Faith Alone!

At Grace Bible Church, we have been in Romans and I just have to share what we learned about on Sunday! It was so great to hear! We read chapter 3:24 - 4:13 and the main point was being justified through faith alone. I know so many Christians that struggle with this concept. They seem to believe that works play a huge part in justification. On Sunday, we learned why God insists on faith alone!

1) Adding works inflames pride. 
 - "boast"; a cause for pride (Romans 4:2)
In Judges 7 we read of Gideon preparing for battle and the Lord instructs him to face the Midianite army of thousands with 300 men. Sounds foolish, doesn't it?! But the reason God only sent 300 men with Gideon was so that no place would be given to pride and that God would receive the glory for the defeat! (7:2-4)
- Acts 4:13 records the Sanhedrin(Jewish court system; supreme religious scholars) being astonished by the boldness of these untrained, uneducated fishermen (Peter & John) that they knew they had been with Jesus.
Again, another account where God was noticed, rather than man. Counting our "good works" leads us to comparison and division.

2)Adding works divides God's family.
In Acts 15:5-11, Peter is referencing Jew & Gentile alike and argues that there should be no distinction. "So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." (v.8-9)
- circumcision and the keeping of the Mosaic law = works of Judaism.
We tend to put people into classes. First/Upper class folks are those that meet our standards. Second/Lower class folks are those that don't. Sadly, we come to expect "good works" from the "good Christian" and when we don't witness the action behind faith, we judge others and slap an "unbeliever" stamp of disapproval on them. We have no right to judge the inner workings of another's heart. We often forget that Christ died once, for all people. "There is only one table and we're all sitting around it. We are all loved equally by God."

3) Adding works to faith makes it worthless.
Romans 4:13 - "For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith."
- if justification requires faith and keeping the law...
- ...and keeping the law is impossible...
- ...then faith is useless!
We do not have to "work" to prove our faith because we can't. We will always fall short! No one can be perfect or keep the whole law. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."(Romans 3:23)

True, good works follow justification, but they do not earn it, prove it, or keep it! "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5:13. Life eternal belongs to the believer in Christ, not the "good worker" in Christ. We all fall into the same category in the Lord's eyes. Good works do not make Him love us any more than He already does. His ranking system has but one level, and because of what Jesus did for us, we are acceptable to God. It is about time we set aside our judging eyes and simply focus on loving one another!!

Have you trusted in Jesus alone for justification, Friend?
What do you boast in?
"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..." Gal.6:14.
"Thus says the Lord: let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord." Jeremiah 9:23-24

Dwell on these truths this week and...

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!