This Is Justification By Faith

[Mr. M]

26 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

My own justification  was instant. Was it by my faith?

I was turned about by God the Holy Spirit to seeing that Jesus is my Lord and my savior instantly. I had no faith at all at the time. Doesn't seem to me that I can claim that I am justified by my faith.

There is more to justification by faith than an instant transformation of standing with God. Our words and actions are justified by faith on a daily basis by this standard, "Walk in the Light, as He is in the Light".

John 3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.

Matthew 12:36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Justification by Faith results in a testimony of approval, that God is well pleased.

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

We meet the Lord in the place of His Justification

Hebrews 13:12-16 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Paul testifies that his actions were justified by his faith

Galatians 1:10-17 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. (and yet by these things he was not justified).

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.) Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me.

2 Corinthians 10:17 But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 

18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

 

[Mr. M]

5 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

John 3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.

 

6 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

2 Corinthians 10:17 But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 

18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

There is a long standing difficulty in differentiating between justification by faith apart from the Law, and its required deeds, and justification by deeds that have been done in God.

James 2:21-26 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

To be clear, a man cannot be justified by offering his first born son as a sacrifice to his God. He is justified when his actions are proven to be done "in God", as was faithful Abraham. Rahab was not justified because she assisted foreign spies in her city's midst. She was justified because her deeds were done "in God", His Will, unto well pleasing.

[Wayne222]

On 9/11/2023 at 1:53 PM, Stan Murff said:

The Lord says the following thru the Apostle James:

James 2:24
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

James 2:20
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Apparently one is justified by faith AND by works.... and the man that believes justification is by faith only is a "vain" man.

We are saved by faith not of works less anyone boast. So if you need words in addition to faith you would be able to boast about your works. James is saying if there is no works in your life then your faith is dead. Which means you have no faith living in you. Good works are the result of Christ in you. But first you are born again and receive the Holy Spirit. Then works will show you are alive. 

[Dennis1209]

3 hours ago, Wayne222 said:

We are saved by faith not of works less anyone boast. So if you need words in addition to faith you would be able to boast about your works. James is saying if there is no works in your life then your faith is dead. Which means you have no faith living in you. Good works are the result of Christ in you. But first you are born again and receive the Holy Spirit. Then works will show you are alive. 

²⁴ Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

That is my understanding. It is the seen, visible, observable, outward tangible works people observe. The things we do out of love and appreciation, the new man in Christ. This commentary sums it up well:

 In this summary statement James assumes that a person is justified by faith but “not by faith alone.” It is by faith and “by what he does.” Taken by itself, this declaration may seem blatantly contradictory to such Pauline statements as that of Ephesians 2:8–9. If both passages are studied in context, however, the seeming contradiction disappears. James has indicated that deeds complete faith (v. 22).^[1]

 

 

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^[1] Burdick, Donald W. “James.” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation. Ed. Frank E. Gaebelein. Vol. 12. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981. 185. Print.

[steve morrow]

BUT  IS  THE  WORK  IN  THE  WORDS  YOU  JUST  CONTRIBUTED  OK  ???

 

PSALM 92:5  O  LORD  how great are thy works and thy thoughts are very deep 

--92:6--  a brutish man knoweth not neither doth a fool understand this 

 

PSALM 33:4  for the word of  THE  LORD  is right --- and all  HIS  works are done in truth ---

PSALM 28:5  because they regard not the works of  THE  LORD  nor the operation of  HIS  hands --- HE  shall destroy them and not build them up ---

PSALM 145:17   THE  LORD  is righteous in all  HIS  ways and -- holy in all  HIS  works --

 

1 PETER 1:15  but as  HE  which hath called you is holy so be you holy --- in all manner of conversation ---

--1:16--  BECAUSE  IT  IS  WRITTEN  BE  YOU  HOLY  FOR  I  AM  HOLY

 

PSALM 135:15  the idols of the heathen are silver and gold --- the work of mens hands ---

--135:16-- they have mouths but they speak not  eyes they have but they see not 

--135:17--  they have ears but they hear not neither is there any breath in their mouths 

--135:18--  they that make them are like unto them  ---  so is everyone  ---  THAT  TRUSTETH  IN  THEM  ---

 

ISAIAH 2:8  their land is full of idols they worship --- the work of their own hands  ---  that which their own fingers have made ---

 

JEREMIAH 23:22  BUT  IF  THEY  HAD  STOOD  IN  MY  COUNSEL  AND  HAD  CAUSED  MY  PEOPLE  TO  HEAR  MY  WORDS  THEN  THEY  SHOULD  HAVE  TURNED  THEM  FROM  THEIR  EVIL  WAY  AND  FROM  THE  EVIL  OF  THEIR  DOINGS 

 

PROVERBS 11:18  --- THE  WICKED  WORKETH  A  DECEITFUL  WORK  ---  but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward 

 

ROMANS 1:18  for the wrath of  GOD  is revealed from heaven against  ---  all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness ---

 

ISAIAH 32:17  and the  --WORK--  of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness --- AND  ASSURANCE  FOREVER ---

 

LOVING  THE  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST

 

 

 

 

[Neighbor]

Hi all,

If I had faith, it was faith that God does not exist. That was the state of my understanding, or conclusion at the very time God the Holy Spirit turned me about  to my knowing God exists, plus that Jesus is God, plus that Jesus has by his own doing made me acceptable to His Father to then be with God the Father God the son and God the Holy Spirit for eternity  forward.

It was by confrontation with an  angel that I was abruptly turned about, plus to listening to a tv preacher's rather awkward gospel presentation, to which I said "if that is true I want it!" Instantly I was changed turned about; I knew God.

If that is faith I find it to be not of me, but instead of God's promise to answer prayer. For I then soon knew  the prayers for me that had been answered, prayers from faithful, yes faithful, individuals that had cared about me during their lifetime. God is faithful, He is faithful to answer prayer rightly asked or presented.

I received a specific call from the Holy Spirit. This side of my own sanity I could not refuse nor refute that call. Nor would I want to  then  nor now. My Justification has had nothing to do with me, it is about me, but not of me.

My sanctification progresses, even now I suppose.  That sanctification has been a long and sometimes intense and wild ride in which I get to see God's purpose being worked out; almost always seeing it in what I call the rear view mirror as I ride along the pathway set before me, never quite knowing the why nor even the where that path will lead me. In that sense alone do I have faith, for I go into many an  adventure blindly except knowing in some cases I am called by God the Holy Spirit to  be going a particular pathway that has been foreknown to as well as predestined by God. 

[Know Jah]

Think both faith and works are necessary. They go hand in hand

[Big Boy Stan Murf]

7 hours ago, Wayne222 said:

Good works are the result of Christ in you. But first you are born again and receive the Holy Spirit. Then works will show you are alive. 

Exactly!  And those walking after the flesh (sin) have turned away from the Lord not allowing the Holy Spirit to live in them and no longer have good works due to having become corrupt.

The OSAS crowd claims this is no problem they are still saved and will go to Heaven anyway.

This is a stumbling block to believers are hear this along with the false claim "we all sin everyday in thought word and deed" and so they start believing that living in sin is no big deal since they keep hearing "all our future sins are already forgiven"

 

3 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

²⁴ Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Exactly!

 

20 minutes ago, Know Jah said:

Think both faith and works are necessary. They go hand in hand

Exactly!

[Mr. M]

19 minutes ago, Know Jah said:

Think both faith and works are necessary. They go hand in hand

Faith enables works that bear the fruit of righteousness.

To walk in the Light of  The Way, Truth, and Life in Christ.

John 3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light,

that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.

[Vine Abider]

4 hours ago, Stan Murff said:

The OSAS crowd claims this is no problem they are still saved and will go to Heaven anyway.
 

Disagree with this strawman argument. I don't think anybody on this forum has said that . . . if so, please show us where.