| We concluded last
issue’s article by showing that a man is justified, in the sense of being freed from
the guilt and penalty of sin, by the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is made apparent
from the texts of Romans 3.22 and Galatians 2.16. Both texts contain two parallel
expressions: "the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ"
and "justified by the faith of Christ." "Faith" means belief,
trust, confidence. With this definition in mind, the explanation usually made of these
expressions is that a sinner is personally justified when he places his trust
in Christ upon hearing the gospel of salvation. That is, the righteousness of Christ is
imputed to the sinner and he is freed from the condemnation of sin when he believes
in Jesus. It is maintained that justification does not take place until the
sinner believes, which he does not do until he hears the gospel (Rom 10.4). Hence,
the expression "faith of Jesus Christ" is explained as meaning the faith a
sinner places in Christ. In fact, most modern versions of the Bible have changed the text
to read "faith IN Jesus Christ." Most Arminians will argue that the
sinner has the ability in himself to produce this faith in Christ by an act of his own
freewill. Most Calvinists will contend that the faith is of Jesus Christ in the sense that
it is produced by Christ. However, both contend that the "faith of Christ" means
the trust the sinner places in Jesus Christ. And this trust is absolutely necessary
for the sinner to be freed from the guilt and penalty of sin. Both maintain that the
sinner must believe to be justified in this sense.
The Philadelphia Confession of Faith, a standard confession for many Calvinistic
Baptists, says: "Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ, and his righteousness,
is the alone instrument of justification." From this Calvinists will contend
that the sinner’s faith is not the CAUSE of his justification, but the
instrument. Faith is said to be to justification what eating is to food. Food sustains
life, but it cannot do so without being eaten. Eating is the instrument whereby food
sustains life. So, it is maintained, the righteousness of Christ justifies, but not
without the sinner believing in it. Faith is the instrument whereby Christ’s
righteousness justifies us. Such are the explanations given to the expressions we noted
earlier from Romans 3.22 and Galatians 2.16.
There is another explanation of the expression "faith of Jesus Christ." That
is, the "faith OF Jesus Christ" means what it appears to suggest: the faith
possessed and exercised by Jesus Christ Himself! The usage of the preposition
"OF" denotes the possessor of the faith. The following passage clearly proves
that Jesus Christ personally possessed and exercised faith: |
|
"And again, I will put my trust in him. And
again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me (Heb 2.13)." Here is a
prophecy which is applied to Jesus Christ. Christ placed His trust in God. That the
Lord Jesus had faith was even recognized by His enemies. They cried as He hung on
the cross: "He trusted in God (Mt 27.43)." Revelation 1.5 presents Christ
as "the FAITHFUL witness." The original meaning of the word
"faithful" is full of or characterized by faith. Thus, the Lord Jesus was a man
of faith. It was by the faith that Jesus Christ Himself exercised that the
righteousness of God was provided whereby sinners are justified. Hebrews 11,
particularly verse 6, teaches that faith is necessary to acceptably obey God. Jesus
Christ through faith obeyed God in His life (Jn 8.29 and death (Php 2.8). It is by
Christ’s faithful obedience that sinners are freed from the guilt and
condemnation of their sins and made righteous before God (Rom 5.19). This IS being
"justified by the faith of Jesus Christ."
Justification in the sense of freedom from the condemnation of sin is not by the
sinner’s faith which he places in Christ when he hears the gospel. And why not?
First, if one believes in Jesus Christ, he is ALREADY justified in the sense of being
freed from the penalty of sin. This is clear from Acts 13.39: "And by him (Jesus
Christ) all that believe ARE (not ‘will be’) justified from all things, from
which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."
Mind that the believer is justified BY Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ alone is the means of
justification. By HIS righteousness produced by HIS faith and by HIS blood the sinner is
justified! No man’s works can justify him in the sense of freeing him from the
penalty of sin. And all that believe ARE justified in this sense, according to Acts 13.39.
It is not that they must believe to get justified. Rather, if they believe they ARE
justified already, at the time they are believing!
Romans 3.22 points out that if one believes, the righteousness of God is not only UNTO
him, but it is UPON him at the time he is believing. Hence, it is not a matter of
believing and then getting righteousness. On the contrary, if one believes, that
righteousness is UPON him already!
Placing faith in Jesus Christ is an act of obedience. Romans 10.16 clearly establishes
this fact: "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath
believed our report?" This verse is used to prove disobedience of the gospel. If not
believing the report is not obeying the gospel, then believing the report is obeying the
gospel. In connection with this, 1 Jn 3.23 shows that believing on the name of Jesus
Christ is obedience to a commandment. Thus, it is clear that believing in Christ is an act
of obedience. Q?: Justification requires the obedience of (how many)?
Part 3 |
