“Sola
Fide - Justification by Faith Alone”
Text:
Galatians 3:6-11 & 22-29
Galatians 3:6-11 & 22-29
8 And the scripture,
foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached
before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be
blessed.
10 For as many as are
of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written,
Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are
written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is
justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The
just shall live by faith.
22
But
the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith
of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith
came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should
afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law
was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be
justified by faith.
28 There is neither Jew
nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor
female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
- Once again as we continue through the 5 sola's we come
to Justification by Faith ALONE! The doctrine of the corrupted church
was one that taught that man could only stand righteous before God
through a trifold work. The merits of Christ, the merits of the
individual, and the merits of the saints. -
- The reformer's BOLDLY cried Sola Fide! Proclaiming
that Christ not only wrought the work of Justification but that he
alone was the instrument, he alone was the proprietor, he alone was
the giver of grace and the giver of the gift of faith, the human
response to Grace when a heart is regenerated! Faith alone saves! -
Justification
by Faith. What does it mean, what does it look like, what will it
accomplish?
1.)
Faith Alone Affirms
-
The "Material Principle" of the Reformation was
justification by faith alone. As the Westminster Confession of Faith
says, "Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his
righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification: yet is it
not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all
other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love."
-
-
The Genevan Confession likewise pointed out the necessity of those
justified living by faith saying, "We confess that the entrance
which we have to the great treasures and riches of the goodness of
God that is vouchsafed us is by faith; inasmuch as, in certain
confidence and assurance of heart, we believe in the promises of the
gospel, and receive Jesus Christ as he is offered to us by the Father
and described to us by the Word of God (Genevan 11). -
-
These were not new ideas in the reformation but were believed in the
early church and were clearly laid down in scripture and by the
preaching and teaching of the apostles! -
Clement
of Rome wrote as early as 96ad
And
we, therefore…are not justified of ourselves or by our wisdom or
insight or religious devotion or the holy deeds we have done from the
heart, but by that faith by which almighty God has justified all men
from the very beginning
Ephesians 2:8King James Version (KJV)
**
Though hard to understand at times saving, effectual Grace and Faith
are inseparable in their work of salvation and yet here we are
declaring Faith alone and last week Grace alone! The reality is that
Grace and Faith are two gifts of the Lord, one heavenly, one earthly,
one is God's response and one is ours yet just as grace is a gift,
faith is a gift! The ability to respond to grace in faith is not in
your ability, your triumph, your discipline, your power, your
learning, but simply by God and His Grace! The infinite circle of the
Sovereignty of God never ends. **
-
By faith alone we are justified, stand righteous before God! Can you
imagine, in your sin, standing before a Holy God? I think that I
would probably burst into flames I'm so evil and tainted! -
If
I'm justified by Faith ALONE in the Grace of Christ Alone by HIS work
in redemption ALONE the what does that practically look like?
2.)
Faith Is Alive & Active
(faith alone is dead)
**
Earlier we mentioned Clement of Rome testifying of Justification by
faith but he too realized that faith believed is faith seen, faith
lived, and faith acted! **
He
also wrote
We
should clothe ourselves with concord, being humble, self-controlled,
far removed from all gossiping and slandering, and justified by our
deeds, not by words
James 2:14-26King James Version (KJV)
14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say
he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
16
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be
ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things
which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
18
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have
works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my
faith by my works.
23
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith,
Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness:
and he was called the Friend of God.
25
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by
works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out
another way?
-
Once again we find an inseparable paradox. If I have faith (Because
Faith ALONE is what justifies) it will reveal itself in what I do!
What I do is a direct result of what I believe, i.e. FAITH! -
**
No Isaac on the altar would reveal no faith in Abraham's heart. A man
is justified by what he does because what he does reveals what he
believes so FAITH is the hub, the core, the Justifier! **
If
I'm justified by Faith then I will live that Faith out and that
Faith.....
3.)
Faith Avails and Awards
(we walk by faith not sight)
Hebrews 11King James Version (KJV)
1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen. 2
For
by it the elders obtained a good report. 3
Through
faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God,
so that things which are seen were not made of things which do
appear. 4
By
faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by
which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of
his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5
By
faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not
found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he
had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6
But
without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to
God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him. 7
By
faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with
fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he
condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by
faith. 8
By
faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he
should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not
knowing whither he went. 9
By
faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country,
dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of
the same promise: 10
For
he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker
is God. 11
Through
faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was
delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him
faithful who had promised. 12
Therefore
sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the
stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea
shore innumerable. 13
These
all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen
them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14
For
they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15
And
truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came
out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16
But
now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God
is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them
a city. 17
By
faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had
received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18
Of
whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19
Accounting
that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence
also he received him in a figure. 20
By
faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21
By
faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph;
and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22
By
faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the
children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23
By
faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents,
because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of
the king's commandment. 24
By
faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son
of Pharaoh's daughter; 25
Choosing
rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the
pleasures of sin for a season; 26
Esteeming
the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:
for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27
By
faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he
endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28
Through
faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that
destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29
By
faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the
Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. 30
By
faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about
seven days. 31
By
faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when
she had received the spies with peace. 32
And
what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon,
and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and
Samuel, and of the prophets: 33
Who
through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions. 34
Quenched
the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness
were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies
of the aliens. 35
Women
received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured,
not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better
resurrection: 36
And
others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of
bonds and imprisonment: 37
They
were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with
the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being
destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38
(Of
whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in
mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39
And
these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not
the promise: 40
God
having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should
not be made perfect.
2 Corinthians 5:1-10King James Version (KJV)
1 For we know that if our earthly
house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God,
an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
4 For
we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that
we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be
swallowed up of life.
5 Now
he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath
given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore
we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the
body, we are absent from the Lord:
8 We
are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body,
and to be present with the Lord.
10 For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one
may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath
done, whether it be good or bad.
**
Faith wins! Faith endures! Faith Succeeds! Faith ALONE! **
-
The gift of Faith given by God will be revealed in my response
testified to by my actions and those actions will be rewarded as one
day I'm going to leave this body, ever to be with the Lord! -
In
Closing:
Saved
by Grace alone through Faith alone in Christ alone according to
Scripture alone for the Glory of God alone!
-
Today you can stand before God JUSTIFIED by Faith ALONE in Grace
alone given by Christ alone according to the Scriptures alone for the
Glory of God alone! -
WHHHOOOOOOOP!
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