Lies Christians Believe #6 – “I am justified by faith ALONE!”

October 2, 2017

Now, before you stone me or throw me in the dungeon for blaspheming the Reformation, hear me out. 😊

This lie is completely true in one sense, but if it is twisted (as it often is), it is a lie. Such a lie has the potential to lead many men to Hell because they think their “belief” in Jesus, regardless of their works, will save them.

We love to preach the message of salvation by faith through grace, apart from works and we should love that. We certainly should preach that and preach it confidently!

Let me give you Strong’s definition of this word (justify) used throughout the New Testament. Strong’s G1344 - “to render (that is, show or regard as) just or innocent: - free, justify (-ier), be righteous.” So, the word “justified” means that God regards a person as just, innocent or righteous. Does God regard us as holy only because of faith or because of works as well?

As I pointed out in a previous note (Lie #1), our actions do in fact affect God’s view of us and can determine our eternal destiny. If our actions affect God’s view of us, what does that mean for the issue of justification?

In my note titled Lies Christians believe #4, I spoke about the true nature of grace. I endeavored to show from Scripture that the role of grace after being born again was different than before being born again. 

Before conversion a man is drawn to God and saved apart from any works, because such a man was dead in sins. Grace could not expect a man to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. Grace could only point the Sinner to Christ, the source of all life and righteousness. But the man who has been liberated from slavery to sin will find that grace expects him to live like Jesus.

In the same way, the word “justified” needs to be understood in the two different ways that it is used in Scripture. When we take a word like faith, grace or justification and insist that there is only one way to understand that word, we end up being unbiblical. The first kind of justification found in Scripture (like grace) is apart from works. The sinner has not yet been grafted into the Vine through which he can bear fruit. His faith connects him to God because God will not cast out anyone who comes to Him in faith. At this point justification is apart from works because his faith has had no opportunity or ability to work until now.

The second kind of justification talked about in Scripture is justification by works. Whenever the Scriptures talk about Judgement Day, it is never written that a man will get to Heaven because of a profession of faith in Christ. It is ALWAYS works that justify a man on Judgement Day. Let me give you some examples of Scriptures that talk about being justified or condemned by works (at death or Judgement Day) regardless of our profession of faith. Note that some of these passages actually use the word “justified” and the Greek word used in those verses is the SAME Greek word used elsewhere to say that we are justified by faith.

Matthew 7:19 says that those who do not bear good fruit (works) will be thrown into the fire which is Hell. No profession of faith apart from works is going to save you here.

Matthew 7:21 says that it’s not the person who calls Jesus “Lord, Lord” (a profession of faith in Christ’s Lordship) that will enter God’s kingdom, but he that DOES the will of God will enter.

Matthew 12:36-37 warns us that we will be “justified” or “condemned” based on our words, even idle words. Notice the word “justified” is used here.

Matthew 25 tells several parables about Judgement Day. The last parable is of the sheep and the goats. Jesus makes it clear that people were regarded as sheep or goats based on what they did or did not do. They were justified – regarded as righteous in the sight of God because of their works, NOT their profession of faith.

Romans 2:6-10 – The context here is God’s judgement. God will give to each man according to His works! If a man were justified by faith only, without works, God would have said so. In fact, this passage says that it is those who seek for eternal life  by “patient continuance in well doing” that will be saved! Those who do not “obey the truth” will receive “indignation and wrath.”

James 2 of course tells how Abraham and Rahab were “justified” by works. God regarded them as just and holy because of their righteous works.

If justification has to do with being in right standing before God, we could include Jesus’ letters to the Churches in Revelation. He was going to remove some people’s names from the book of life because of their actions, not their lack of faith.

Why is it that we are justified or “regarded” as righteous before God through works?

Works are the fruit of saving faith. A man without works does not have a living faith any more than a body is alive without the spirit. When righteous works are present in a person, we know there is a living faith. Faith by itself will not produce works any more than faith in the mower will mow the lawn. God gave us a free will and intends that we use that will to choose to obey Him. Because we believe Jesus is Lord (faith), we deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him through His grace (works).

Works are a sign of righteousness in the heart. A good tree will produce good fruit and a bad tree will produce bad fruit. 1 John 2:29 says that righteous actions are a sign that we are born of God.

Being justified by works does not mean that we are saving ourselves. These are Christ’s works through us. We have a will and must choose to obey, but our choice will be misguided and powerless unless God gives us grace. It is God who works in us to do His good pleasure.

God hate’s evil actions and loves righteous actions. If this is the case, it must follow that He will only “justify” those whose lives are righteous. On the flip side, God will certainly not justify those whose actions are abhorrent in His sight, regardless of that person’s profession of faith. 1 John 3:7 says, “Little children, let no man deceive you, he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even has he is righteous.” Only a man who is living a righteous life is justified in God’s sight.

These works by which we will be “justified” come from walking in the Spirit. I am not talking about obeying the law of Moses or following our own set of rules. Romans 8:13 says that if we “THROUGH THE SPIRIT” mortify the deeds of the body, we shall live. Only works that flow from self denial and obedience to the Holy Spirit will bring life.

The first kind of justification comes because God has forgiven a man of his sins and given him a new heart apart from works. He now stands as a clean slate before God with all his previous sinful actions erased.

The second kind of justification is where Christ lives out His holy Life through that person in all future actions so that God can look on that person and justify them (regard them as holy) on Judgement Day. God will see that such a person has believed on the Son of God and obeyed as a result of their faith.

Faith without works is dead and no man will be justified on that Great Day unless they have done the will of God. Be not deceived, whoever doeth righteousness IS righteous and only the righteous will be justified on that great day of judgement. He that sinneth is of the devil and will share in his reward.

It may be argued that we are saved by faith. This is true, but it isn’t the faith itself that saves us but God’s response of grace to save those who come to Him in faith. We are saved, not because of our faith, but because of God’s gracious response to faith. In the same way, works do not save us from our sins, but God regards us as holy and just if our lives are righteous.

Do you stand justified before God?