The Joy of Justification by Faith

The Goal of the Gospel is to glorify God for moving condemned sinners to a status of right standing before God. Believers in Jesus Christ will be presented holy and blameless before God on the Day of Judgment (2 Cor 5:10; Eph 1:4; 5:27; Col 1:22). The Apostle Paul wrote his epistle to the Galatians to ensure they understood that salvation is by grace, alone; through faith, alone; in Christ, alone.

Union with Christ positions the Christian “in Christ” (Col 1:27). It is in this new position that faith and love are found (1 Tim 1:14). Just as love is poured into the hearts of those born again of God (Jn 3:1–8; Rom 5:5; 1 Pet 1:3), so faith is manifest in this new status (Phil 1:29). The Apostle Paul argued that he no longer lived according to his former Jewish lifestyle (Ioudaikos) — trusting in works of the Law to gain right standing before God. Only Christ Jesus has legal right standing before God; and Paul, like all the saints, derived his righteousness from that position (in Christ). The Christian has an alien righteousness, that is, one that is not his own (by his own merits).

Condemnation results from sin, which is understood by the Law of God given through Moses at Mount Sinai (Ex 20). Despite being holy (Rom 7:12); spiritual (Rom 7:14); and good (Rom 7:16) the Law was actually added for sin to increase (Rom 5:20). Sin is lawlessness (1 Jn 3:4); and the sinner’s wages is death (Rom 6:23). Even before they become active participants, sinners are condemned at conception (Ps 51:5) because of the inheritance of Adam’s original sin (Rom 5:12).

The release from condemnation and the sentence of eternal punishment in fiery hell (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15) is the reason for the incarnation of the Son of God (Jn 1:14; Rev 1:5). In other words, Jesus of Nazareth, the God/man came to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). Avoiding Adam’s original sin through the conception of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary (Is 7:14; Lk 1:31, 35), Jesus was like us, yet without sin (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15).

As the unblemished Lamb of God (Jn 1:29), Christ Jesus gave Himself for our sins (1 Cor 15:3; Gal 1:4). He bore our sins in His body on the Roman cross at Golgotha (1 Pet 2:24). As our sin bearer, Jesus made propitiation for sin (Rom 3:25; Heb 2:17; 1 Jn 2:2; 4:10). He suffered the righteous wrath of God in our place of punishment. For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross (Heb 12:2).

The joy in Christ’s sufferings is linked to the results achieved by His penal substitutionary atonement. First, He secured righteousness, that is, right standing before God, by the merits of His active obedience to the Law of God in life and by His passive obedience to the Law of God in His death. Following His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension came His enthronement at the right hand of Majesty (Ps 110:1; Heb 1:3; 8:1). Having finished the work, He sat down at the right hand of God the Father, having been given all authority in heaven and earth (Mt 28:18). He reigns over all, as King of glory and Lord of all (Ps 24; Acts 10:36).

Second, the joy includes bringing many sons to glory (Heb 2:10; 1 Pet 3:18). This is the Gospel of our salvation, the message of truth heard from those who are called and sent by God as stewards of the mystery now revealed (1 Cor 9:17; Eph 1:13). The mystery is how sinful man can stand before holy God aright. Here is the doctrine of justification.

Christ died for ungodly sinners, the Just for the unjust (1 Pet 3:18). He fulfilled and satisfied the demands of the Law (Mt 5:17). To be “justified,” one is “declared not guilty” before the righteous Judge. Having been justified by the blood of Christ (Rom 5:9), those who are “in Christ” have peace with God (Rom 5:1). God was in Christ reconciling the world of sinful men to Himself (2 Cor 5:19). This is what we preach and what some believe.

Those who believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ are those who are in Him and who call upon His name (Joel 2:32; Rom 10:9–10). They were transferred into the Kingdom of Christ by the grace of God, which is how they are saved by the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:5, 8–9; Col 1:13; 2:13). No one is justified by the works of the Law; but those who are saved by God are justified by His grace (Rom 3:24; Titus 3:7).

God’s grace is what God does to benefit those He is saving. One benefit of God’s work is the implanting of the Word of Christ in the hearts of God’s elect, redeemed people (Rom 10:17; Jas 1:21). The Word is the origin of one’s Christian faith. Jesus authors faith (Heb 12:2), allots a measure of faith (Rom 12:3), gives faith (Gal 3:22), increases faith (Lk 17:5), and perfects faith (Phil 1:6; Heb 12:2).

Believers in Jesus are justified by faith in Christ (Rom 3:28; 4:5; Gal 2:16; 3:8, 11; 3:24). They are declared not guilty because of their position and the imputed righteousness of the perfect God/man. By God’s grace, all of the blessings and benefits are manifest in them. There are no works that provoke God to impute righteousness to vessels of mercy prepared for glory (Rom 4:5; 9:23).

For one to be justified by the Justifier means it is pure hypocrisy to subject oneself to works of the Law to win favor with God (i. e. Judaizers; Peter; Barnabas; James [?]). To live is Christ, who always did what was pleasing to God the Father. The Christian lives by faith in the Son of God and this is pleasing to God (2 Cor 5:9; Gal 2:20; Heb 11:6). Even as we trust in Christ for all things (Prv 3:5–6), we boast in Christ, alone (1 Cor 1:31; Gal 6:14). He has done all our works for us (Is 26:12) because of our inability to accomplish what concerns us (Ps 57:2; 138:8). He saved us (Titus 3:5).

It was for freedom that Christ set us free from bondage to sin, bondage to endless failures to keep the Law, and slavery to Satan (Jn 8:32; Gal 5:1). He who formerly had the power of death was defeated by the death of Christ (Col 2:15; Heb 2:14). No longer does the Christian fear that which is to come in eternity (Hos 13:14; Jn 5:28–29; 1 Cor 15:55–56; Phil 1:23; Heb 2:15).

May it never be that we nullify the work of Christ by imagining that we could add anything to this Gospel of salvation…that is entirely His doing (1 Cor 1:30). The Gospel of God is not something for people to accept or reject. It is offered to no one. Rather, it is heralded by faithful men of God (not salesmen). It is foolishness to those without the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 1:18; Eph 2:12); but it is the power of God unto salvation for those who believe because they do have the Holy Spirit (Rom 1:16–17; 5:5). We believe the Gospel message because we belong to Christ, who made us believe when He sent His Spirit into our hearts.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

August 3, 2023