0374. Righteousness by Faith, Apart From the Law

Righteousness by Faith, Apart From the Law

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law" (Rom_3:28).

Blessed conclusion. No other conclusion is possible. A man cannot be saved by the deeds of the Law, because he cannot keep the Law. Christ kept the Law; He suffered, the Just for the unjust; He is our righteousness. We are justified by faith in Him.

1. And what is the language of faith? What saith it? Does faith say, "Who shall ascend up into Heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above): or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring Christ up again from the dead)." No, this is not the language of faith. Then what saith it?

Faith says: "The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith which we preach. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Faith looks away from the Law, and away from self, and away from any need for further sacrifice. Faith believes that Christ has borne our sins in His body on the tree; faith believes that His righteousness is our only hope of righteousness, and faith says: "Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed."

2. Blessed conclusion–"By grace are ye saved, through faith–not of works." Away with the puny works of the flesh. They are a spider’s web, spun out from your own corrupt body. "Knowing this that a man is not justified by 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).

"To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Rom_4:5).

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR