Justified by Faith
|
Key Verse: “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Selected Scripture: |
THE WORD ‘JUSTIFIED,’ that appears in this lesson’s Key Verse, means to be made right, or just, in the sight of God. All of God’s human family suffer as sinners, and are condemned to death because of sin. (Ezek. 18:4) Therefore, a special provision has been made to free the sinner from this guilt, and to pronounce them clean. This is made possible by faith in Jesus, our Savior.
Jesus is the “author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2), and those who have faith in his sacrifice will have ‘peace’ with our Heavenly Father. Christians who approach him with an honest heart begin to realize a measure of this peace. When they make a commitment to him by full consecration, they experience a greater measure of this peace. Remaining faithful to their calling, they will continue to grow in faithfulness and peace.
Further, the apostle explains this relationship with God, and says that it not only comes through faith in Jesus, but, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Rom.5:2) Again, he says, “Through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” (Eph. 2:18) ‘Access’ to the Heavenly Father is another of his marvelous provisions of grace on our behalf.
Consecrated Christians rejoice in the realization of these blessings of grace, and have learned to appreciate the privilege of walking with our Lord in newness of life. (Rom. 6:4) Those who are baptized into his death, and possess this level of faith, rejoice in tribulations because they know, as the apostle teaches, that “tribulation worketh [develops] patience; And patience, [develops] experience; and experience, hope.”—Rom. 5:3,4
We read that God was providentially and lovingly caring for his consecrated children even in their previous state of sin without justification. The apostle says, “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”—vss. 8,9
Paul, continuing his line of reasoning concerning these wondrous works of grace, says, “If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” (vss. 10,11) How much more, then, does he love his children now that they are no longer aliens and strangers of righteousness. Now they are reconciled by faith in the precious blood of his son, our Lord and Savior.
All in Adam die (I Cor.15:22), and as Paul further explains, in the marvelous economy of God’s grace, it required only one life to pay the price of Adam’s sin. “As by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Rom. 5:18,19) Soon, we believe, the Gospel Age calling of the footstep followers of our Lord will be completed, and the merit of Jesus’ blood will then be made available for the whole human family.