Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 27

CHARLES WESLEY.

Justification By Faith

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Penitent Thief. "Thou shalt be with Me in paradise." Luke 23:43.

1. What is the ground of justification on G.o.d's part?

"That being justified _by His grace_, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." t.i.tus 3:7.

2. What is the means through which this justifying grace is made available to the sinner?

"Much more then, being now justified _by His_ [_Christ's_] _blood_, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." Rom. 5:9.

3. How is justification laid hold upon?

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified _by faith_ without the deeds of the law." Rom. 3:28.

4. What is the only way sinners may be justified, or made righteous?

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but _by the faith of Jesus Christ_, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Gal. 2:16.

5. What concrete example makes clear the meaning of this doctrine?

"And He brought him [Abraham] forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And _he believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness_." Gen. 15:5, 6.

6. How is the righteousness thus obtained described?

"And be found in Him, not having thine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, _the righteousness which is of G.o.d by faith_." Phil. 3:9.

7. Upon what basis is justification granted?

"And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the _gift_: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but _the free gift_ is of many offenses unto justification." Rom. 5:16.

8. Upon what basis does the reward come to one who works?

"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of _debt_." Rom. 4:4.

9. Upon what condition is faith reckoned for righteousness?

"But to him that worketh not, but _believeth on Him that justifieth the unG.o.dly_, his faith is counted for righteousness." Verse 5.

10. How does grace, as the ground of justification, exclude righteousness by works?

"And _if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace_. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." Rom. 11:6.

11. In what way are both Jews and Gentiles to be justified?

"Is He the G.o.d of the Jews only? is He not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: seeing it is one G.o.d, which shall justify the circ.u.mcision _by faith_, and uncirc.u.mcision _through faith_." Rom. 3:29, 30.

12. What statement testifies to Abraham's faith in G.o.d?

"He staggered not at the promise of G.o.d through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to G.o.d; and _being fully persuaded that what He had promised, He was able also to perform_." Rom. 4:20, 21.

13. What did this bring to him?

"And therefore _it was imputed to him for righteousness_." Verse 22.

14. How may we receive this same imputed righteousness?

"Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, _if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead_." Verses 23, 24.

15. Why must justifying faith lay hold upon both the death and the resurrection of Christ?

"Who was _delivered for our offenses_, and _was raised again for our justification_." Verse 25. See 1 Cor. 15:17.

NOTE.-The resurrection of Christ, the promised Seed (Gal. 3:16), was necessary in order to fulfil to Abraham the promise of an innumerable seed; and therefore Abraham's faith in the promise of G.o.d, which included the resurrection, was reckoned to him for righteousness. His faith laid hold upon that which made imputed righteousness possible. See Heb. 11:17-19.

16. What is inseparable from the experience of justification by faith?

"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you _the forgiveness of sins_: and by Him all that believe are _justified from all things_, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." Acts 13:38, 39.

17. How has Christ made it possible for righteousness to be imputed to the believer?

"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so _by the obedience of one_ shall many be made righteous." Rom. 5:19.

18. What prophetic declaration foretold this truth?

"_In the Lord_ shall all the seed of Israel be _justified_, and shall glory." Isa. 45:25.

19. What other prediction a.s.serts the same great truth?

"_By His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many_; for He shall bear their iniquities." Isa. 5:11.

20. What does the imputed righteousness of Christ enable G.o.d to do, and still be just?

"To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: _that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus_." Rom. 3:26.

21. By what name is Christ appropriately called?

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Jer. 23:5, 6.