Justification by Faith Defended!

[ladodgers6]

Justification by Faith — It is Out of Date?
Benjamin B. Warfield

Sometimes we are told that Justification by Faith is "out of date." That would be a pity, if it were true. What it would mean would be that the way of salvation was closed and "no thoroughfare" nailed up over the barriers. There is no justification for sinful men except by faith. The works of a sinful man will, of course, be as sinful as he is, and nothing but condemnation can be built on them. Where can he get works upon which he can found his hope of justification, except from Another? His hope of Justification, remember — that is, of being pronounced righteous by God. Can God pronounce him righteous except on the ground of works that are righteous? Where can a sinful man get works that are righteous? Surely, not from himself; for, is he not a sinner, and all his works as sinful as he is? He must go out of himself, then, to find works which he can offer to God as righteous. And where will he find such works except in Christ? Or how will he make them his own except by faith in Christ?

Justification by Faith, we see, is not to be set in contradiction to justification by Works. It is set in contradiction only to justification by our Own Works. It is justification by Christ's Works. The whole question, accordingly, is whether we can hope to be received into God's favor on the ground of what we do ourselves, or only on the ground of what Christ does for us. If we expect to be received on the ground of what we do ourselves — that is what is called Justification by Works. If on the ground of what Christ has done for us — that is what is meant by Justification by Faith. Justification by Faith means, that is to say, that we look to Christ and to him alone for salvation, and come to God pleading Christ's death and righteousness as the ground of our hope to be received into his favor. If Justification by Faith is out of date, that means, then, that salvation by Christ is out of date. There is nothing, in that case, left to us, but that each man must just do the best he can to save himself.

Justification by Faith does not mean, then, salvation by believing things instead of doing right. It means pleading the merits of Christ before the throne of grace instead of our own merits. It may be doing right to believe things, and doing right is certainly right. The trouble with pleading our own merits before God is not that merits of our own would not be acceptable to God. The trouble is that we haven't any merits of our own to plead before God. Adam, before his fall, had merits of his own, and because he had merits of his own he was, in his own person, acceptable to God. He didn't need Another to stand between him and God, whose merits he could plead. And, therefore, there was no talk of his being Justified by Faith. But we are not like Adam before the fall; we are sinners and have no merits of our own. If we are to be justified at all, it must be on the ground of the merits of Another, whose merits can be made ours by faith. And that is the reason why God sent His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life. If we do not believe in him, obviously we must perish. But if we believe in him, we shall not perish but have everlasting life. That is Justification by Faith. Justification by Faith is nothing other than obtaining everlasting life by believing in Christ. If Justification by Faith is out of date, then salvation through Christ is out of date. And as there is none other name under heaven, given among men, wherein we must be saved, if salvation through Christ is out of date, then salvation itself is out of date. Surely, in a world of sinful men, needing salvation, this would be a great pity.

Reprinted from The Christian Irishman, Dublin, May, 1911, p.71.

 

[bcbsr]

I've never actually heard someone say that justification by faith is out of date, as if it once were the case but not any longer. I wonder who Warfield is referencing.

 

[Doug Melven]

I am in 100% agreement with you.
but there will be people who will not agree with you will take James 2 out of context to say we need works to be justified.

 

[Doug Melven]

I've never actually heard someone say that justification by faith is out of date, as if it once were the case but not any longer. I wonder who Warfield is referencing.

Anybody who says we need works to be justified.

 

[TuxAme]

I am in 100% agreement with you.
but there will be people who will not agree with you will take James 2 out of context to say we need works to be justified.

Or, there are some who hold to the original Christian view that justification is a process, and justification by faith is only the start of that process- not the conclusion. Becoming justified in your works necessarily can't happen until you have been justified by faith.

Do we want Scripture to be in harmony with itself, or do we want to put the different texts that make it up at odds with each other? That's precisely what denying the process of justification does.

 

[TuxAme]

I've never actually heard someone say that justification by faith is out of date

Anybody who says we need works to be justified.

Since justification as a process is the original understanding of the concept, how could anyone holding to that view say that sola fide is outdated, since that didn't come until later?

 

[anna ~ grace]

Last night, my husband realized that the concept of justification by faith alone is both technically a form of Gnosticism, and invites a less than vigilant perspective on sin. Go, husband!

 

[MDC]

Last night, my husband realized that the concept of justification by faith alone is both technically a form of Gnosticism, and invites a less than vigilant perspective on sin. Go, husband!

Sola fide is pleading the merits of Christ as the only grounds for justification. Anything outside of this pleads mens works meritorious and the grounds for justification. And by doing so denies the gospel of Christ

 

[Doug Melven]

Last night, my husband realized that the concept of justification by faith alone is both technically a form of Gnosticism, and invites a less than vigilant perspective on sin. Go, husband!

Apostle Paul was not a Gnostic, but he preached justification by faith alone.

Romans 3:22 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:
3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 

[GodsGrace101]

What's the debate?
We are justified by faith, not by works.
Ephesians 2:8-9

 

[Doug Melven]

Since justification as a process is the original understanding of the concept, how could anyone holding to that view say that sola fide is outdated, since that didn't come until later?

Where is the Scripture that says justification is a process?
Sanctification is a process, we become more like Jesus everyday in heart and soul, but our spirit is perfect. Just like Jesus. 1 Jon 4:17, 1 Corinthians 6:17

 

[amariselle]

Where is the Scripture that says justification is a process?
Sanctification is a process, we become more like Jesus everyday in heart and soul, but our spirit is perfect. Just like Jesus. 1 Jon 4:17, 1 Corinthians 6:17

And sanctification is also a work of the Spirit, not the flesh.

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. - 1 Corinthians 6:11

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:- 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. - 1 Peter 1:2

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Works are just another way of showing that you have faith.

"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." (James 2:18).

For faith without works is dead (James 2:17).

Can a dead faith save?

Surely not.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Where is the Scripture that says justification is a process?

Justification is about believing (i.e. faith).

"If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;" (Colossians 1:23).

Works make a person's faith... perfect.

"Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" (James 2:19).

How can faith be made perfect if it is not a process whereby we would grow in our faith?

Sanctification is a process, we become more like Jesus everyday in heart and soul, but our spirit is perfect. Just like Jesus. 1 Jon 4:17, 1 Corinthians 6:17

God has chosen us to salvation by two things.

#1. Belief of the truth (i.e. Jesus - Jhn 14:6).
#2. Sanctification of the Spirit.

“...God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

Hebrews 5:9 says,
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Hebrews 5:9).

""Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).

”And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” (Revelation 22:12-15).

 

[amariselle]

Works are just another way of showing that you have faith.

"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." (James 2:18).

For faith without works is dead (James 2:17).

Can a dead faith save?

Surely not.

We are justified before God by faith (just as faithful Abraham) and before men by our works, as people cannot see the heart, only God can. So, we show our faith by our works, though the works are not what saves us, the faith is.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

We are justified before God by faith (just as faithful Abraham) and before men by our works, as people cannot see the heart, only God can. So, we show our faith by our works, though the works are not what saves us, the faith is.

Not true. James 2 says,

"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" (James 2:21).

So what man had seen Abraham perform his works of being justified when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?

If you were to read the event in Genesis, Abraham and his son were the only two humans during the time Abraham was offering up his only son.

When Romans 4:2 is talking from a different perspective. Paul is trying to refute Works Alone Salvationism or by going back to the Old Law (like trying to be circumcised to be saved: See Romans 3:1, and Galatians 5:2). So when Paul says, "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God", Paul is referencing how we have sinned as a part of our old life and we cannot boast before God because we need to erase our past sin record by Jesus Christ. Paul's whole argument is that both the Jew and the Gentile can come to Jesus Christ by faith (See Romans 3:22, and Romans 3:27-30). Paul is saying how we are initially and ultimately saved by God's grace and not works. For we did not do a work to get saved. We threw ourselves down before the mercy of Jesus Christ to be saved (Believing in His death and resurrection). We are also ultimately saved by Jesus Christ, as well. For if a believer sins again, they do not go out and do a good work to erase their sin, but they go to Jesus and confess their sin to Him in order to be forgiven. For if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). But the Lord's work done through the believer is also required as a part of the salvation process (i.e. Sanctification or holy living). For it shows that Jesus (Who is eternal life - 1 John 5:12) is abiding in a believer or not (Compare 2 Corinthians 13:5 with 1 John 2:3-4).

 

[112358]

Looks like most of the gang is back. Poor mods.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Justification by Faith — It is Out of Date?
Benjamin B. Warfield

Sometimes we are told that Justification by Faith is "out of date." That would be a pity, if it were true. What it would mean would be that the way of salvation was closed and "no thoroughfare" nailed up over the barriers. There is no justification for sinful men except by faith. The works of a sinful man will, of course, be as sinful as he is, and nothing but condemnation can be built on them. Where can he get works upon which he can found his hope of justification, except from Another? His hope of Justification, remember — that is, of being pronounced righteous by God. Can God pronounce him righteous except on the ground of works that are righteous? Where can a sinful man get works that are righteous? Surely, not from himself; for, is he not a sinner, and all his works as sinful as he is? He must go out of himself, then, to find works which he can offer to God as righteous. And where will he find such works except in Christ? Or how will he make them his own except by faith in Christ?

Justification by Faith, we see, is not to be set in contradiction to justification by Works. It is set in contradiction only to justification by our Own Works. It is justification by Christ's Works. The whole question, accordingly, is whether we can hope to be received into God's favor on the ground of what we do ourselves, or only on the ground of what Christ does for us. If we expect to be received on the ground of what we do ourselves — that is what is called Justification by Works. If on the ground of what Christ has done for us — that is what is meant by Justification by Faith. Justification by Faith means, that is to say, that we look to Christ and to him alone for salvation, and come to God pleading Christ's death and righteousness as the ground of our hope to be received into his favor. If Justification by Faith is out of date, that means, then, that salvation by Christ is out of date. There is nothing, in that case, left to us, but that each man must just do the best he can to save himself.

Justification by Faith does not mean, then, salvation by believing things instead of doing right. It means pleading the merits of Christ before the throne of grace instead of our own merits. It may be doing right to believe things, and doing right is certainly right. The trouble with pleading our own merits before God is not that merits of our own would not be acceptable to God. The trouble is that we haven't any merits of our own to plead before God. Adam, before his fall, had merits of his own, and because he had merits of his own he was, in his own person, acceptable to God. He didn't need Another to stand between him and God, whose merits he could plead. And, therefore, there was no talk of his being Justified by Faith. But we are not like Adam before the fall; we are sinners and have no merits of our own. If we are to be justified at all, it must be on the ground of the merits of Another, whose merits can be made ours by faith. And that is the reason why God sent His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life. If we do not believe in him, obviously we must perish. But if we believe in him, we shall not perish but have everlasting life. That is Justification by Faith. Justification by Faith is nothing other than obtaining everlasting life by believing in Christ. If Justification by Faith is out of date, then salvation through Christ is out of date. And as there is none other name under heaven, given among men, wherein we must be saved, if salvation through Christ is out of date, then salvation itself is out of date. Surely, in a world of sinful men, needing salvation, this would be a great pity.

Reprinted from The Christian Irishman, Dublin, May, 1911, p.71.

Yet, the Bible says,

“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." (James 2:24).

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” (James 2:17-18).

"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." (Titus 1:16).

"If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, "(1 Timothy 6:3-4).

"...God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." (James 4:6).

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Romans 6:1-2).

"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Hebrews 5:9).

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).

“...God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” (Romans 8:13).

"If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha." (1 Corinthians 16:22).

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15).

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:10).

"And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:38).

”If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Matthew 16:24-26).

"...No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62).

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8).

"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21).

"But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God." (Romans 2:8-11).

”And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” (Revelation 22:12-15).

"For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." (John 3:20).

“For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” (Romans 11:21-22).

"...but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." (Matthew 19:17).

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12).

“...And having become servants of God, ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end, everlasting life.” (Romans 6:22).

”Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:34-40).

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:41-46).

”His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:21).

”And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:30).

”Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation [i.e. as the people of Israel did when they rebelled against him in the desert.”] (Hebrews 3:12-15) (Note: The explanation on verse 15 in brackets is taken from the Living Bible Translation (TLB)).

”Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)” (Hebrews 3:10-11).

”Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. (Hebrews 4:11).

“In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (1 John 3:10).

“He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God” (John 8:47).

 

[ladodgers6]

I am in 100% agreement with you.
but there will be people who will not agree with you will take James 2 out of context to say we need works to be justified.

Ain't that the true. But for those who use James 2 have problems with Romans 4. In other words they have a contradiction to deal with. In Reformed Theology James & Paul are not in contradiction. James is addressing Antinomianism.

What is Antinomianism? Antinomianism is relating to the view that Christians are released by grace from the obligation of observing the moral law. In other words, that believers can continue in sin, since they are under Grace.

And Paul himself agrees with James. Paul writes in Romans 6:1What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

So Paul addresses it directing. He even asks the question, "Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? Paul was both teaching & warning believers!

A history lesson for those unfamiliar with the Reformation or the term, Antinomianism. This term did not come from the Catholic Church or any other religion. It came from the Reformers! It's funny how people bash the Reformers & the Reformation era.

The term "antinomianism" was coined by Martin Luther during the Reformation, to criticize extreme interpretations of the new Lutheran soteriology. The Lutheran Church benefited from early antinomian controversies by becoming more precise in distinguishing between Law and Gospel and justification and sanctification.

So to clarify , the good works of the believer goes into the category of Sanctification, not Justification. When you understand this you will understand how to distinct the Law & Gospel in relation to Justification by Faith Alone!

Hope this helps???

In Christ our Righteousness 1 Cor. 1:30

 

[ladodgers6]

Or, there are some who hold to the original Christian view that justification is a process, and justification by faith is only the start of that process- not the conclusion. Becoming justified in your works necessarily can't happen until you have been justified by faith.

Do we want Scripture to be in harmony with itself, or do we want to put the different texts that make it up at odds with each other? That's precisely what denying the process of justification does.

Thanks for bringing this point to light. In RCC teaching the believer will be judge by their own works to attain a FINAL Justification. No where is this taught in Scripture!!!