Oct. 31, 2010, Bible Studies for Life
Making Sense of Faith
Romans 4:1-3, 23-25; 10:9-13; Hebrews 12:1-2
A sinful man like me can be justified with God by faith alone – not by my works, not by my good intentions, and not by my religious activities. Justification by faith alone comprises the very essence of the gospel, and it’s radical. The doctrine of justification by faith is radical because even as we preach it from our pulpits and confess it in our teaching, it still seems hard to believe.
Some years ago, I visited a dear lady who was in the hospital. She had been a church member for more than three decades – attending Sunday school and worship, laboring to promote missions, and assisting in various ministries. Wracked by an aggressive disease, though, her body was quickly decaying. In that situation, I always talk about the gospel. She knew the severity of her condition and the nearness of her passing. So, very gently, I asked her if she believed she would spend eternity with God. She answered quickly and confidently, “Yes, pastor. Why do you think I’ve been doing all this for all these years? The scales have tipped in my favor, I think.”
Part of a Bible-believing, gospel-preaching church for more than 30 years, she still had not believed the gospel – that we are justified by faith alone. She was living according to the “earn it” mentality that says, “If I’m good enough, God will let me in.” As people who fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), it simply isn’t possible to earn our way back to God. We must trust the One who was righteous for us, who died to redeem us.
In Romans 4, Paul claims that justification by faith isn’t a new idea. Indeed, Abraham – the man through whom God began the salvation plan – was justified by faith. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3; cf. Genesis 15:6). Abraham wasn’t justified because he was a good man or earned enough credit with God. Abraham was justified because he believed God’s promise – God’s promise to give him a son, to make him a nation, and to bless the whole world through him.
Jesus Christ is the ultimate and final fulfillment of that promise. Jesus is the blessing to the whole world, born from Abraham’s line. Jesus became sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteous of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21) – and it happens by faith.
So how do we make sense of the Christian faith? First, reject the “earn it” mentality. Put it completely out of your mind. Second, trust the promise of God – that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). This is faith – to call on Jesus, believing that He alone can save. Third, live your life in view of Christ. Cast aside entangling sins and keep a laser-like focus on Jesus – the author and perfecter of your faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Chuck Fuller– Lessons by Chuck Fuller, assistant professor of Christian studies at Anderson University. A graduate of Southern Seminary, Fuller previously served as pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky.