ROMANS: JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH

[Doug]

(Romans 5:1 KJV) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

By faith we are justified (declared righteous) at the present time; justification is in our possession as a gift, by grace. Justification is through Christ.

(Romans 3:28 KJV) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Justification is only by faith. The law could never justify unto eternal life.

(Romans 4:5 KJV) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Our faith is counted for righteousness not our works. The ungodly are justified by believing on Christ, by believing the gospel. We can not do anything to justify ourselves, being ungodly by nature.

(Habakkuk 2:4 KJV) Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

The righteousness of God has always been by faith.

(Romans 5:10 KJV) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

We were enemies of God, but being reconciled, we now have peace with God.

(Psalm 85:10 KJV) Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed [each other].

Righteousness and peace have kissed in Christ, even as John says in John 1:17.

(Colossians 1:20 KJV) And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven.

We have been reconciled. God purposed to make peace with us and reconcile us through Christ Jesus, by the blood of his cross.

Wrath appears in scripture:

(Romans 1:18 KJV) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Wrath is against all ungodliness and unrighteousness.

(Ephesians 2:3 KJV) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

We were by nature the children of wrath and wrath was our only expectation.

(Romans 4:15 KJV) Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, [there is] no transgression.

The law cannot be obeyed, and works wrath and cursing:

(Galatians 3:10, 13 KJV) 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. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:

There was wrath according to prophecy that foretold coming wrath in the tribulation (Revelation 6:17).

(Matthew 3:7 KJV) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

We have been saved from wrath and are justified by the blood of Christ:

(1 Thessalonians 5:9 KJV) For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

(Romans 5:9 KJV) Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

 

[LoveYeshua]

James was a half-brother of Jesus, son of Mary and Joseph. He became one of the earliest witnesses of Jesus' resurrection. After this, James became a prominent figure in the early Christian church in Jerusalem. He played a crucial role in the Jerusalem Council and was considered a "pillar" of the church. James was also an elder and presided over important meetings in Jerusalem. James authored the Epistle of James, written between AD 50 and 60. In this letter, he identifies himself as "a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." The epistle focuses more on Christian ethics than theology, putting the emphasis on the practical outworking of faith. In the Epistle of James, there are two key verses where James declares that faith without works is dead:

James 2:17 (KJV):
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."​

James 2:26 (KJV):
"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."​

These verses are part of a larger discussion in James chapter 2, where James explains the importance of putting faith into action. He argues that true faith is demonstrated through good works and that faith alone, without corresponding actions, is not genuine or living faith. It's important to note that James wrote this letter early in the development of Christian theology, when believers, mostly Jewish, were still grappling with the implications of Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension. His emphasis on the practical outworking of faith was crucial for the early church's understanding of how to live out their newfound beliefs.