Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification (11)
[Romans 3:21-26]
We are contemplating under the overarching theme of "Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification." The first subtopic is "The Necessity of Justification." Because "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23), everyone unequivocally needs justification. The second subtopic is "The Originator of Justification," and the originator of justification is God the Father. The third subtopic is "The Foundation of Justification," and the only foundation of justification is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ's complete obedience and perfect atonement (Westminster Larger Catechism 70) constitute the foundation of justification.
Today, as we reflect on the fourth subtopic, "The Method of Justification," we seek to receive the grace provided. In today's passage, Romans 3:21-26, the term "faith" appears four times: in verse 22, "by faith," "the one who believes" (twice); in verse 25, "by faith" (once); and in verse 26, "the one who has faith" (once). These four occurrences of "faith" can be summarized into two aspects: "by faith" (twice) and "the one who believes" (twice). Today, I intend to contemplate two aspects of the faith in believing in Jesus Christ:
First, it is faith in believing in Jesus Christ.
Look at Romans 3:22 - "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile." In the original Greek, the phrase "faith in Jesus Christ" is expressed as "faith of Jesus Christ" [Grammar: genitive case - "faith of Jesus Christ"]. In other words, this faith is not human faith (faith that originates from a person) but the faith of Jesus Christ, the faith given by God. In Romans 10:3, Paul discusses "the righteousness of God" and "their own righteousness," meaning human righteousness. When we believe in Jesus Christ, we should believe with the faith given by God, not with human faith. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Many people will claim to have done miraculous things in the name of Jesus, but Jesus will say, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" These people did these remarkable deeds not with the faith given by God but with their own faith. Ephesians 2:8 says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." The Bible states that faith is a gift from God. Faith is never something that originates from human actions. By believing in Jesus Christ with the faith given by God, we receive righteousness (justification). This is hymn “I Know not Why God’s Wondrous Grace”: (v. 1) I know not why God's wondrous grace To me He hath made Known, Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love Redeemed me for His own, (v. 2) I know not how this saving faith To me He did impart, Nor how believing in His Word Wrought peace within my heart, (v. 3) I know not how the Spirit moves, Convincing men of sin, Revealing Jesus through the Word, Creating faith in Him, (v. 4) I know not what of good or ill May be reserved for me, Of weary ways or golden days, Before His face I see, (chorus) But "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able To keep that which I've committed Unto Him against that day.
Second and last, it is faith in believing in the blood of Jesus Christ.
Look at Romans 3:25 - "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness because in his forbearance, he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished." The reason Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross is to redeem us. In other words, the precious blood of Jesus Christ is for our substitution (forgiveness of sins). It is for our salvation. Ephesians 1:7 states, "In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace." We are redeemed (forgiven of sins) through the blood of Jesus Christ. We can only receive forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. This is hymn “What Can Wash Away my Sin”: (v. 1) What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus, (v. 2) For my cleansing this I see Nothing but the blood of Jesus; For my pardon this my plea Nothing but the blood of Jesus, (v. 3) Nothing can for sin atone Nothing but the blood of Je-sus; Naught of good that I have done Nothing but the blood of Jesus, (v. 4) This is all my hope and peace Nothing but the blood of Jesus; This is all my righteousness Nothing but the blood of Jesus, (v. 5) Glory! Glory! thus I sing Nothing but the blood of Jesus; All my praise for this I bring Nothing but the blood of Jesus, (chorus) O precious is the flow That make me white as snow; No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Today, we have reflected on two aspects of faith related to "The Method of Justification," namely, faith in believing in Jesus Christ and faith in believing in the blood of Jesus Christ. May God's grace be with us all, enabling us to live by faith in Jesus Christ and faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, both of which God graciously gives us as gifts of His grace.