Discovering Right Standing with God
For centuries, people have been searching for a way to gain a right standing with God. How can we have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ? The apostle Paul provides the answer in Galatians 2:16: “We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” But what does this mean?
Faith vs. Works
Paul’s response is clear: it’s not about engaging in good works, but about believing in Jesus Christ. It’s by faith alone that we are justified and declared righteous before God. One example that illustrates this is the life of Abraham.
Abraham’s Story
Abraham was a pagan from Ur who was called by God to leave his land and go to the promised land. He obeyed, and God promised him that he would become the father of a great nation. However, Abraham struggled with doubts and fears, particularly when it came to having an heir. In Genesis 15:1-6, we find Abraham complaining to God because he only had Eliezer, a servant in his house, to be his heir.
A Turning Point
But then something remarkable happens. Abraham is about to take matters into his own hands, but instead, he chooses to trust God’s promise. And in that moment, God credits Abraham’s faith to him as righteousness. This pivotal moment in Abraham’s life demonstrates that justification is not by good works, but by trusting in Jesus Christ, the promise of God for our salvation.
Theological Insights
According to theologian Gregg R. Allison, Abraham’s story helps us understand that justification is not about following the law or doing good deeds. Rather, it’s about trusting in Jesus Christ, the promise of God for our salvation. This perspective is rooted in Scripture and evangelical theology.
Raised for Our Justification
But what about the connection between Jesus’s resurrection and our justification? Romans 4:25 reads, “[Jesus] was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” The Greek behind our English word “for” could mean either “because of” or “with a view to.” This raises important questions about the relationship between Jesus’s resurrection and our justification.
Pursuing Sanctification
While justification is a crucial aspect of our faith, it’s not the only truth that speaks to our relationship with God. Sanctification, the process of becoming more like Christ, is also essential. According to David Powlison, there are many truths in Scripture that speak to this process, and pursuing sanctification is more than just remembering justification.
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