Justification (Part 1)

The word “justified” is used more than 40 times in the 66 books of the Bible. Yet, the denominational world focuses attention on only one of these 40 times, in an effort to squeeze God’s Word into a mold acceptable to the denominations.

Since we today are subject to the instructions of the New Testament, let’s look at what the New Testament says about our justification. We will note six components, recorded in the New Testament, by which we are justified.

By faith: “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1)
By grace: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24)
By Jesus’ blood: “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Romans 5:9)
By the faith of Jesus Christ: “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16a)
By Christ: “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified” (Romans 8:30a)
By works: “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24).

Let’s look more closely at James 2. Verse 14-“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?” Verse 26: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” The close observer of today’s denominations can see “dead” faith is being preached! The religious leaders of these groups deny any “works” are necessary. The sinner is told to “only believe” to be saved. The result of such “teaching” is that multitudes falsely believe they are saved, when in reality they continue on the road to hell. If a Bible-believing person questions the “faith only” doctrine, the accusation is made that “you are taking that out of context”!

It is true that there are some works by which one cannot be justified. “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). What “law” is under consideration in this scripture? Consistently, throughout the New Testament, when it is recorded that by the works of the “law” no one can be justified, the “law” being spoken of is the Mosaical Law, which was given only to the Israelites. The first-century church had a problem with Jewish Christians attempting to bind the Law of Moses upon Gentile Christians, after the Law of Moses had been fulfilled and the law of Christ was in effect. Read Acts 13:16-52, especially verse 39: “And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” What could the law of Moses not do? Make one free from the law of sin and death. Read Romans 8:2,3.

From the time of the fall, God has provided man with law in order that man can be justified in God’s sight. Today, we are under the law of Christ. Because it ignores Christ’s law, the man-made doctrine of “faith only” cannot justify!