Justification by Faith

Follow Along with the Message

Central Idea: Justification by faith allows believers to stand confidently in their relationship with God, freeing them from the guilt and anxiety of striving for righteousness through our own efforts, and inviting all us into a life of grace and service. 

There are three areas that I am going to address today: 

1. Righteousness Revealed by Faith
2. Redemption through Christ’s Sacrifice
3. Grace Triumphs Over Legalism

Romans 1:16–17 NLT - For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 

1. Righteousness  by Faith 

Romans 3:21–24 NLT- But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.   
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 

Psalm 51:12 NLT- Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. 

2.    through Christ's Sacrifice 

Romans 3:25–26 NLT- For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. 

Romans 5:1–2 NLT- Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 

3.    Triumphs Over Legalism

Galatians 2:15–16 NLT- “You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles. Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.” 

Galatians 2:17–20 NLT- But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me.  
 
So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

Galatians 2:21 NLT- I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die. 

"Reject both legalism and antinomianism" is to avoid two opposite errors.

Legalism: This is the belief that salvation or right standing with God comes through strict adherence to religious laws or rules. Legalism essentially says, "I must earn God's approval through my good works and rule-following." 

Antinomianism: From Greek meaning "against law," this is the belief that since we're saved by faith alone, moral laws and ethical behavior don't matter. Antinomianism essentially says, "Since I'm saved by grace, how I live doesn't matter." 

1 Timothy 4:8 NIV- For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 

Deeply Rooted Living:  

Lent - Prayer, Fasting, and Preparing. 
Identify Legalism In Your Life. 
Sabbath Rest. 
Reflection of God’s Grace.