Justification by Faith Alone, Written By my Husband

 

Justification by Faith Alone, Written by my Husband, Mel

Romans 3:21-26 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Salvation is a free gift that can never be earned by our good works. No one can ever be good enough to save themselves, it is prideful to boast in ones ability to obtain salvation through themselves, or ritual. Ritual, liturgy, works, observing new moons , sabbaths, or festivals, cannot save your soul. You are either married to the Law, or the New Covenant. Grace is defined as unearned favor. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

Romans 7:4-6 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.  For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

Christ, became the sacrifice to pay for our sins. His atonement upon the cross provides redemption to fallen man-kind if we will truly make him Lord of our lives. Christ was the spotless lamb of God who took the sins of the world upon himself to bring salvation to many. His blood will wash you white as snow if you will repent, and turn from your sins, and have faith in Him. For we are saved by faith alone. However, the Lord desires obedience more than sacrifice. Come as you are to Christ with a sincere heart and let him purify you. No one is perfect, or without sin, but we must allow God's Spirit to sanctify us and set us apart. If you are truly saved, the love of God will be in your heart, and good fruit and works will be the natural result. Grace is defined as unearned favor, however, grace follows repentance. We must be born again to be saved and that means to become a new creation in Christ. A lukewarm church will be vomited out of God's mouth according to Rev 3. It is possible to back-slide and lose your salvation if you do not remain in the vine, Jesus Christ. Please consider these scriptures.

(John 15:1-4) “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

Consider the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matt 18:21-35). Peter asked the Lord how many times we must forgive our brother, Christ replied, "Seventy times seven." In the same way that God grants us Grace we must also forgive others. In the parable Christ taught of a king who forgave the debts of his servant. However, the forgiven servant refused to forgive the debts of one who owed him and cast him into prison. The master became angry with the wicked servant and delivered him to the torturers. In the same way, if we do not forgive the trespasses of others, we may fall from grace and be delivered over to Satan. Consider also the Lord's prayer, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." Christ's commandment is that we love one another. If we love God, we will keep the commandments of Christ, and that is to love and bear good fruit toward others.

Matt 18:32-35 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son, so that whosoever believes in him, should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Isaiah 53:4-7 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

(Romans 10:9-13) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.  For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

( 1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(1 Timothy 6: 11-12) But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

(2 Cor 7:10) For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

(Luke 15:7) I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

(1 Cor 6:9-11) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,  nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Peter 4:7-8 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

Matt 22:37 -40Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”