Bible Study Romans 4:5-16

Imputed righteousness; sin not imputed is a packaged deal. You can't have one without the other. The message of reconcilation has been committed to the body of Christ. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sins. Praise the Lord, if Jesus has set you free from sin you are free indeed. No believer has to walk in bondage to any sin. Many do because their heart has not been established by the Word of Grace the New Covenant provides for every believer!

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Bible Study Romans 4:5-16

Imputed righteousness; sin not imputed

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Romans 4:5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

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Paul is so specific here; To him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.

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Some are so offended by this verse they will not read it aloud in their services. Some just read over it quickly without considering the truth in the message. However a righteousness apart from the works of man or the works of the law is imperative to understand. By the greatness of the sacrifice Jesus offered we can have righteousness imputed to us. If righteousness stands on any ground other than the work of Jesus Christ it is as filthy rags in the sight of God.

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What the law offered for righteousness was the doing of man.

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Romans 10:5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them."

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As discussed in our last bible study the early church believed the Jewish believers should carefully practice the law of Moses even to the point of submitting to the Levitical Priesthood. They talked Paul into taking a vow shaving his head with four other Jewish believers, which included animal sacrifice. There was this transition time between the covenant of the law and the covenant of “grace and truth”.

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Hebrews 9:8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience; 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ came…

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The fullness of the revelation of a purged conscience was not manifested while the first tabernacle was standing! The righteousness that came by faith in Jesus Christ alone was a revelation that God gave through the apostle Paul . It is not just a coincidence that Hebrews was written just before the time the tabernacle was completely torn down and destroyed. The fullness of grace and righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ is the reformation.

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Does this mean we do not believe in good works? Absolutely, we believe in good works! The good works in the covenant of grace do not give you righteousness; however the imputed righteousness prepares you and empowers you to do the good works that God has called every believer to do.

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Ephesians 2:7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

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There are two lies of the enemy the church needs to be careful to avoid. 1^st your good work can earn the righteousness of God. 2^nd God does not call every believer to do good works. Either of these extremes causes believers to walk in a unbalanced way.

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Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

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As Ephesians carefully laid out righteousness with God can not be of works, lest a man should boast. Salvation has come through faith in Jesus Christ alone! This imputed righteousness empowers us to do the good works God has prepared for us to do. God calls all His children to maintain good works.

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Romans 4:6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin."

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King David was a prophet indeed! David himself was under the works of the law, yet spoke of a blessedness from God. It is one place where imputed righteousness was prophesied. Righteousness imputed; sin not imputed! This is a packaged deal. Divine influence so amazing. David wrote “Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin”. David did not know sin not imputed; due to his sin there was much grief in his kingdom. One son raped David’s daughter, another of his sons killed the rapist. Another son briefly stole his kingdom and raped his concubines in full view of all Israel . Yet another son tried to make himself king at the end of David’s reign. David’s sins were indeed imputed to him just as the prophet Nathan said. However by the influence of the Holy Spirit David spoke of a day when sin would not be imputed.

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John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

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Hebrews 1:3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

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Jesus is the Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of the world. Jesus Himself purged our sins! Indeed Jesus is the sin bearer!

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2 Corinthians 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

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God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them! You and me are the recipients of our trespasses and sin not being imputed to us! The Scripture is so clear, you and I have been committed to the word of reconciliation! Repentance and remission of sins in found in Jesus Christ and there is no other way to righteousness. God reconciling the world to Himself; there is no greater news or truth. Is it any wonder Jesus spoke concerning being set free from sin, “he who the Son sets free is free indeed”. Men being completely set free from sin is not elusive. Imputed righteousness and sin not imputed is a package deal! If the righteousness of God has been imputed there is no imputing of sin; if a man is found seeking his own righteousness by the performance of the law or by the strength of his own flesh, sin will certainly be imputed. Paul taught the Roman church to reckon themselves dead to sin and alive unto God! Why could Paul preach this to them; simply put, it is an absolute truth of the Word of God. (see Romans 6:10-12)

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Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.

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Jesus is and was the sin bearer; God made Jesus' soul an offering for sin! At the very labor of Jesus' soul God was satisfied; Jesus bore the iniquities and now many shall be justified. Is the object of your faith in the strength of the sacrifice Jesus made for sin? The Father was pleased to make His Son the offering for your sin, not your sin only but indeed the sin of the world.

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Romans 4:9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also?For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

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The blessedness of imputed righteousness and sin not imputed is not based upon the law of Moses. Not of the Jews only but of all those who would believe. This blessedness came before circumcision of the flesh; this blessedness came before the law of Moses. This blessedness is for all who also walk in the steps of faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

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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. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

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The promise was to Abraham through the righteousness of faith. If righteousness is of the law faith is made void and the promise has no effect. The law is not of faith and never can be! The law brings about wrath; where there is no law there is no transgression. Righteousness is of faith that it might be according to grace.

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Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them." 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),

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There is not some middle ground to be arrived at or some mixture of law and grace to bring us to righteousness. If one puts himself under the law to any degree the whole lump is leavened. You can’t pick and chose which parts of the law of Moses is for the body of Christ to adhere to and others not so much. If one is under the works of the law the whole of the curse is upon them. Just as Galatians 3:10 declares cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them. The law is not of faith; the law always points to the performance of man. The law says “The man who does them shall live by them.” Grace always points to the performance of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has indeed redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.

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More to come…

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Grace or Works

How does righteousness come? By grace alone, by works alone, or a combination of the two. What does the Word of God have to say about it.
Romans 4:1-5

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Grace or Works

Romans 4:1-5

Romans is truly a building block book. We have up to this point established the only way to righteousness is Jesus; more specifically through faith in Jesus atoning work at Calvary . There is no other pathway for righteousness and justification. Any other avenue is either the works of the flesh or a working of the law; neither of these offer the way to eternal life. Eternal life is found exclusively in Jesus. This passage in Romans 4 is one of the most highly debated asking is it faith or works? What some have called the “great reformation” where Martin Luther declare over again the just shall live by faith stirred debate of works verses grace. This was truly a turning point in church history. However, we need to go back to scripture itself and let it define what we believe.

Romans 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. As we dig in we should know Abraham is pointed to as our example of how to believe in God’s Word. God Word is true with or without our life experience added to it. God’s Word is rock solid being the anchor for our soul. When Abraham laid hold of the Word God spoke to him that is when God was able to bring the promise to pass in His life. Sorry, I’m jumping ahead to the end of Romans 4.

Consider the words “Abraham believed God”. The object of Abraham’s faith was rooted in the Word God spoke to him. We will write much more on this at the end of Romans 4. Now lets consider Abraham’s God. The Creator of heaven and earth was walking in relationship with Abraham; God’s desires have not changed, He still longs to walk in fellowship with man. This is the reason Jesus came to declare and bring reconciliation between God and man.

Work is work and grace is grace! So simple yet so profound. I work in a purchasing department for a company. In that company there is no debate over work and grace. They have hired me to do a job; I come in and perform the service the company desires and now they pay what they owe me. The pay check they give me is not by grace; it is no free gift. I have labored and they pay their debt.

Many have, and do try to enter this principle of work for righteousness. Yet if we examine the scriptures they are clear. Romans 4:5

But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness,

Lets not forget the building blocks already added into the mix by Romans 3. The works of the law could not bring righteousness. Faith in Jesus Christ is the exclusive way to receive righteousness. To be righteous is to have right standing between God and man. Verse 5 makes it so clear “to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”

This of course this is not talking about working for a salary of some type; it specifically speaks of not working to gain righteousness. If the object of your faith is in the One who justifies men through the atoning work of Jesus that is accounted as your righteousness. This is not an elusive truth but a legal standing between God the Father and the believer. If you place your faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work performed at Calvary you have a righteous standing before God. The beloved John wrote, he that confesses that Jesus is the Son of God is born of God. Jesus said if you would confess Him before man He would confess you before the angles and His Father in heaven.

The Apostle Peter had to learn about this caliber of righteousness.

Galatians 2:14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews,why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? 15 "We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

See Galatians 2:14 Peter being a Jew begin to live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews. It was all about walking by faith exclusively in Jesus and not believing your righteousness could be derived by works. The early church had said there was a difference between the Gentile believers and how they were to live and the how Jewish believers were to live for Christ. When brethren from James church came Peter reverted back to practicing the law for righteousness.

We see the truth of the division between the Gentiles and Jewish believers in Acts 15.

Acts 15:19 "Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 "but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 "For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath." … Acts 15:24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law"; to whom we gave no such commandment;

The decision was made not to put the Gentiles under the works of the law; however they expected every Jewish believer to continue in the works of the law. Please see this next passage about the Jerusalem church; it can help with any misunderstanding between works and grace.

Acts 21:20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, "You see, brother,how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law;… 23 "Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 "Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. 25 "But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality."

Here we find it very clear the early church continued in the practices of the law. They talked the apostle Paul into the same by taking a vow which included bringing animal sacrifice and presenting himself to the Levitical Priesthood. Hebrews was written to bring the Jewish church to live like the Gentile Christians, being justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone, without trusting in the works of the law or ones own fleshly works. A righteousness apart from the works of the law; relying completely upon the works of the Savior Himself.

Romans 5:18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.

Please note this Bible study does not say do no works; the scriptures teach righteousness apart from your works. We can do no work to make us righteous; however, once made righteous by faith in Jesus Christ you are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do good works. The works that you trust in for righteousness is the One Man’s obedient. “Not of works that I have done nothing but the blood of Jesus”.

John 16:12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

The truths that the apostle Paul share in Romans 4 about being justified before God by faith without works is a truth revealed by the Spirit of God. God raised up the apostle Paul and gave him these revelations. It time for the church to arise and teach the fullness of the grace of God found exclusively in the Lord Jesus Christ.

At the risk of ruffling a few traditional feathers the book of James was not written to the church as a whole. It was written to the twelve tribes of Israel . As we seen in Acts 21 they strongly believed Jewish believers should continue in the works of the law. Most scholars agree that James is the earliest book written. We need to rightly divide the Word of truth.

The church today can not teach what Jesus taught to the leprous man; go present himself to the Levitical Priest and offer the offering Moses commanded for cleansing. The New Testament church today can not ask another minister take a Nazarene vow to prove his faithfulness, in Acts 21 they clearly did. In the same way James was writing to the 12 tribes of Israel and we must rightly divide his writings. The Apostle Paul came with the greater revelation of grace. This also agrees with Jesus words about truths the brethren were not ready to bear.

Ephesians 3:1 For this reason I, Paul , the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles; 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

What Paul taught about men being justified by grace and not works was what the Holy Spirit revealed to him.

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

Galatians 1: 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Romans 4:5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

Paul could not make it any clearer. If one is working for righteousness that man will not be justified before God. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. God help us to walk in the greater revelation found in Jesus Christ.

More to come…

Romans 3: 21 to 3: 31

Righteousness Exclusively Found Through Faith in Jesus; there is no other way!

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Righteousness Exclusively Found Through Faith in Jesus!

Romans three 21 to three 31

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

We ended last week with this verse talking about the witness of the Law and Prophets. They witness Jesus the Messiah is coming, hear Him! Righteousness could not be derived from the law of Moses or from the prophets but they point to One coming. Jesus is the One where righteousness comes apart from the law. Righteousness is being made right with God through faith in Christ! I jump a head to the next verse.

Romans 3:22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Remember the three people groups, the wicked, those directly under law, and those morally good people without the knowledge of the law? There is no difference they have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. No matter our background where we come from or where we think we might be going, righteousness that comes from God is exclusively found through faith in Jesus Christ.

Churches that preach the source for righteousness is not through faith in Jesus Christ are false churches! They may think they are rich and have much; however if the robes of righteousness have never been donned there is a lukewarm church where Jesus is on the outside knocking to come in! Jesus said if any man will open the door He will come and sup with him. One thing brings righteousness to a sinner and that is the obedience of Jesus Christ. If Jesus Christ is not the object of your faith you are trusting in the wrong thing to save you.

Romans 3:24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

John the beloved wrote that Jesus came full of grace and truth! Here Paul is writing of the divine influence (grace) that justifies freely. What does it mean to be justified in Sunday School we used to teach justified = just-as-if we-had-not-sin. Do we long for Justice to prevail? Yes, to the justification found in the righteousness of God! That is mankind’s only hope! Justified freely by the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Many men do many things seeking to be justified; however, to be justified in God sight is to put faith in the propitiation of the blood of Jesus. Jesus is our propitiation. Jesus appeased the Holy God when He poured out his own soul as our sin offering.

God’s wrath was poured out upon Jesus for the sin of the world! God demonstrated His righteousness by justifying us at Jesus Christ expense. God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world unto Himself while Jesus was on the cross. God is just and He is the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus Christ. There is an exclusiveness to this truth and there is no other way to find justification.

Consider the greatness of the sacrifice of Jesus. Even under the law when the law breaker came they examined the sacrifice being offered for sin; the guilt of the law breaker was obvious. Examine the Lamb of God! Consider His once and for all sacrifice of Himself. Through one Man’s obedience many are made righteous; Jesus Christ is the One obedient Man!

Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

There is the law of Moses and of course it’s purpose is to expose sin. Under the law a man is justified by the deeds of the law; however, there is the law of faith! The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death! A man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law! The purpose of the law of faith is to bring us to the abundant life.

One difference between the law of Moses and the law of faith, under the law the unclean touching the holy made the holy thing unclean clean; under the law of faith when the holy touches the unclean the unclean becomes holy. Jesus life demonstrated this very truth. The woman with the issue of blood was unclean according to the law; however when she touched the clean (Jesus) in faith she was cleansed! When Jesus touched the leprous man he was healed! Jesus the clean one touched the unclean and He was made well! Under the law any one touching the leprous was immediately consider unclean. All have sinned and fallen short but when the clean touches the unclean with the law of faith the unclean is made holy. According to God when one puts their faith in Jesus you are born in true righteousness and holiness. The conclusion of the matter is a man can be justified apart from the works of the law and it is through faith in the finished work of the cross of Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

Rather Jew or Gentile, wicked or good, one can only be justified by faith in Jesus Christ the Messiah. The law by itself could not ever offer life to the one practicing the law. Faith brings an establishing of the law because the purpose of the law is fulfilled when we conclude all are sinners! However let us never forget once the law has shown us our need for Jesus Christ, if we have placed our faith in Jesus, there is no longer a need for our tutor. It has properly fulfilled its purpose.

Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Thank God for the law and the purpose for the law. Thank God for the law of faith! For we are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. After faith has come, we are no longer under the tutor.

Anyone preaching you are sons of God by any other way have departed from the true gospel. Justified by faith in Jesus Christ is the exclusive way and there is no other way.

More to come…