Justification by Faith

Scripture Passages: Romans 3:21-26, Galatians 2:15-21, Ephesians 2:8-9

Introduction

The doctrine of justification by faith is the heartbeat of the gospel—a divine declaration that transforms our understanding of salvation. It is not about human achievement, but about God's incredible grace revealed through Jesus Christ.

One of my favorite quotes from Martin Luther…

If you’re not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don’t want to go there. —Martin Luther

Martin Luther (Founder of the German Reformation)

The Reformation was a necessary schism that help awaken the church to this core doctrine of justification by faith.

In 1517, a monk named Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door, marking the beginning of the Reformation. Luther struggled with the concept of justification and his inability to earn God's favor through his actions. One day, he stumbled upon Romans 1:17, which states, "The righteous shall live by faith." This revelation transformed his life, leading him to understand that salvation is a gift from God, received through faith alone, not by works. It serves as a reminder to us that our standing with God is not based on our efforts, but on our faith in Christ.

Where are we going?

Central Idea:

Central Idea: Justification by faith allows believers to stand confidently in their relationship with God, freeing them from the guilt and anxiety of striving for righteousness through our own efforts, and inviting all us into a life of grace and service.

Overview:

I want to provide you an overview of where we are going today. Sin is universal for all people. Even the saints. Christ has bought us back from sin and the devil and given us justification as a free gift. Christ was sacrificed for us in order to pay the price for our sin by his blood. In this way he fulfilled the Old Testament law. The result of Christ’s sacrifice is that now we can receive the righteousness of God, dispensed freely to those who believe (trust) in him.

There are three areas that I am going to address today:

Righteousness Revealed by Faith

Redemption through Christ’s Sacrifice

Grace Triumphs Over Legalism

Prayer

Recap from last Sunday:

Romans 1:16–17 NLT

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

I encourage you to memorize this scripture.

1. Righteousness Revealed by Faith

Romans 3:21–24 NLT

But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

God's righteousness is revealed apart from the law. The law reveals sin but cannot save.

Righteousness is grounded in faith in Jesus Christ. Alone…there is nothing else that will get you to heaven.

According, to Pew Research - 56% of evangelical Christians believe there are many paths, other than faith in Christ, to God and eternal life.

Christianity offers salvation based on divine grace, not human merit.

Provides relief from the burden of self-effort

Key Insights:

Fulfills humanity's deepest cry for acceptance. (Brokenness in the world)

Establishes right standing with God through faith. (It is that easy. Just because that it is easy, doesn’t mean it was cheap. It cost was great.)

Invites believers to rejoice in their justified status.

Psalm 51:12 NLT

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

Faith bridges the gap between human weakness and divine perfection.

Righteousness is a gift, not an achievement.

Performance driven mindset

2. Redemption through Christ's Sacrifice

Romans 3:25–26 NLT

For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

God's justice is perfectly satisfied through Jesus' atonement.

Propitiation: Christ's sacrifice satisfies divine justice.

God is both just and the justifier of those with faith in Jesus.

Jesus was the divine solution to human sinfulness resolved through His blood.

Romans 5:1–2 NLT

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

Theological Depth:

Christ's sacrifice bridges the gap between divine holiness and human brokenness.

Provides complete resolution of guilt and condemnation.

Demonstrates God's righteous judgment and mercy.

3. Grace Triumphs Over Legalism

Galatians 2:15–16 NLT

“You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles. Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”

Sinners like the Gentiles: Captures the attitude of most Jewish people of the time toward Gentiles. From the Jewish point of view, a sinner is a person who does not live by the law. Because the Gentiles were not given the law, they are sinners by default.

Galatians 2:17–20 NLT

But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Abandonment of legalistic righteousness.

We embrace life in Christ through faith.

Living by faith, united with Christ's crucifixion.

Galatians 2:21 NLT

I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

This suggests that Paul’s opponents had accused him of using God’s grace to justify unrighteous living. 

Identity and freedom found in Jesus.

This section of scripture addresses two theological extremes that believers can fall into when misunderstanding justification by faith.

"Reject both legalism and antinomianism" is to avoid two opposite errors.

Legalism: This is the belief that salvation or right standing with God comes through strict adherence to religious laws or rules. Legalism essentially says, "I must earn God's approval through my good works and rule-following."

In the context of justification by faith, legalism rejects the sufficiency of Christ's work

It adds human effort as a requirement for salvation

It often leads to pride, self-righteousness, and judgment of others

In Romans, Paul strongly argues against this approach, particularly in chapters 3-4

Antinomianism: From Greek meaning "against law," this is the belief that since we're saved by faith alone, moral laws and ethical behavior don't matter. Antinomianism essentially says, "Since I'm saved by grace, how I live doesn't matter."

This view takes justification by faith to an incorrect extreme

It divorces faith from its natural outworking in obedient living

It misunderstands Romans 6:1-2: "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!"

It fails to recognize that genuine faith produces transformation (Romans 12:1-2)

Paul addresses both extremes in Romans. He argues against legalism by emphasizing salvation through faith apart from works (Romans 3:28), while also rejecting antinomianism by showing that faith leads to obedience / a fruit of your life (Romans 6:15-18).

A balanced biblical view is that we are justified by faith alone, but true faith is never alone—it always produces righteous living as a result, not as a cause, of salvation. This aligns with James's teaching that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26).

Transformative Implications:

Crucified with Christ, yet alive in His Spirit.

Freedom from the law's condemnation.

Empowered to live by faith, not by flesh.

When you are saved, you will produce fruit as a result.

1 Timothy 4:8 NIV

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Deeply Rooted Living:

Lent - prayer, fasting, and preparing. Identify legalism In your life. Sabbath rest. Reflection of God’s grace.

Enter into a season of Lent.

Identify legalistic tendencies.

Sabbath rest. Practice intentional rest as a weekly reminder that your standing with God doesn’t depend on your productivity.

Reflection - set aside some time this week to reflect on how you’ve experienced God’s grace, where you’ve extended it to others, and where you might have withheld it.

Closing Reflection

Justification by faith is more than a theological concept—it's a transformative relationship with God. It's an invitation to exchange our broken attempts at righteousness for Christ's perfect righteousness. It is an invitation to surrender your life to the Creator of all.