WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.720 Tomorrow we may find ourselves inclined to celebrate the 505th anniversary of Martin Luther's 95 theses being nailed to the door of the Wittenberg church. 00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:18.839 ! An event which ignited a flame of doctrinal purification in Europe. 00:00:18.839 --> 00:00:29.640 The argument of this document or his reasons why the selling of indulgences for the forgiveness of sin was not biblical. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:42.799 This was done in a way, I think many people think that it was this massive act of boldness, which it was bold to be sure, but people think, whoa, he nailed something to a church door. 00:00:43.939 --> 00:00:47.719 This is where notifications were posted in the day. 00:00:48.620 --> 00:00:51.400 What Luther was doing was trying to begin a conversation. 00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:56.340 He was trying to draw the church back to the scripture. 00:00:56.340 --> 00:01:02.780 It was his great desire to see the Catholic Church actually reform. 00:01:03.020 --> 00:01:09.500 In fact, it's a little interesting that we call it the Reformation when in fact it was a separation, most largely. 00:01:10.960 --> 00:01:23.500 Much of the reformers' teaching, which we are indebted to and grateful for, has been summed up systematically in what are known as the five solas of the Reformation. 00:01:23.500 --> 00:01:32.799 They are sola scriptura, sola gratia, sola fide, solus Christus, and soli Deo Gloria. 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:37.239 If that all sounded like a different language to you, it is. 00:01:37.460 --> 00:01:38.780 That's Latin. 00:01:39.019 --> 00:01:48.299 And I would encourage you to know at least some Latin if you're going to read well what those who've gone before us have written about the Bible. 00:01:48.299 --> 00:01:50.799 So, let me give it to you in English. 00:01:51.700 --> 00:02:04.759 The Bible alone teaches us that we are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. 00:02:06.120 --> 00:02:13.360 Now, the reformers were speaking to audiences that considered themselves Christian, much like our day. 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:21.700 Generally, there was not opposition in their day to scripture or grace or faith or Christ or the glory of God. 00:02:22.340 --> 00:02:27.780 But there was addition and subtraction from these key doctrines. 00:02:28.840 --> 00:02:33.860 And that is why the reformers loved the word alone or only. 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:39.120 They were drawing attention to this and saying this and nothing else. 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:47.039 There exists in every age a temptation to drift from the absolutes. 00:02:47.759 --> 00:02:53.379 I think the great danger for us is that these grand truths get assumed. 00:02:54.140 --> 00:02:57.360 That the battle for them has already been fought. 00:02:57.659 --> 00:03:02.420 And we may come to think that they no longer need to be contended for. 00:03:02.419 --> 00:03:07.699 And we may get distracted by lesser disagreement. 00:03:08.399 --> 00:03:13.279 And certainly there are many truths to uphold and to stand firm on. 00:03:13.359 --> 00:03:17.699 But let us not lose sight of the gospel itself. 00:03:17.699 --> 00:03:25.579 So as a continued brief break from Romans, my original plan for Romans has just been thrown out the window at this point. 00:03:25.659 --> 00:03:27.839 And I hope to get back on track next week. 00:03:28.659 --> 00:03:39.199 But as a break from that, let's consider the reformation theme today of Sola Fide by turning to Galatians chapter 3. 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:47.239 I do hope you have a copy of God's word with you today. 00:03:47.419 --> 00:03:49.239 Probably pull it up on your phone. 00:03:50.119 --> 00:03:54.799 People died that you might hold that precious word in your hands today. 00:03:57.579 --> 00:04:02.079 Our text will be Galatians 3 verses 10 through 14. 00:04:02.299 --> 00:04:06.179 Before I read it, beloved, let me remind you that this is God's word to us. 00:04:06.180 --> 00:04:08.700 It has bearing for us today. 00:04:08.980 --> 00:04:11.400 It was written for his glory and for our good. 00:04:12.060 --> 00:04:19.100 And so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands. 00:04:20.019 --> 00:04:22.540 Galatians chapter 3 verse 10 and following. 00:04:24.280 --> 00:04:28.340 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse. 00:04:28.920 --> 00:04:29.800 For it is written, 00:04:30.699 --> 00:04:35.060 Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law. 00:04:35.060 --> 00:04:36.420 And do them. 00:04:37.540 --> 00:04:40.399 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law. 00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:43.560 For the righteous shall live by faith. 00:04:44.300 --> 00:04:46.319 But the law is not of faith. 00:04:46.459 --> 00:04:49.600 Rather, the one who does them shall live by them. 00:04:50.740 --> 00:04:55.899 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. 00:04:56.480 --> 00:04:57.300 For it is written, 00:04:58.060 --> 00:05:01.079 Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree. 00:05:01.079 --> 00:05:03.079 So that in Christ Jesus, 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:05.919 The blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles. 00:05:06.039 --> 00:05:10.500 So that we might receive the promised spirit through faith. 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:22.379 Now the producer of a podcast called The White Horse Inn conducted a survey at a conference for evangelical pastors where he asked the following questions. 00:05:22.980 --> 00:05:24.180 Remember the framework here. 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:28.819 He's at a conference of pastors, professing evangelical pastors. 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:30.199 And he asked these two questions. 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:33.159 Are we justified by faith alone? 00:05:33.899 --> 00:05:35.219 By faith and works? 00:05:35.779 --> 00:05:37.199 Or by works alone? 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:39.819 And, second question, 00:05:40.659 --> 00:05:47.319 In your view, is justification a one-time declaration or a lifelong process? 00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:52.259 These two questions are pursuing the same point. 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:58.300 A point that is extremely vital to a proper understanding of the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:05:59.180 --> 00:06:04.939 So take a moment and consider how you would answer those two questions. 00:06:05.539 --> 00:06:06.680 Here they are again. 00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:08.500 Question one, 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:10.219 Are we justified by faith alone? 00:06:10.939 --> 00:06:12.319 By faith and works? 00:06:12.899 --> 00:06:14.300 Or by works alone? 00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:16.780 And, number two, 00:06:17.420 --> 00:06:24.060 In your view, is justification a one-time declaration or a lifelong process? 00:06:25.160 --> 00:06:26.300 Now remember, I'm saying to you, 00:06:26.379 --> 00:06:28.759 We need to contend for truth in our day. 00:06:28.980 --> 00:06:32.420 So, here's the great example of that. 00:06:33.500 --> 00:06:37.699 The majority response of the pastors at this particular conference were, 00:06:38.360 --> 00:06:41.960 We are justified by faith and works. 00:06:41.959 --> 00:06:50.899 Now, I think this is a response likely resulting from a misunderstanding of James' argument from the book of James. 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:54.579 I think they're accessing some scripture references in their mind, 00:06:54.759 --> 00:06:59.159 But they're not articulating well the proper position. 00:07:00.279 --> 00:07:07.399 And, again, the majority response of these pastors is justification is a lifelong process. 00:07:07.399 --> 00:07:12.479 Now, if you answer these questions in the same way, 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:16.179 I want to tell you this morning that you are dreadfully wrong. 00:07:17.579 --> 00:07:20.620 This is likely not entirely your fault. 00:07:21.339 --> 00:07:26.439 You may have grown up in a church with a pastor that never addressed the matter or did so poorly. 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:32.719 But, beloved, a proper understanding of justification is at the very heart of the gospel. 00:07:33.660 --> 00:07:39.980 And at the end of all things, you will not be able to plead before God that your Bible went unread because of the church you grew up in. 00:07:40.699 --> 00:07:43.300 The scripture is clear on the matter. 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:48.360 If we fail to understand justification through faith alone, 00:07:48.360 --> 00:07:51.520 We fail to understand the gospel. 00:07:52.520 --> 00:08:00.180 In fact, any misunderstanding of justification is antithetical to the gospel and is very egregious. 00:08:01.180 --> 00:08:10.199 I fear that in our day there is more misunderstanding of how a person is saved than there was in the medieval Europe of Luther's day. 00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:19.139 He was able to at least point at a single heresy where we find many complications of heresy in our day. 00:08:20.300 --> 00:08:30.000 So let's be sure today that we all have a clear understanding of justification through faith alone so that we can be saved. 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:32.419 You may not be in Christ this morning. 00:08:32.539 --> 00:08:40.100 We want you to hear the gospel and respond in repentance and faith so that we can have assurance of that salvation. 00:08:40.800 --> 00:08:44.240 What is true of the gospel of Jesus Christ for us? 00:08:45.240 --> 00:08:49.900 And so that we can help others come to faith and have assurance of their salvation. 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:58.759 So to do so, we're going to look at this text in Galatians and ask and answer in some measure four questions. 00:08:59.820 --> 00:09:01.980 Number one, what does it mean to be justified? 00:09:02.520 --> 00:09:05.940 Number two, why do we need to be justified through faith? 00:09:06.780 --> 00:09:10.020 Number three, how are we justified through faith? 00:09:10.900 --> 00:09:15.620 And number four, what is the relationship between faith and works? 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:21.220 So number one, what does it mean to be justified? 00:09:21.700 --> 00:09:23.320 You won't find this definition in the text. 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:29.480 I'm going to give to you a definition that will be a working one and we may use it again this morning. 00:09:29.480 --> 00:09:37.279 Justification is a one-time declaration that we are righteous before God. 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:50.899 The doctrine includes both the idea that our guilt has been expunged, has been forgiven, it no longer exists, and that we have been granted perfection. 00:09:50.899 --> 00:09:52.899 Our debt has been canceled. 00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:59.240 Our debt has been canceled and to our credit has been all of the righteousness that God requires. 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:10.940 The occasion for Paul's writing this letter to the Galatian church was men who had come teaching what Paul calls a different and contrary gospel. 00:10:10.940 --> 00:10:25.640 In Galatians chapter one and verse six into seven, he says, I am astonished that you were so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel. 00:10:25.639 --> 00:10:33.259 Not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:38.860 He then has strong words for anyone who would preach such a gospel. 00:10:39.539 --> 00:10:48.580 He says, but even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preach to you, let him be accursed. 00:10:48.580 --> 00:10:58.720 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:14.000 These men that he's referring to who are often called Judaizers were teaching faith in Jesus Christ plus circumcision and the observation of certain feasts. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:22.980 We see this evidence throughout the test, we see this evidence throughout the test, but Jesus plus circumcision, Jesus plus the observation of certain feasts equals justification. 00:11:23.299 --> 00:11:27.200 Faith and works equals justification. 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:30.080 They said, in essence, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:40.860 Faith is good, but also, and Paul cries out an emphatic no, by faith alone is one justified before God. 00:11:40.860 --> 00:11:45.259 So, what does it mean to be justified? 00:11:46.039 --> 00:11:51.039 It means to be declared righteous before God, right? 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:56.639 Our guilt expunged, Jesus' perfection granted to us. 00:11:56.700 --> 00:11:58.580 This is the doctrine of double imputation. 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:01.700 Second question, why? 00:12:01.820 --> 00:12:05.000 Why do we need to be justified through faith? 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:07.720 Why does this matter at all? 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:22.759 And I love here in these few verses, verse 10 and verse 11 and verse 12, as Paul is apt to do, he preaches a short expositional sermon and he cites the text again and again. 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:29.919 He says, beginning in verse 10, for all who rely on works of the law are under a curse. 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:38.139 For it is written, and this is Deuteronomy 27, 26, curse be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law and do them. 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:48.639 Now, it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law for, this is Habakkuk 2, 4, the righteous shall live by faith. 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:57.539 But the law is not of faith, rather, Leviticus 18, 5, the one who does them shall live by them. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:08.939 We are, apart from the intervention of God in Christ, cursed and incapable of earning our justification. 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:12.139 This is the argument that Paul is making here. 00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:21.799 He's saying to these Galatian believers, why would you put any value for your justification in circumcision or in keeping feasts, right? 00:13:22.199 --> 00:13:25.799 These will never justify you before God. 00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:36.980 The law was always meant, firstly, to point us to our need of a savior, someone to fulfill its demands on our behalf. 00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:43.019 As previously stated, we are justified through faith alone. 00:13:43.960 --> 00:13:49.980 No one is or ever will be justified by their works. 00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:54.379 Paul is so abundantly clear about this. 00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:58.100 Romans 3, verse 10 and following. 00:13:58.220 --> 00:14:02.060 This is a text that I read last week, but it bears repeating it. 00:14:02.059 --> 00:14:06.979 Another one of his wonderful Old Testament expositions. 00:14:07.179 --> 00:14:21.159 He's citing from Psalm 14, 1 through 3, and 53, 1 through 3, and Psalm 5, 9, and Psalm 143, and Psalm 110, verse 7, and Proverbs 1, 16, and 3, 15 through 17, and Isaiah 59, 7 through 8, and Psalm 36, 1. 00:14:21.319 --> 00:14:23.639 The Bible is replete with this. 00:14:23.739 --> 00:14:25.599 It's everywhere in it. 00:14:25.739 --> 00:14:26.759 Don't miss it. 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:31.980 He says in Romans 3, 10 and following, citing these texts. 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:34.860 None is righteous. 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:36.620 No, not one. 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:40.700 That includes you, apart from Christ. 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:42.559 No one understands. 00:14:42.819 --> 00:14:43.980 No one seeks for God. 00:14:44.259 --> 00:14:45.620 All have turned aside. 00:14:45.779 --> 00:14:47.539 Together they have become worthless. 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:49.519 No one does good. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:51.559 Not even one. 00:14:53.019 --> 00:14:54.340 Their throat is an open grave. 00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:55.780 They use their tongues to deceive. 00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:58.620 The venom of ass is under their lips. 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:01.800 Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. 00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:04.240 Their feet are swift to shed blood. 00:15:04.660 --> 00:15:07.259 In their paths are ruin and misery. 00:15:07.700 --> 00:15:10.700 And the way of peace they have not known. 00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:15.220 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 00:15:17.100 --> 00:15:20.320 It doesn't matter where you find yourself positioned in life. 00:15:20.540 --> 00:15:21.500 You may have grown up in the church. 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:23.480 You may be a generally moral person. 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:25.500 But this is true of you. 00:15:25.620 --> 00:15:28.220 There is no exception clause in it anywhere. 00:15:29.419 --> 00:15:34.019 There's no parenthetical unless you grew up in a Southern Baptist church. 00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:42.240 In fact, if there were to be a parenthetical in this, he might say, especially if you grew up in a Southern Baptist church. 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:48.360 Paul has been pressing this same point in his letter to the Galatians. 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:51.840 Galatians chapter 2 and verse 16. 00:15:52.840 --> 00:16:00.120 There he writes, we know that a person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ. 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:07.360 So we also have believed in Christ Jesus in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law. 00:16:07.539 --> 00:16:11.740 Because by works of the law, no one will be justified. 00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:15.960 Are we beating the dead horse? 00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:24.180 Sadly, I think that we too quickly forget these precious and wonderful truths. 00:16:24.179 --> 00:16:34.759 Once a person realizes their need of justification, there is no greater question for that person to ask than how must I be justified? 00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:45.159 When an individual realizes their great guilt, the weight of their rebellion against the most holy God, this is the question that follows. 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:48.599 How might I be saved? 00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:56.960 It is of highest importance this morning that you see your need of justification by faith alone. 00:16:58.120 --> 00:17:00.759 Now, what is faith? 00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:11.440 Faith is not merely a mental ascension, but it is belief or I prefer trust. 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:19.720 It is throwing yourself on the mercy of Christ and the promises found in him in the scripture. 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:25.460 Because this trust cannot be displaced anywhere that you would like. 00:17:25.820 --> 00:17:29.039 There is one way that we are saved. 00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:30.860 We are justified before God. 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:33.799 And that is by faith in Christ. 00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:37.200 The reformer said alone. 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:38.700 Christ alone. 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:48.279 You cannot simply have faith in anything, but you must place your trust in the person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:17:49.580 --> 00:17:53.900 So, we must think why we need to be justified through faith. 00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:55.279 We can't accomplish it on our own. 00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:58.680 We must see it accomplished by someone else. 00:17:58.779 --> 00:18:01.700 We must have a righteousness that's granted to us. 00:18:01.700 --> 00:18:07.340 We must have the forgiveness of our sins accomplished for us by another. 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:10.500 Which leads us to our third question. 00:18:11.140 --> 00:18:11.720 How is it? 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:16.120 How is it that we are justified through faith? 00:18:17.340 --> 00:18:18.640 Look at the rest of our text. 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:19.920 Verse 13 and 14. 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:26.240 Paul here says Christ redeemed us, bought us out of the slavery of sin. 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:33.519 Redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. 00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:40.099 For it is written, cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree. 00:18:40.559 --> 00:18:46.140 So that in Christ Jesus, the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles. 00:18:46.140 --> 00:18:51.000 That we might receive the promised spirit through faith. 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:56.579 So, saving faith, trust that Jesus is the Christ. 00:18:56.680 --> 00:19:01.079 This promised redeemer and the son of God. 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:09.440 It throws itself on his perfect life and his sacrificial death. 00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:13.339 First John 5.1 says, 00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:19.079 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:23.220 There's a lot packed into Paul saying Christ. 00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:24.539 The Christ, right? 00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:28.359 The promised redeemer has redeemed us. 00:19:29.439 --> 00:19:33.639 And saving faith, trust in the work of Christ. 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:39.919 The text says that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:44.899 So that we might receive the promised spirit through faith. 00:19:44.900 --> 00:19:49.800 I see in these two phrases both sides of justification. 00:19:50.780 --> 00:19:58.420 Recall that I previously defined justification as a one-time declaration that we are righteous before God. 00:19:58.920 --> 00:20:05.960 The doctrine includes both the idea that our guilt has been expunged and that we have been granted perfection. 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:13.559 So number one, we see that our sins have been forgiven because Christ became a curse for us. 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:17.759 Because God is just. 00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:22.059 He cannot merely dismiss crimes against him. 00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:24.940 He can't set aside his justice. 00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:27.840 God is always who he is at all times. 00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:32.799 He can't simply like overlook it the way we can tend to do. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:36.379 He must punish sin. 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:38.779 It must be punished. 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:46.019 So if there was any way for our sin to be forgiven, it must be punished in someone else. 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:52.700 If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, then your sins were punished in him. 00:20:53.740 --> 00:20:57.539 This is often called Jesus passive obedience. 00:20:58.500 --> 00:21:01.399 He died in your place. 00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:09.540 He was the sacrifice that you needed in your stead as your substitute. 00:21:10.560 --> 00:21:17.500 This is called substitutionary atonement or if you like penal substitutionary atonement. 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:20.740 It is the very core of the gospel. 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:25.200 And many in our day who profess to be Christians deny this doctrine. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:32.140 Your sins were imputed to Christ as he suffered on the cross. 00:21:32.140 --> 00:21:39.360 He experienced the infinite wrath that was due your sin if you would just believe in him. 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:46.440 So the debt could be canceled because he paid it on your behalf and mine. 00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:56.360 And secondly, we have been granted his righteousness because we have received the promised spirit through faith. 00:21:56.359 --> 00:22:02.979 In verse 11, Paul writes Habakkuk 2.4, the righteous shall live by faith. 00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:06.980 And in Romans 8.4 and verse 9, Paul says, 00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:15.220 In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. 00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:18.039 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the spirit. 00:22:18.120 --> 00:22:24.500 If in fact the spirit of God dwells in you, anyone who does not have the spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:27.440 You see, God requires perfection. 00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:31.940 And through faith we are made perfect in Christ. 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:36.140 We're given the seal of our salvation, the Holy Spirit. 00:22:37.299 --> 00:22:43.720 Christ perfectly kept God's law and his righteousness is imputed to us. 00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:47.640 The great exchange Martin Luther called this. 00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:56.500 We can find in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 21, a beautiful summary of Christ's work in our justification. 00:22:57.860 --> 00:23:07.400 For our sake, God made Jesus to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 00:23:08.340 --> 00:23:13.280 This double imputation is what justifies us through faith. 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:21.200 It cannot be achieved by works, but only through faith in Jesus Christ's person and his work. 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:26.039 Faith is the instrument of our justification. 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:31.440 But our justification is still all of grace. 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:37.200 That is why we do not say we are justified because of faith. 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:46.640 That is why we wring out the treasures of texts like Ephesians chapter 2, which we looked at last week. 00:23:47.140 --> 00:23:52.200 We are justified by grace alone through faith alone. 00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:56.200 Grace at work in us bringing about faith. 00:23:57.240 --> 00:24:04.200 The reformers spoke of faith like an open hand, a hand that receives the merit of Christ. 00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:10.019 This is why we so often link the solas together as we speak of them. 00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:16.299 We are justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:22.200 In this way, saving faith is a resting faith. 00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:28.319 It rests in Christ's work on our behalf. 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:34.879 And beloved, I am a driven person. 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:38.200 I'm the worst boss that I've ever had. 00:24:38.419 --> 00:24:40.299 I'm very critical of myself. 00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:44.419 I always feel like I could be doing more and better. 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:48.480 The gospel speaks to this for me. 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:51.000 I'm so quick to forget. 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:55.940 I'm so apt to think that I have to now keep up. 00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:56.599 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:24:56.859 --> 00:24:57.980 Saved by grace alone through faith alone. 00:24:58.099 --> 00:25:00.920 But now, but now I got to get busy. 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:04.519 I tend to have a debtor's ethic. 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:08.660 But saving faith is a resting faith. 00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:12.480 Jesus said it is finished. 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:20.980 My acceptance before God is all because of what he accomplished and not because of what I accomplish. 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:26.059 Jesus told a parable in Luke chapter 18. 00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:32.240 I think just a few weeks ago, Cody brought this text to us during our Lord's Supper gathering. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:41.160 He said this to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt. 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:46.960 Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:57.920 The Pharisee standing by himself prayed thus, God, I thank you that I'm not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 00:25:58.579 --> 00:26:00.180 I fast twice a week. 00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:03.420 I give tithes of all that I get. 00:26:04.560 --> 00:26:15.440 And I think in all of us, there's this tendency to allow self-righteousness to take hold in our hearts rather than be humble like this tax collector. 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:25.740 This is Luke 18, verse 13 and following the tax collector standing far off would not even lift up his eyes to heaven. 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:31.900 But he beat his breast saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. 00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:39.000 And Jesus says, I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. 00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:42.299 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled. 00:26:42.859 --> 00:26:46.759 But the one who humbles himself will be exalted. 00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:56.799 I hope this morning that you, along with me, are resting in the completed work of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:26:58.980 --> 00:27:01.460 But what of works? 00:27:01.879 --> 00:27:02.039 Right. 00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:03.720 Question number four. 00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:08.420 What is the relationship between faith and works? 00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:11.559 What of all the commands of Scripture? 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:13.559 What of the moral law? 00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:17.500 Can a Christian now just live in any way that they please? 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:22.799 Paul denounces this type of thinking in Romans chapter six. 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:24.000 He says, what shall we say? 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:26.740 Then are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:32.960 And he says with the strongest language Paul uses in Greek by no means. 00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:38.440 How can we who died to sin still live in it? 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:49.839 If we are, in fact, in Christ, if he has made us new birth in us faith, that is also going to produce good works. 00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:50.079 Right. 00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:56.399 We now have Galatians 3, 14 tells us the spirit of Christ within us. 00:27:57.659 --> 00:28:01.720 Good works are the evidence of true faith. 00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:04.179 And we must get this equation right. 00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:05.939 And I know that I tell you this often. 00:28:06.459 --> 00:28:11.359 So not Jesus plus circumcision and the observation of certain feasts equals justification. 00:28:11.879 --> 00:28:13.959 This is the problem for the Galatian believers. 00:28:14.619 --> 00:28:19.299 Or Jesus plus attending church or sharing the gospel. 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:28.399 Or going on mission trips or dressing a particular way or avoiding coarse joking or serving the poor equals justification. 00:28:30.139 --> 00:28:31.240 All good things. 00:28:32.179 --> 00:28:36.799 But rather, faith in Jesus Christ equals justification. 00:28:38.339 --> 00:28:41.359 Which yields good works. 00:28:42.419 --> 00:28:42.859 Evidences. 00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:44.319 True faith. 00:28:44.839 --> 00:28:46.119 Evidences itself. 00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:47.839 In good works. 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:54.519 Martin Luther notoriously called the book of James an epistle of straw. 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:55.919 Yikes. 00:28:56.699 --> 00:29:04.759 And he wished it had been excluded from the canon because of its apparent contradiction of the doctrine of justification by faith alone. 00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:10.519 In fact, he offered an award to anyone who could reconcile James and Paul. 00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:18.519 I think this was largely a reaction to Rome's improper use of the book of James. 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:20.579 It was widely abused. 00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:29.200 And I think it was his kind of knee-jerk response to the way that they used it to teach justification by works. 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:31.880 So let's think together briefly. 00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:34.660 We, not too long ago, studied the book of James. 00:29:34.840 --> 00:29:39.259 But if you will with me, I'd like to turn to James chapter 2. 00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:47.160 Let's think together about this relationship between faith and works. 00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:53.400 Let's do what we can to reconcile James and Paul in conclusion this morning. 00:29:53.400 --> 00:29:57.440 James chapter 2, beginning in verse 14. 00:30:01.840 --> 00:30:02.660 James writes, 00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:07.040 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? 00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:10.300 Can that faith save him? 00:30:10.380 --> 00:30:10.480 Right? 00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:11.320 You can already feel that. 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:13.460 After everything I've said, what? 00:30:13.560 --> 00:30:14.500 What is going on? 00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:15.440 What is happening? 00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:17.100 In James' letter. 00:30:17.800 --> 00:30:18.040 He says, 00:30:18.039 --> 00:30:22.839 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:28.639 Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:34.319 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:38.220 But someone will say, you have faith and I have works. 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:43.460 Show me your faith apart from your works and I will show you my faith by my works. 00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:46.619 You believe that God is one, you do well. 00:30:46.619 --> 00:30:49.899 Even the demons believe and shudder. 00:30:51.139 --> 00:30:54.839 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 00:30:56.000 --> 00:31:01.079 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:07.759 You see that faith was active along with his works and faith was completed by his works. 00:31:08.119 --> 00:31:12.759 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, this is Genesis 15 and verse 6, 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:18.059 Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. 00:31:18.900 --> 00:31:21.960 And he was called a friend of God. 00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:24.740 So there's the end of verse 23. 00:31:25.059 --> 00:31:26.779 Now, another text. 00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:27.359 This is Paul. 00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:28.400 So we've got James. 00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:30.259 Let's pick up Paul. 00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:32.779 Romans chapter 4, verses 1 through 3. 00:31:34.140 --> 00:31:36.480 Listen to the apparent contradiction. 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:45.599 Paul says, what then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather, according to the flesh? 00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:48.360 Or works, you could insert there. 00:31:49.380 --> 00:31:56.539 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 00:31:56.539 --> 00:31:59.700 For what does the scripture say? 00:32:00.399 --> 00:32:02.240 Genesis chapter 15 and verse 6. 00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:04.960 They're citing the exact same Old Testament text. 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:11.059 Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. 00:32:13.019 --> 00:32:16.579 Do these two men disagree? 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:19.720 I'd say to you, no, they do not. 00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:25.460 What James is trying to communicate is that true faith works itself out. 00:32:25.460 --> 00:32:31.819 It must give some evidence in the world that it, in fact, exists. 00:32:32.660 --> 00:32:37.460 How do we know that Abraham had faith in the promise of God? 00:32:38.019 --> 00:32:41.180 That he obeyed the command of God. 00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:44.220 He didn't just say, yeah, yeah, I know. 00:32:44.860 --> 00:32:47.660 You'll bring about a great offspring through my son. 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:50.380 God says, but I'm asking you to sacrifice your son. 00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:51.819 He goes, well, I'm not going to do that. 00:32:51.819 --> 00:32:56.879 But I have faith that you're going to bring about a great offspring through my son. 00:32:57.279 --> 00:33:02.079 He evidenced that very faith. 00:33:03.559 --> 00:33:08.779 So, I think there's Paul and James reconciled. 00:33:09.220 --> 00:33:12.039 Paul driving a point where justified by faith alone. 00:33:12.419 --> 00:33:16.899 James driving the point which will evidence itself in work. 00:33:16.900 --> 00:33:21.860 It will show itself to be true faith in its working. 00:33:23.340 --> 00:33:27.200 And so, I feel like the offspring of Martin Luther owe me something. 00:33:27.560 --> 00:33:29.220 I think he made a promise. 00:33:29.340 --> 00:33:30.200 Come on, pay up, Luther. 00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:34.960 Now, later in his life, he seemed to arrive at the same conclusion. 00:33:35.100 --> 00:33:36.840 I'm very pleased to say. 00:33:36.839 --> 00:33:43.500 He said, oh, it is a living, busy, active, mighty thing, this faith. 00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:47.839 And so, it is impossible for it not to do good works incessantly. 00:33:48.699 --> 00:33:51.119 It does not ask whether there are good works to do. 00:33:51.439 --> 00:33:57.179 But before the question rises, it has already done them and is always at the doing of them. 00:33:57.180 --> 00:34:05.160 He also said, and this is the quotation on your bulletin this morning, faith is a living, restless thing. 00:34:05.680 --> 00:34:07.080 It cannot be inoperative. 00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:09.000 We are not saved by works. 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:14.420 But if there be no works, there must be something amiss with faith. 00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:25.960 So, in conclusion, we are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. 00:34:25.960 --> 00:34:35.019 This justification is a one-time declaration of our righteousness in Christ, which evidences itself in our activity. 00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:39.800 Let us not confuse our sanctification with our justification. 00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:48.220 A faith that rests in the merits of Christ is a faith that works in grateful response. 00:34:48.219 --> 00:34:56.199 May we not lose sight that this is the faith once for all delivered to the saints. 00:34:56.539 --> 00:35:01.959 That it is a faith worth living for and it is a faith worth dying for. 00:35:02.739 --> 00:35:08.159 We suggest to you that this is a hill that we still need to stand on. 00:35:08.699 --> 00:35:10.539 We are still Protestants. 00:35:10.959 --> 00:35:13.500 And we must contend for this truth. 00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:20.400 Let us be vigilant to guard it in order that we can be saved. 00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:25.960 We can have the assurance of our salvation in the completed work of Christ. 00:35:26.539 --> 00:35:32.340 And so that we might help others come to faith and have assurance of their salvation. 00:35:33.480 --> 00:35:38.300 And may we do all of this to the glory of our great God. 00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:39.559 Let's pray. 00:35:39.559 --> 00:35:39.599 Let's pray. 00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:39.599