Justification by Faith is the crux of the Christian faith, a profound theological doctrine passionately proclaimed by the Apostle Paul.
While many believers recognize this teaching as Paul’s cornerstone message, few fully comprehend its revolutionary implications for our faith.
I am so overjoyed to write about the Justification by Faith in Romans and Galatians today.
What makes this doctrine so unique? Why did the Apostle Paul emphasize it with such intensity?
These questions invite us into a deeper exploration of a truth that can fundamentally reshape a believer’s understanding of salvation, grace, and personal relationship with God.
From the moment I understood justification, my Christian Life has never been the same again.
I am no longer bound by legalistic performance or haunted by past failures. I have embraced my new identity in Christ with profound freedom and confidence.
My prayer is that as we study this profound truth together, every lie of the enemy will be exposed.
May your mind be renewed to comprehend the extraordinary goodness of God in Christ Jesus—goodness that declares you righteous not by your merit, but by faith in His completed work.
JUSTIFICATION BY THE LAW
Imagine for a minute there are several conditions for you to meet before something is given to you.
How many conditions do you think you can fulfill? James 2:10 states: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking ALL of it.”
How many religious rituals, moral codes, and ceremonial practices do you think you can keep to be declared righteous before God?
Justification by the Law is an attempt by man to achieve righteousness and salvation by adherence to legal commandments and religious regulations.
The Jewish people believed that by perfectly following every commandment (Torah) given to Moses through the instrumentality of angels they could be considered righteous before God.
Justification by the Law suggested that the only way one could earn God’s favour was through maintaining ceremonial purity, avoiding specifically prohibited actions, performing religious rituals, and strict obedience to the commandments.
But the Law couldn’t meet up because man was inherently sinful and could not meet God’s perfect standard.
While the Law made sin known it DIDN’T have the POWER to deal with SIN rather this Legalistic approach led to pride and self-righteousness.
The Apostle Paul argued that attempting Justification through the Law was futile because the Law reveals your weakness and sinfulness, not your righteousness.
Apostle Paul later went on to explain to the believers that no human could perfectly fulfill all legal requirements as we can see in Romans 8 vs 3:
For what the LAW COULD NOT DO, in that it was WEAK through the FLESH, God sending his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Let’s further see some key scriptures that highlight “Justification by the Law”:
Galatians 2 vs 16:
"...know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So, we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law because, by the works of the law, no one will be justified."
Galatians 3 vs 11:
"Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because 'the righteous will live by faith'."
Romans 3 vs 20:
"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin."
Romans 3 vs 28:
"For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law."
Romans 11 vs 6:
"And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace."
Now we have established this, let’s now look at the definition of Justification.
WHAT IS JUSTIFICATION?
The word justification means to be declared acquitted and discharged without prejudice.
In Greek justification is (dikaíōsis), which comes from the root word (díkaios), meaning “righteous” or “just”.
In addition, W. E. Kenyon a renowned Bible teacher in his book, “Identification” highlighted that Justification is being able to stand before God with no sense of guilt, shame, and condemnation as though you have never sinned before.
It is standing before God with confidence because you know that JESUS has made you a MASTER to Satan. Glory!!
JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN ROMANS AND GALATIANS
What is Justification by faith according to the Bible? Justification by faith means that salvation and righteousness come through believing the Gospel and not obedience to the Mosaic Law.
In other words, we cannot earn righteousness through good works or legal observance but only through grace received by faith.
Justification comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Christ’s sacrificial death fulfills the law’s requirements. Salvation is a gift of grace, received by believing the Gospel, not earned by works.
Below are scriptural references that talk about Justification by faith in Romans and Galatians:
Romans 3:24 - "and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
Romans 3:28 - "For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law."
Romans 4:5 - "However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness."
Romans 5:1 - "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
From the Book of Galatians:
Galatians 2:16 - "Know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. So, we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law because, by the works of the law, no one will be justified."
Galatians 3:6 - "So also Abraham 'believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.'"
Galatians 3:11 - "Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because 'the righteous will live by faith.'"
Galatians 3:24 - "So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith."
In our next sermon, we will talk about biblical examples of those who received justification by faith.
Stay Blessed!
My passion lies in reaching out to young adults in communities and schools, witnessing the transformative power of faith in their lives.
This blog extends my ministry, sharing insights, encouraging believers, and exploring Christ's teachings in daily life.
Welcome, Brother James.
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