Why Justification is by Faith Alone

[RobertPate]

No one will enter heaven that has not been justified by faith alone. We are justified by faith alone because we are justified by Christ alone, Romans 3:26. If one adds works or obedience to justification, they have perverted the Gospel and justification by faith. No one is able to justify themselves simply because there is... "None righteous, no, not one" Romans 3:10. If God accepted the works or the obedience of a sinner, that would make him a sinner. God the Father only accepts the works and the obedience of Jesus Christ, we are accepted only in him and because of him.

The word "Justification" means to be declared righteous. To be declared righteous, you must be righteous. Righteousness and justification does not come by the works or the deeds of the law. Paul wrote, "By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight" Romans 3:20. Paul also said.... "Whosoever of you that are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace" Galatians 5:4. To be fallen from grace is to be lost.

Anything in the Bible that tells us to do something or not to do something is law. In the book of the law there are hundreds and hundreds of laws, "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, cursed is every one that does not continue to do everything that is written in the book of the law" Galatians 3:10.

Jesus is God's justifier. If you don't have Jesus as your savior, you will not be justified. Jesus justifies the ungodly, Romans 4:5 and reconciles them unto God, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. Jesus justifies us by offering to God the Father a life of perfect obedience according to his Holy Law. That is not enough, something must be done about our sins and the sins of the whole world. Jesus atones for our sins and the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2:2. Because of the doing and the dying of Jesus we now stand in God's Holy Court as justified. No law, rules or religion needed.

 

[HTacianas]

No one will enter heaven that has not been justified by faith alone. We are justified by faith alone because we are justified by Christ alone, Romans 3:26. If one adds works or obedience to justification, they have perverted the Gospel and justification by faith. No one is able to justify themselves simply because there is... "None righteous, no, not one" Romans 3:10. If God accepted the works or the obedience of a sinner, that would make him a sinner. God the Father only accepts the works and the obedience of Jesus Christ, we are accepted only in him and because of him.

The word "Justification" means to be declared righteous. To be declared righteous, you must be righteous. Righteousness and justification does not come by the works or the deeds of the law. Paul wrote, "By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight" Romans 3:20. Paul also said.... "Whosoever of you that are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace" Galatians 5:4. To be fallen from grace is to be lost.

Anything in the Bible that tells us to do something or not to do something is law. In the book of the law there are hundreds and hundreds of laws, "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, cursed is every one that does not continue to do everything that is written in the book of the law" Galatians 3:10.

Jesus is God's justifier. If you don't have Jesus as your savior, you will not be justified. Jesus justifies the ungodly, Romans 4:5 and reconciles them unto God, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. Jesus justifies us by offering to God the Father a life of perfect obedience according to his Holy Law. That is not enough, something must be done about our sins and the sins of the whole world. Jesus atones for our sins and the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2:2. Because of the doing and the dying of Jesus we now stand in God's Holy Court as justified. No law, rules or religion needed.

2Pe 1:5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,

2Pe 1:6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,

2Pe 1:7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

2Pe 1:8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Pe 1:9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

2Pe 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

2Pe 1:11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

[RobertPate]

2Pe 1:5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,

2Pe 1:6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,

2Pe 1:7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

2Pe 1:8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Pe 1:9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

2Pe 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

2Pe 1:11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

All good scripture. Did you notice that almost every scripture contains the words "You" "Your" "He" These are things that we do. We are not saved or justified by what we do. We are saved and justified by what Jesus did.

 

[HTacianas]

All good scripture. Did you notice that almost every scripture contains the words "You" "Your" "He" These are things that we do. We are not saved or justified by what we do. We are saved and justified by what Jesus did.

Jas 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Jas 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

You set him up for that. Or maybe he set himself up for it. Either way.

 

[RobertPate]

Jas 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

I knew that this would be coming up.

Here is the problem. James was a Judaizer, a Judaizer is one that believes in Jesus, but also believes that you must keep the law of Moses. The book of James was not directed to New Covenant, Gentile believers, it was directed to law keeping Jews, James 1:1.

There were Many Judaizer in the early church that just could not accept the fact that the Old Covenant of law and religion had been replaced with the New Covenant of salvation by grace through faith, Ephesians 2:8. They were called Judaizers.

 

[HTacianas]

I knew that this would be coming up.

Here is the problem. James was a Judaizer, a Judaizer is one that believes in Jesus, but also believes that you must keep the law of Moses. The book of James was not directed to New Covenant, Gentile believers, it was directed to law keeping Jews, James 1:1.

There were Many Judaizer in the early church that just could not accept the fact that the Old Covenant of law and religion had been replaced with the New Covenant of salvation by grace through faith, Ephesians 2:8. They were called Judaizers.

First off, that isn't the case. Second, if that were the case the Synods who decided the new testament canon would not have included it. The Church Fathers spoke time and again against Judaizing. Christianity has always taught that a person is required to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, etc., else Jesus would not have threatened condemnation against those who refused to, see Matthew 25:31-46.

 

[RobertPate]

First off, that isn't the case. Second, if that were the case the Synods who decided the new testament canon would not have included it. The Church Fathers spoke time and again against Judaizing. Christianity has always taught that a person is required to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, etc., else Jesus would not have threatened condemnation against those who refused to, see Matthew 25:31-46.

Many Christian scholars believe that the book of James should not have been included in the New Testament cannons. It does not seem to fit with Paul's epistles of justification by faith. Since it was directed to law keeping Jews and not to Gentile believers tells me that there is a problem with it. There is little to nothing about Jesus Christ in it, besides that it is very Jewish.

Christians are not required to do anything other than to have faith in Christ.

 

[HTacianas]

Many Christian scholars believe that the book of James should not have been included in the New Testament cannons. It does not seem to fit with Paul's epistles of justification by faith. Since it was directed to law keeping Jews and not to Gentile believers tells me that there is a problem with it. There is little to nothing about Jesus Christ in it, besides that it is very Jewish.

Christians are not required to do anything other than to have faith in Christ.

The only person of any account to criticize James was Martin Luther. Oddly, Martin Luther is the father of "faith alone". He decided what he wanted to believe then when he found in the bible something that clearly and resoundingly refuted his ideas he decided it didn't belong there. Should we remove anything else?

 

[RobertPate]

The only person of any account to criticize James was Martin Luther. Oddly, Martin Luther is the father of "faith alone". He decided what he wanted to believe then when he found in the bible something that clearly and resoundingly refuted his ideas he decided it didn't belong there. Should we remove anything else?

I don't think we should remove anything. The book of James has its place, we just have to understand what that place is. Martin Luther did not decide what he wanted to believe. Martin Luther discovered scriptures that taught justification by faith apart from the works of the law. It started the reformation and a division between Catholics and Protestants, that is still going on today.

 

[HTacianas]

I don't think we should remove anything. The book of James has its place, we just have to understand what that place is. Martin Luther did not decide what he wanted to believe. Martin Luther discovered scriptures that taught justification by faith apart from the works of the law. It started the reformation and a division between Catholics and Protestants, that is still going on today.

You are inadvertently answering your own question yet you don't realize it. You rightly state that a person is justified by faith "apart from the works of the law" but you are yet to realize what the "works of the law" are. So let's discuss this. What are the "works of the law"?

 

[eleos1954]

No one will enter heaven that has not been justified by faith alone. We are justified by faith alone because we are justified by Christ alone, Romans 3:26. If one adds works or obedience to justification, they have perverted the Gospel and justification by faith. No one is able to justify themselves simply because there is... "None righteous, no, not one" Romans 3:10. If God accepted the works or the obedience of a sinner, that would make him a sinner. God the Father only accepts the works and the obedience of Jesus Christ, we are accepted only in him and because of him.

The word "Justification" means to be declared righteous. To be declared righteous, you must be righteous. Righteousness and justification does not come by the works or the deeds of the law. Paul wrote, "By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight" Romans 3:20. Paul also said.... "Whosoever of you that are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace" Galatians 5:4. To be fallen from grace is to be lost.

Anything in the Bible that tells us to do something or not to do something is law. In the book of the law there are hundreds and hundreds of laws, "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, cursed is every one that does not continue to do everything that is written in the book of the law" Galatians 3:10.

Jesus is God's justifier. If you don't have Jesus as your savior, you will not be justified. Jesus justifies the ungodly, Romans 4:5 and reconciles them unto God, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. Jesus justifies us by offering to God the Father a life of perfect obedience according to his Holy Law. That is not enough, something must be done about our sins and the sins of the whole world. Jesus atones for our sins and the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2:2. Because of the doing and the dying of Jesus we now stand in God's Holy Court as justified. No law, rules or religion needed.

We don't have a license to sin (transgression of the law).

There is sin in the world and as long as sin is in the world there is law.

Those IN CHRIST will be declared innocent and will not be condemned by the law .... that is the law is still in effect but the saved will not be condemned by it.

The law leads us to Christ and when one sincerely accepts Him as their Lord and Savior then through the power of the Holy Spirit we are slowly but surely being conformed into His image .... this change continues throughout our earthly lifetime and we are assured He will accomplish HIS work in us.


Philippians 1:6
New Living Translation
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Thank you Lord Jesus!!! Amen.

 

[Soyeong]

No one will enter heaven that has not been justified by faith alone. We are justified by faith alone because we are justified by Christ alone, Romans 3:26. If one adds works or obedience to justification, they have perverted the Gospel and justification by faith. No one is able to justify themselves simply because there is... "None righteous, no, not one" Romans 3:10. If God accepted the works or the obedience of a sinner, that would make him a sinner. God the Father only accepts the works and the obedience of Jesus Christ, we are accepted only in him and because of him.

In Romans 3:27, we are justified by faith apart from works of the law, so we are justified by faith alone insofar as there are no works that we can do to earn our salvation, however, in Romans 3:31, this does not abolish our need to obey God's law, but rather our faith upholds it, so faith is never alone insofar as the same faith by which we are justified is also expressed as obedience to it. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus said that faith is one of the weightier matters of God's law, so obedience to it is the way to be justified by faith in Christ alone. Jesus is God's word made flesh, so obeying God's word is not adding something in addition to faith in the nature of who he is. In Matthew 4:17-23, Jesus began his ministry with the Gospel message to repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand, so repenting and doing good works in obedience to God's law is inherently part of the Gospel message and justification by faith. In regard to Romans 3:10, there Bible refers to many people as righteous, so it is false that there is no one who is righteous, but rather it is referencing Psalms 14:1-3, where it says that there is no one who is righteous among those who say that there is no God. In 1 John 2:6, those who are in Christ are obligated to walk in the same way he walked, so to refuse to walk in the same way he walked is to reject being in Christ.

The word "Justification" means to be declared righteous. To be declared righteous, you must be righteous. Righteousness and justification does not come by the works or the deeds of the law. Paul wrote, "By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight" Romans 3:20. Paul also said.... "Whosoever of you that are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace" Galatians 5:4. To be fallen from grace is to be lost.

Paul directly contrasted works of the law with the Law of God. All throughout the Bible, God wanted His people to repent and to return to obedience to His law, and even Jesus began his ministry with that Gospel message, so it would be absurd to interpret Galatians 5:4 as Paul warning us against obeying God and saying that we will be cut off from Christ if we follow him. In Psalms 119:29, David wanted God to be gracious to him by teaching him to obey His law, so that is the way to be under grace, not the way to fall from it, and it would again be absurd to think that David wanted God to be gracious to him by teaching him how to fall from grace.

Anything in the Bible that tells us to do something or not to do something is law. In the book of the law there are hundreds and hundreds of laws, "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, cursed is every one that does not continue to do everything that is written in the book of the law" Galatians 3:10.

Galatians 3:10 leaves two options:

1.) Be blessed by continuing to do everything in God's law.

2.) Be cursed by not continuing to do everything in God's law.

Sadly, you are speaking in favor of the way to be cursed and against the way to be blessed.

Jesus is God's justifier. If you don't have Jesus as your savior, you will not be justified. Jesus justifies the ungodly, Romans 4:5 and reconciles them unto God, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. Jesus justifies us by offering to God the Father a life of perfect obedience according to his Holy Law. That is not enough, something must be done about our sins and the sins of the whole world. Jesus atones for our sins and the sins of the whole world, 1 John 2:2. Because of the doing and the dying of Jesus we now stand in God's Holy Court as justified. No law, rules or religion needed.

There are many verses like Romans 4:5 that speak against earning our justification as a wage and many verses like Romans 2:13 that speak in favor of our justification requiring us to choose to be doers of the law, so there must be a reason why our justification requires us to choose to be doers of the law other than in order to earn it as wage, such as faith insofar as Romans 3:31 says that our faith does not abolish our need to obey God's law, but rather our faith upholds it, yet you seek to do the opposite. Sadly, in the name of being reconciled to God, you seek against following God's instructions for how to be reconciled to Him.

 

[BibleBeliever1611]

Jas 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

Justified in the eyes of other people.

 

[RobertPate]

You are inadvertently answering your own question yet you don't realize it. You rightly state that a person is justified by faith "apart from the works of the law" but you are yet to realize what the "works of the law" are. So let's discuss this. What are the "works of the law"?

Anything in the Bible that tells us to do something or not to do something is a law.

 

[RobertPate]

In Romans 3:27, we are justified by faith apart from works of the law, so we are justified by faith alone insofar as there are no works that we can do to earn our salvation, however, in Romans 3:31, this does not abolish our need to obey God's law, but rather our faith upholds it, so faith is never alone insofar as the same faith by which we are justified is also expressed as obedience to it. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus said that faith is one of the weightier matters of God's law, so obedience to it is the way to be justified by faith in Christ alone. Jesus is God's word made flesh, so obeying God's word is not adding something in addition to faith in the nature of who he is. In Matthew 4:17-23, Jesus began his ministry with the Gospel message to repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand, so repenting and doing good works in obedience to God's law is inherently part of the Gospel message and justification by faith. In regard to Romans 3:10, there Bible refers to many people as righteous, so it is false that there is no one who is righteous, but rather it is referencing Psalms 14:1-3, where it says that there is no one who is righteous among those who say that there is no God. In 1 John 2:6, those who are in Christ are obligated to walk in the same way he walked, so to refuse to walk in the same way he walked is to reject being in Christ.



Paul directly contrasted works of the law with the Law of God. All throughout the Bible, God wanted His people to repent and to return to obedience to His law, and even Jesus began his ministry with that Gospel message, so it would be absurd to interpret Galatians 5:4 as Paul warning us against obeying God and saying that we will be cut off from Christ if we follow him. In Psalms 119:29, David wanted God to be gracious to him by teaching him to obey His law, so that is the way to be under grace, not the way to fall from it, and it would again be absurd to think that David wanted God to be gracious to him by teaching him how to fall from grace.


Galatians 3:10 leaves two options:

1.) Be blessed by continuing to do everything in God's law.

2.) Be cursed by not continuing to do everything in God's law.

Sadly, you are speaking in favor of the way to be cursed and against the way to be blessed.



There are many verses like Romans 4:5 that speak against earning our justification as a wage and many verses like Romans 2:13 that speak in favor of our justification requiring us to choose to be doers of the law, so there must be a reason why our justification requires us to choose to be doers of the law other than in order to earn it as wage, such as faith insofar as Romans 3:31 says that our faith does not abolish our need to obey God's law, but rather our faith upholds it, yet you seek to do the opposite. Sadly, in the name of being reconciled to God, you seek against following God's instructions for how to be reconciled to Him.

You are practicing Old Covenant law and religion theology that has been abolished, Ephesians 2:15. Jesus nailed it to his cross, Colossians 2:14.

Under the New Covenant God's people do not live by rules, laws or religion. They live by faith in Christ and his Gospel, this is why Paul said, "The just shall live by faith" Romans 1:17.

Living by rules, laws and religion is a denial of the Gospel and justification by faith and is under the judgment of God. Paul said, "The law works wrath" Romans 4:15. You ignore these warnings like they don't exist.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Anything in the Bible that tells us to do something or not to do something is a law.

How do you divide the letter of the law and the Spirit of the law?

 

[HTacianas]

Justified in the eyes of other people.

There is nothing in any of that to give the idea the writer is referring to people.

 

[HTacianas]

Anything in the Bible that tells us to do something or not to do something is a law.

No, that's not it. A "work of the law" is some act taken as prescribed by the old testament Jewish law. One famous example is Mary's purification after giving birth.

Luk 2:22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

Luk 2:23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD”),

Luk 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

Offering a sacrifice for ritual purification is a "work of the law". Another example is Jesus healing the leper:

Mat 8:4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

The offering of the gift was a "work of the law". Christianity has never taught that we have to do any of those "works of the law". A cursory read of Leviticus will give you an idea of what the "works of the law" are and Christianity has never required any of them.

 

[RobertPate]

No, that's not it. A "work of the law" is some act taken as prescribed by the old testament Jewish law. One famous example is Mary's purification after giving birth.

Luk 2:22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

Luk 2:23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD”),

Luk 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

Offering a sacrifice for ritual purification is a "work of the law". Another example is Jesus healing the leper:

Mat 8:4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

The offering of the gift was a "work of the law". Christianity has never taught that we have to do any of those "works of the law". A cursory read of Leviticus will give you an idea of what the "works of the law" are and Christianity has never required any of them.

All of the scripture that you listed is about people doing the law. Anything in the Bible that tells to do something or not to do something is law. A work of the law is something that one does.