On Justification through Faith Alone in Christ Alone

The impacts of theology do not merely extend to seminaries, theological institutions, and the pastorate. Theology impacts everyone, regardless of circumstance, pedigree, or vocation. Truly, theology matters, and it matters for sanctification and salvation, yes, but also for every facet of life, such as our work ethic. Since part of the mandate of Titus 1:9 to “exhort in sound doctrine” includes teaching and not just speaking, pastors must be able to clearly define the terms they use. And one term that has particularly significant impacts, and therefore requires a clear explanation, is justification.

So, what is justification? Let me give you two definitions: my definition, which is sort of a Justification for Dummies (my favorite speed of things!); and Calvin’s definition.

Justification is, as I see it in Scripture, the legal declaration that righteousness has been imputed and guilt pardoned. Such righteousness is imputed through Christ’s work on our behalf, and such guilt is pardoned through the very same work: Christ’s atoning sacrifice - that is, His substitutionary death in our stead as He took our sin to Calvary’s cross and then to the grave. This legal declaration of righteousness and pardon is made in the Heavenly court by God the Father who accepts the Son's sacrifice on our behalf. This is also known as the Great Exchange: our sin on His shoulders, and His righteousness in our soul.
We see examples of justification in passages such as:

• Romans 5:1-6: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we boast in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not put to shame, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”
• Galatians 3:13-14: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
• Romans 3:21-28: “But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”

Further, Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, defines justification in this way: “A man is said to be justified in the sight of God when in the judgment of God he is deemed righteous, and is accepted on account of his righteousness; for as iniquity is abominable to God, so neither can the sinner find grace in his sight, so far as he is and so long as he is regarded as a sinner. Hence, wherever sin is, there also is the wrath and vengeance of God. He, on the other hand, is justified who is regarded not as a sinner but as righteous, and as such stands acquitted at the judgment seat of God, where all sinners are condemned. As an innocent man, when charged before an impartial judge, who decides according to his innocence, is said to be justified by the judge, so a man is said to be justified by God when, removed from the catalog of sinners, he has God as the witness and assertor of his righteousness” (11.2).

We now know that justification is a legal declaration of God’s acceptance of us based upon Christ’s atoning work. But how is Christ’s atoning work applied? How is it that a man may be justified by a work not his own, that such a man, justified as he is, stands before God covered in the purity of another, yet alone the Lord Jesus Christ?

The answer is: by faith. Romans 5:1-2 proclaims: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we boast in hope of the glory of God.” However, this faith, which is part of our salvation, is given to us by God. We see this in Ephesians 2:8-9. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast.” As such, this is why we can say that our salvation, which includes the whole Golden Chain of Redemption (from foreknowledge to glorification and everything in between), is accomplished by a sovereign act of God - indeed, a monergistic, or single-handed, act of God - on our behalf.

This justification, or being made right with God, happens through faith alone - that is, of no works of our own that contribute to this legal declaration. And since salvation is monergistic, we are declared right with God by the work of God in the Person of Jesus Christ. The phrase “It is finished!” (John 19:30) confirms that payment has been made and is satisfactory. This faith is not abstract, hanging out in the air; rather, it is rock-ribbed, square-shoulder, firm-footed confidence in the Person and finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary’s tree. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). We are therefore saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, as revealed in the Scriptures alone for the glory of God alone!

TREVOR BATES
1689 Federalism | Post Millennialism | General Equity Theonomist
Trevor Bates serves as the Senior Pastor of Muldraugh Baptist Church in Muldraugh, Kentucky. He and his wife, Sarah, are proud parents of two daughters. Trevor holds to the 1689 Baptist Confession and Post Millennial Eschatology. His deepest passion lies in preaching the whole counsel of God’s Word. Additionally, he has authored six books.