Works do not justify
us, nor do they maintain our right standing with God. They do, however, reveal and confirm the
presence of justification, as provided to trusting hearts through the grace of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
“To him that worketh
not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for
righteousness, even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto
whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose
iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom
the Lord will not impute sin” (Romans 4:5-8).
Note the origin of justification by grace through
faith. God “justifieth the ungodly”
and “imputeth righteousness without works.” Rejoice also in the maintenance of justification – “blessed
is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” God accounts the redeeming work of the
person and work of the Lord Jesus as so sufficient that He includes complete
salvation in the “free gift” given when we believe (Romans 5:15-18). “Not by works of righteousness which we
have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5).
Clearly, works do not
establish our relationship with God, nor do they secure it. They do, however, reveal that we have
entered into such relationship, and that we are responding to our Lord’s
presence with and within us.
“We are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Ephesians 2:10).
Never in the New
Testament is salvation presented in terms of mere rescue from God’s wrath, as
foundational and blessed as such
redemption from our sins may be.
Our Lord rather saves us “from,” as it were, in order to save us
“to.” A “new creature” results from
the new birth, or as the Apostle Paul declared to the Ephesians, a “new man,
created in righteousness and true holiness” (II Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians
4:24). Thus, it is to be expected
that a certain quality of life will proceed from the reality of a
Christ-redeemed and Christ-inhabited heart. “Now are ye light in the Lord; walk as
children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).
We do well to proclaim the
saving grace of God in Christ as it is, that is, the freest gift ever
given. We also affirm the blessed
truth that we are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation” (I
Peter 1:5). However, we also do not
fail to declare that any true experience of such grace will lead to a changed
heart and life wherein genuine love for God and man increasingly characterizes
our thoughts, words, attitudes, deeds and relationships. The living God comes to dwell with and
within us when we believe, providing grace “without money and without price”
(Isaiah 55:1). He also comes to
infuse us with Himself, and with the quality of His life whereby the Holy Spirit
enables us to “walk, even as He walked” (I John 2:6). This is the New Testament Gospel in its
fullest intent and bestowal of grace.
Let us affirm and expect no less.
“His divine power hath given
unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of
Him who hath called us to glory and virtue.”
(II Peter 1:3)
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