What role does faith play in being "justified" according to Romans 5:1? Setting the Scene: Romans 5:1 in Context - Romans 1–4 shows humanity’s universal guilt and God’s solution—justification. - Chapter 4 highlights Abraham as the prototype: “faith was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:22). - Romans 5:1 opens the fruit-bearing section of the letter, moving from declaration to experience. The Verse Itself “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1) What “Justified” Means - A legal verdict: God pronounces the sinner “righteous.” - Immediate, complete, irreversible—based on Christ’s finished work (2 Corinthians 5:21). Faith’s Singular Role - Faith is the only channel God designates for receiving justification. • Romans 3:28: “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” • Galatians 2:16: “A person is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.” • Ephesians 2:8–9: salvation is “not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” - Faith contributes no merit; it simply relies on Christ’s merit. What Biblical Faith Is - Intellectual assent: acknowledging the truth of the gospel. - Heart trust: resting fully on Christ’s substitutionary death and resurrection. - Personal commitment: turning from self-reliance to Christ-reliance (Acts 16:31). Immediate Results of Faith-Justification - Peace with God—hostility ended, relationship restored (Colossians 1:20). - Access into grace’s ongoing sphere (Romans 5:2). - Hope of glory—a confident anticipation (Romans 5:2). Why Works Cannot Share the Stage - Law demands perfect performance; faith receives perfect righteousness (James 2:10). - Mixing works with faith nullifies grace (Romans 11:6; Galatians 5:4). Practical Implications for Daily Living - Security: assurance rests on God’s promise, not on fluctuating performance. - Freedom: service and obedience flow from gratitude, not fear. - Joy: peace with God anchors the soul despite trials (Romans 5:3-5). Summary Faith is the solitary, God-ordained means by which sinners receive the gift of justification. By trusting Christ alone, believers move instantly from condemnation to peace with God, entering a life empowered by grace and sealed with certain hope. |
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