes by faith in that it might be a matter of grace. This is the opposite of works.
What is common among all man made religions is that this doctrine is denied to some extent. They say we must work to merit righteousness. We say that the justified man will work the works of righteousness for this is God’s purpose in the justification of sinners, but he knows that this adds nothing to the imputed righteousness wherein he stands before God clothed in the righteousness of Christ; a righteousness obtained by faith alone.
The distinction is huge because it separates the wisdom of God from the wisdom of man. Lost men profess to be wise, but they have become fools. The eternal wisdom of God revealed in the Gospel is the only way of salvation.
As always the Scriptures are the death of the heresies of Romanism and Mormonism and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine. Justification by Faith Alone is the first thing. If they will not hear the Scriptures on this doctrine, then they do not have ears to hear the Gospel and everything else they say is sophistry.