Galatians 2:16 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… I. THE NATURE OF JUSTIFICATION. It includes — 1. The pardon of sin (Acts 13:38, 39; Romans 4:5, 8). Thus God remits the penalties of sin. "Upon this ground of a moral concurrence in the mind of the sinner with the reasons and intentions of the Redeemer's sufferings, God is graciously willing to remit the punishment of sin, in its greatest and most awful inflictions, those which are spiritual and eternal." 2. The enjoyment of the favour of God. God's declaration of pardon is not in word only, but also in power. "It is not a mere judgment in words, but is also a judgment in deeds, i.e., the favour of God to any one shows itself in actual blessing." The possession of this blessing secures a happiness that is pure, perfect, and abiding.But to guard this doctrine from abuse it is necessary to remember — 1. That it does not mean that Christ has taken the part of the sinner against the law or against God. None ever gave such honour to the law as Christ did. 2. Those who are justified are not thereby declared to be innocent. "God justifies the ungodly." Sin remains the same, and although its penalty has been remitted by an act of grace, the pardoned should come before Gad with the most profound humiliation (Ezekiel 16:62, 63). 3. Justification depends upon personal trust. God does not save the careless or the unbelieving, or those who cease to confide in Him. II. THE METHOD OF JUSTIFICATION. "To have a complete view of this method we must consider the originating, the meritorious, and the instrumental cause of justification." 1. The originating cause is the love of God (John 3:16; Titus 3:4, 5). 2. The meritorious cause is the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. His life was absolutely holy. In Him there was no sin. Yet He suffered, as none had ever suffered before; but He suffered for the guilty, the just for the unjust. "It is entirely agreeable to the dictates of reason and justice that the perfect righteousness of another (if such could be found) should be available, under a constitution of Divine mercy, to procure the pardon and acceptance as righteous of sinful beings, who are otherwise under an absolute incapacity of obtaining these blessings." It is manifest that all the conditions essential to a Redeemer have been fulfilled by Christ (Romans 3:21, 26). 3. The instrumental cause of justification is faith. "We are justified by the faith of Christ."The faith which justifies has been defined as including "three distinct but concurrent exertions of the mind." 1. The assent of the understanding to the truth of the testimony of God in the gospel. 2. The consent of the wilt and affections to the plan of salvation; such an approbation and choice of it as imply a renunciation of every other refuge, and a steady and decided adherence to this. 3. Actual trust in the Saviour and personal apprehension of His merits. Faith that justifies is a "sincere, active, affectionate receiving and resting upon the testimony of the Scriptures concerning the Lord Jesus Christ as a Divine and complete Saviour." But it must be remembered that faith is not a meritorious condition, but simply that by which the soul embraces Christ and enters into union with him.Lessons: 1. Justification cannot be attained by any human work. The most highly-privileged have to submit to be saved by grace. The works of the law cannot justify. If obedience to moral rule cannot merit pardon, how much less can ritual or ceremony? 2. Faith in Christ is the only way of salvation of which the gospel speaks; to reject Christ therefore must leave all the burden of sin upon the individual conscience. (R. Nicholls.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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