What is the only condition for justification?
(Rom. 3:19-31; Gal. 2:15-21; Phil. 3:9) Blog Oct. 22-28, 2017
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: In his letter to the church in Rome Paul first states his theme – the Gospel of God. After showing how to receive salvation through this Gospel he lists the steps one may take towards damnation. Having presented these two options in chapter one he assures all humanity that God will at some future date consider their entire lives and pass judgment according to the standard of his holy Ten Commandment Law. There will be no bias in this judgment nor any missing evidence. The doers of God’s Law will be justified in that day. Then in chapter three Paul shows that God, being entirely righteous, has every right to judge and punish sinners and that their possession of the Holy Scriptures is no assurance of acceptance in God’s judgment. In fact he points out that in ourselves none of us has the righteousness required for acceptance.
Receiving the righteousness of God (Romans 3:19-23; Gal. 2:16)
1. If judged according to our condition as sinners how would we stand in God’s day of accounts?
2. Will our obedience to God’s law justify us today or in God’s final judgment?
3. According to verse 20 what is one special functions of the Law?
4. In Romans 1:17 where does Paul say that the righteousness of God is revealed?
5. What is the Gospel of God according to Paul’s introduction in Romans 1:1-4?
6. Where does Paul say that a witness to the righteousness of God revealed in the Gospel has been given?
7. Who does Paul say will be credited with the righteousness of God?
8. By means of whose faith will the righteousness of God be credited to a person?
9. Will our sinfulness prevent us from receiving the righteousness of God by faith?
Agents of justification (Rom. 3:24-26; 12:3; Eph.2:8)
10. According to these verses what does God the Father provide for our justification?
11. According to these verses what does God the Son provide for our justification?
12. According to these verses what does God the Holy Spirit provide for our justification?
13. Where is the redemption found of which Paul speaks?
14. How can God be just while at the same time justifying the sinner?
Faith and obedience (Rom. 3:27-31; Eph. 2:8-9; Phil. 3:9)
15. Does faith include obedience or is it the same as obedience?
16. What do we have to boast about if our obedience is not the ground nor means of our justification?
17. Is Paul’s conclusion that we are justified by faith alone without any obedience on our part?
18. What is the only condition for justification of both Jews and Gentiles now and in God’s final judgment?
19. How does this doctrine of “justification by faith alone” establish the Ten Commandments rather than invalidate them as God’s standard for humanity?
Answers: 1. Guilty; 2. No, for even if motivated by love for God it falls short of God’s holy standard & so is insufficient for God to accept us today or in his final judgment; 3. To point out sin in our lives; 4. In the Gospel; 5. It is the story of Christ’s life, death, & ascension from his conception to his installation as our heavenly High Priest; 6. In the law & the prophets; 7. All who believe in Jesus Christ; 8. By means of that person’s own personal faith; 9. No, for we all have sinned & continue to fall short of God’s glorious standard; 10. Grace; 11. Blood; 12. Faith; 13. In Christ, not in us; 14. God can be just while justifying the sinner who has put his faith in Christ, for in Christ the sinner that believes in Jesus, has the righteousness of God counted as his own, thus giving God every right to call him righteous while yet a sinner in himself; 15. No, faith is not to be confused with, nor equated with obedience, rather faith in Jesus produces obedience; 16. Nothing in ourselves; 17. Yes, most assuredly so; 18. Faith; 19. The doctrine of “justification by faith alone” establishes the Ten Commandments as God’s standard for humanity because it presents to God the perfect obedience the Law requires (the perfect life and death of Jesus) rather than our imperfect obedience (even our faith is not the basis of our justification, but rather only the means).