Justified/Declared Righteous by Faith

BrotherJJ · 2025-11-17T10:03:12-0600

Justification by Faith

Rom 3:
21 But now the righteousness of God has been clearly revealed [independently and completely] apart from the Law, though it is [actually] confirmed by the Law and the [words and writings of the] Prophets.

22 This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction,

23 since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God,

24 and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,

25 whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith.

Justification By Faith Evidenced In Old Testament

Rom 4:
7 “BLESSED and HAPPY and FAVORED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS ACTS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED UP and COMPLETELY BURIED.

8 “BLESSED and HAPPY and FAVORED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT nor CHARGE AGAINST HIM.”

ABRAHAM BELIEVED

20 But he did not doubt or waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and empowered by faith, giving glory to God,

21 being fully convinced that God had the power to do what He had promised.

22 Therefore his faith WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS (right standing with God).

23 Now not for his sake alone was it written that it was credited to him,

24 but for our sake also—to whom righteousness will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead—

25 who was betrayed and crucified because of our sins, and was raised [from the dead] because of our justification [our acquittal—absolving us of all sin before God].

Results Of Justification

Rom 5:
1 Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).

2 Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power].

9 Therefore, since we have now been justified [declared free of the guilt of sin] by His blood, [how much more certain is it that] we will be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, having been reconciled, that we will be saved [from the consequences of sin] by His life [that is, we will be saved because Christ lives today].

The Word Of Faith Brings Salvation

Rom 10:
8 But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach—

9 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.

SabbathBlessings · 2025-11-17T10:09:41-0600

The question remains, what does faith look like.

We are not made righteous by keeping the law, but by faith. The law was given to show us our sins Rom3:20 1John3:4 James2:11 but it can't save us, we are saved by the blood of Christ by grace through faith.

Its the faith part that saves, the action part is what shows if our faith is genuine or not, much like Abraham

Gen 26:5 because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Why Jesus said:

Luke 6:46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was [j]founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it [k]fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

For some reason many have taken this to the opposite extreme as the people in the Bible. They thought they could save themselves by their works apart from Christ. Most teach now its bad to do what is deemed holy, just and good Rom7:12 and what is righteous Psa119:172 and good to disobey the law of God and instead do what "feels" right to them. It will never be bad to obey the voice of God and what He asks of His children. It demonstrates faith. Sin is still unbelief, disobedience and rebellion all used interchangeably Heb3:7-19
1 John 2:29
If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousnessis born of Him.

1 John 3:7
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousnessis righteous, just as He is righteous.

1 John 3:10
In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

Clare73 · 2025-11-17T11:16:07-0600

SabbathBlessings said:
The question remains, what does faith look like.
We are not made righteous by keeping the law, but by faith. The law was given to show us our sins Rom3:20 1John3:4 James2:11 but it can't save us, we are saved by the blood of Christ by grace through faith.
Its the faith part that saves, the action part is what shows if our faith is genuine or not, much like Abraham
Gen 26:5 because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Why Jesus said:

Luke 6:46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was [j]founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it [k]fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

For some reason many have taken this to the opposite extreme as the people in the Bible. They thought they could save themselves by their works apart from Christ. Most teach now teach its bad to do what is deemed holy, just and good

Baloney. . .

BrotherJJ · 2025-11-17T12:00:25-0600

Every verse in post #1 is a direct copy & paste from the Amplified Bible. All brackets were placed by AMP Bible Translators.

Eph
8 For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;

9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].

Titus 3:
5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

6 whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior,

7 so that we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His [compassionate, undeserved] grace, and that we would be [acknowledged as acceptable to Him and] made heirs of eternal life [actually experiencing it] according to our hope (His guarantee).

SabbathBlessings · 2025-11-17T12:58:36-0600

Justified is coming to Christ exactly where we are, in our sinful state, Jesus loves and accepts us as sinners. But Jesus loves us too much to leave us in the state of being sinners and calls us for holiness to be re-created in His image. 2 Cor3:18 Eph4:24 This is sanctification. At some point, the Christian needs to go from milk to solid food and receive the oracles of God. Hebrews 5:11-13

BrotherJJ · 2025-11-17T18:52:46-0600

The two writers reference different time frames & statements in Abraham's life:

Paul's, recorded event is from Gen 15:6 "believed"

James, recorded event is from Gen 22:18 "obeyed"

Contrast the word "believed" in Gen. 15:6 and the word "obeyed" in Gen. 22:18

Gen:15: Paul's speaks of a time 30-40 years before the time James refers to

In Paul's reference in Gen 15:6 It's Abrahams FAITH that obtains Him a declaration of righteousness.

In James reference in Gen 22:18 Abrahams obedience seen here, is a result of his Faith, exercised 30-40 years earlier. When FAITH is the root, obedience & good works will be the fruit.

The Gen 26 obeyed passage injected into the thread, in context, are promises being made to Isaac. Based on Abrahams actions of obedience which took place, years after the Lord God's Gen 15 declaration of righteousness based on Abrams FAITH.

SabbathBlessings · 2025-11-17T19:03:49-0600

BrotherJJ said:
The two writers reference different time frames & statements in Abraham's life:

Paul's, recorded event is from Gen 15:6 "believed"

James, recorded event is from Gen 22:18 "obeyed"

Contrast the word "believed" in Gen. 15:6 and the word "obeyed" in Gen. 22:18

Thats right belief is more than I believe in God, it’s a response to that belief, that causes actions. Faith is not passive Rom3:31, its very active, just as Jesus said Luke6:46-49 and demonstrated in Hebrews 11

BrotherJJ said:
Gen:15: Paul's speaks of a time 30-40 years before the time James refers to

In Paul's reference in Gen 15:6 It's Abrahams FAITH that obtains Him a declaration of righteousness.

Yes, but as Abraham demonstrated, faith by righteousness means doing what is right because of faith. The faith part is what saves, the action part proves ones faith is genuine or not. Anyone can say Lord Lord- but how many are willing to put that into action. James1:22-26

BrotherJJ said:
In James reference in Gen 22:18 Abrahams obedience seen here, is a result of his Faith, exercised 30-40 years earlier. When FAITH is the root, obedience & good works will be the fruit.

Agreed!

BrotherJJ said:
The Gen 26 obeyed passage injected into the thread, in context, are promises being made to Isaac. Based on Abrahams actions of obedience which took place, years after the Lord God's Gen 15 declaration of righteousness based on Abrams FAITH.

It’s not interjection, it’s all in the same context. The Text does not say God’s commandments is promises being made to Isaac. It says that Abraham obeyed God’s commandments. God divinely defined His commandments Deut4:13 Exo31:18 Exo20:6 and thats what God’s people do by faith, obey God, not to be saved, its a result of salvation (proves your faith is real) Rev14:12 and this is the faith that reconciles us back to God. Rev22:14

BrotherJJ · 2025-11-17T19:12:38-0600

SabbathBlessings said:
It’s not interjection, it’s all in the same context.

Gen 26:
1And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And """Isaac""" went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

2And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:

3Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

4And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

5Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

6And """Isaac""" dwelt in Gerar:

BrotherJJ · 2025-11-17T19:14:59-0600

Sanctification

KJV Dictionary SANCTIFICA'TION definition: The act of making holy, the act of consecrating or of setting apart for a sacred purpose.

(MY NOTE: In Ex 40:
9 and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy.

10 anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar.

11 anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.

Ok, All the vessels: altars, laver, the utensils used for offerings: tongs, pans, forks, basin etc. This oil anointing made ALL the vessels Holy/setting them apart for a Godly work. These vessels never followed a law, never did a good deed. Yet, when the priest anointed them with oil, they were made HOLY/SET APART.

Likewise, when the Great High Priest/Jesus (Heb 4:14) anoints the believer, based on FAITH, with His FOREVER (Jn 14:16) indwelling, salvation SEALNG (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5, 2 Tim 1:14), eternal life giving (Jn 10:28) Holy Spirit! They are saved/justified = (declared righteous by a sovereign God) & sanctified/made holy/set apart for a Godly work.

Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].)

SabbathBlessings · 2025-11-17T19:18:23-0600

BrotherJJ said:
Gen 26:
1And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And """Isaac""" went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

2And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:

3Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

4And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

5Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

6And """Isaac""" dwelt in Gerar:

It still doesn’t say the commandments of God are the promises to Issac. God’s owns His commandments, He defines them, He wrote them, He claimed them as His Deut4:13 Exo20:6 Exo31:18 They are under His mercy seat. It’s not something defined by man, because we are not God. We are just to be His servant, like His faithful prophets and apostles. Like Abraham He obeyed by faith, what righteousness by faith is all about. Doing what is right, obeying God, because we have faith that what He asks is because its for our own good, even if we don’t understand it.

BrotherJJ · 2025-11-17T21:49:28-0600

SabbathBlessings said:
It still doesn’t say the commandments of God are the promises to Issac. God’s owns His commandments, He defines them, He wrote them, He claimed them as His Deut4:13 Exo20:6 Exo31:18 They are under His mercy seat. It’s not something defined by man, because we are not God. We are just to be His servant, like His faithful prophets and apostles. Like Abraham He obeyed by faith, what righteousness by faith is all about. Doing what is right, obeying God, because we have faith that what He asks is because its for our own good, even if we don’t understand it.

Gen 26:1–6 describe a decisive point in Isaac’s life. There's famine, he receives divine instruction. Don't go down to Egypt, stay in the land (Gerar) God will show him. God reiterates the promises made to Abraham. And how Abraham obeyed (as stated post #7, after Gen 6 where the Lord God had already declared Abram, BY FAITH, righteous). The context here is Isaac's test of obedience.

SabbathBlessings · 2025-11-18T05:54:09-0600

BrotherJJ said:
Gen 26:1–6 describe a decisive point in Isaac’s life. There's famine, he receives divine instruction. Don't go down to Egypt, stay in the land (Gerar) God will show him. God reiterates the promises made to Abraham. And how Abraham obeyed (as stated post #7, after Gen 6 where the Lord God had already declared Abram, BY FAITH, righteous). The context here is Isaac's test of obedience.

I believe it means exactly what it says, but we can agree to disagree.

Soyeong · 2025-11-18T14:03:23-0600

BrotherJJ said:
Justification by Faith

Rom 3:
21 But now the righteousness of God has been clearly revealed [independently and completely] apart from the Law, though it is [actually] confirmed by the Law and the [words and writings of the] Prophets.

22 This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction,

23 since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God,

24 and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,

25 whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith.

Justification By Faith Evidenced In Old Testament

Rom 4:
7 “BLESSED and HAPPY and FAVORED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS ACTS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED UP and COMPLETELY BURIED.

8 “BLESSED and HAPPY and FAVORED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT nor CHARGE AGAINST HIM.”

ABRAHAM BELIEVED

20 But he did not doubt or waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and empowered by faith, giving glory to God,

21 being fully convinced that God had the power to do what He had promised.

22 Therefore his faith WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS (right standing with God).

23 Now not for his sake alone was it written that it was credited to him,

24 but for our sake also—to whom righteousness will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead—

25 who was betrayed and crucified because of our sins, and was raised [from the dead] because of our justification [our acquittal—absolving us of all sin before God].

Results Of Justification

Rom 5:
1 Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).

2 Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power].

9 Therefore, since we have now been justified [declared free of the guilt of sin] by His blood, [how much more certain is it that] we will be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, having been reconciled, that we will be saved [from the consequences of sin] by His life [that is, we will be saved because Christ lives today].

The Word Of Faith Brings Salvation

Rom 10:
8 But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach—

9 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.

The one and only way to become righteous is by faith apart from being required to have first done enough righteous works in order to earn it as the result, but what it means to be righteous is to be a doer of righteous works in obedience to the Law of God (1 John 3:4-7), so it would be contradictory for someone to become righteous apart from becoming a doer of righteous works. This is why the faith by which we are declared righteous apart from works also upholds the Law of God (Romans 3:27-31). Everyone who has faith will be declared righteous and everyone who has faith is a doer of righteous works in obedience to the Law of God, which is how Paul can deny in Roman 4:1-5 that we can earn our righteousness as the result of our works while also affirming in Romans 2:13 that only the doers of the Law of God will be declared righteous.

While it is true that Abraham was declared righteous because he believed God (Genesis 15:6), it is also true that he was a doer of righteous works because he believed God (Genesis 18:19) and that he obeyed God’s command to offer Isaac because he believed God (Hebrews 11:17), so the faith by which he was declared righteous was also embodied by being a doer of righteous works but he did not earn his righteousness as the result of his works. In James 2:21-24, Abraham was declared righteous by his works when he offered Isaac, his faith was active along with his works while also, and his faith completed his works, so he was declared righteous by his works insofar as they embodied his faith but not insofar as they were earning it as a wage.

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