Sunday, October 29, 2017*
Galatians 2:16 We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
JUSTIFIED THROUGH FAITH
"Justified" is a forensic verb that was, and still is used in legal proceedings and courtroom settings. It is a no-nonsense, clear declaration of innocence. Totally justified, declared not guilty of all your sins, this is how God almighty sees sinners who have received faith in Jesus Christ!
Three times in this verse the Apostle Paul tells his readers that a person can never be justified by "works of the law." Why so much emphasis? Because we need to hear it! As sinful Christians we are constantly battling that little voice in our heads that tells us that there must be something that we must do to be saved. Sinful humans desperately want to save themselves. We want the glory. We want the credit. We want to pat ourselves on the back every time we do some so-called good deed. That's why the Bible constantly tells us that we are NOT justified by works of the law! To remind us over and over again, to turn us again and again back to Christ!
Three times in this verse the Apostle Paul tells his readers that a person can only be justified by "by faith (believing) in Christ Jesus!" Why so much emphasis? Because we need to hear this too! Through the Gospel message of Christ crucified for sinners, the Holy Spirit works in your heart to create faith. A faith which does indeed justify you. You are declared completely guiltless because of God's incredible, unfathomable love which sent His Son to the cross to be the perfect sacrifice for all the world's sins. This is a message that never gets old!
As sinners, we are constantly tempted to sinfully trust in our own works. "But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more" (Romans 5:20). No matter our failures in this life, God's grace more than makes up for them! You can go about your daily life, having full confidence that because of your God-given faith in Christ, you truly are innocent before God, justified of all your sins, and destined for eternal life in heaven with Him and all believers! Thanks be to God!
Luther: Therefore, we define a Christian as follows: A Christian is not someone who has no sin or feels no sin; he is someone to whom, because of his faith in Christ, God does not impute his sin. This doctrine brings firm consolation to troubled consciences amid genuine terrors.
* The author had prepared this devotion for Wednesday, October 25, but it was not sent on that date due to technical difficulties.
