At the heart of Soteriology Salvation
God’s elect are chosen to be justified by faith alone Romans 8:30: 'Those He predestined He also called, those He also justified, those He also glorified.'
The eternal security of the believer.
It brought about Reformation & Bible based Church The difference between Protestants & the RC.
Luther discovered the teaching of Paul.
In the time of the Roman Empire, Christians confessed Christ as Lord, not Caesar under the fear of death.
Baptism indicated they were willing to die.
Docetists taught: X only appeared to have a body, not flesh . Apostle’s creed taught Jesus had a real body.
The forgiveness of sins was the main issue. Only through Christ.
The need to live lives beyond reproach was important. Teaching of Grace drifted away.
Ecclesiology nb. Role of bishop. In command Bishop of Rome. The Lord’s Supper nb.
Prior to Luther: Bible not for laity. Purgatory, penance taught. Faith is assent to Church’s teaching,
Faith plus works way of salvation.
Luther: Became a monk as result of vow. Completed doctorate in monastery. Lectured theology.
95 Theses 1517. Married 1525 Died 1547
By Faith Alone Romans 1:16-17 'I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God that brings salvation to every one who believes, first to the Jew then the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness is revealed that it is by faith from first to last as it is written “The just shall live by faith”.'
Justice of God in Romans 1:17 means God’s passive justice. God doing nothing to get satisfaction. He was satisfied by our exercising faith. Active justice is what one does to get satisfaction.
God demonstrated active justice by punishing His Son. God’s justice was satisfied by faith alone.
Luther showed the teaching of Rome was faulty. Purgatory not Bible based. By faith alone set people free. Christ sinless died for us. We believe that. Faith links us to what Christ did.
The Holy Spirit enables us to exercise God given faith, which enables us to experience assurance that we have been justified.
We have received the righteousness of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 'He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him' 2 Conrinthians 5:21
Outline of Justification by faith alone Romans 1:17-4:12
Dikaiosune = righteousness/justice Righteousness of the Law Moral R that God requires. R that Christ provides. Justice = what God demands, His Holy nature. Lies behind His wrath. Must be satisfied to appease wrath.
Gospel message: God is angry with sin. God satisfied by Christ’s sinless life & death.
Romans 1:18 God’s anger with sin but there is hope. Wrath removed through faith in Christ alone
From faith to faith : What Christ did for us & what we must do to benefit by His merit.
From faith to faith means two faiths. What Jesus has done for us. His very own faith when He was on earth. The 2nd faith is our faith - what we do to be saved.
Literal Greek of Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all who believe. AV not NIV
Romans 3:22 Righteousness of God in Romans 1:17 The first faith is the faith of Jesus Christ. What Christ did is for all, unto all & upon all. What Christ did does not apply unless they believe
Romans 3:25 'God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement through the shedding of His blood to be received by faith. Christ’s faith must be followed by our faith or there will be no justification.'
What is Christ’s faith? His perfect faith as a man, His perfect faith as our substitute, His perfect obedience of the Father’s Law. His death on the cross.
Paul wrote: Galatians 2:20 'I live by the faith of the Son of God.' His own justification. He lived by this faith. The faith of Jesus.
Imputation of Christ’s Righteousness. What happens when our faith follows Christ’s faith?
It ratifies what Christ did for us. It becomes ours. All that Christ did for us is ours : He died for all, Believed perfectly for all, fulfilled the Law for all, & all becomes ours when we believe in Him & what He did for us.
We are granted forgiveness of sins, His righteousness becomes ours, His eternal becomes ours. The moment we exercise faith God credits our a/c no sin, the righteousness of Christ. We feel forgiveness when God gives us assurance after trusting His promise.
Romans 4:5 'The one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly their faith is credited as righteousness' – the Righteousness of Christ – He came to fulfil the Law Matthew 5:17
As our substitute Romans 5:10 'We were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.' Thus everything Jesus did is transferred to us as though we did it ourselves.
Baptised Matthew 3:15 Believed perfectly Galatians 2:16 'A person is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, so we too have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ & not works of the law.'
Holy Life 1 Corinthians 1:30 'In Christ who has become our holiness, righteousness, redemption.'
This is the way God sees us the moment we exercise faith in Jesus. As righteous as Jesus. No change with passing of time. No boasting on our part. All credit & praise to God.
Eternal Life : The very life of Jesus. 1 John 5:11-12 'God has given us eternal life & this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; and he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.'
The quality of knowing God. John 17:3 'This is eternal life that they may know You the only true God & Jesus Christ whom you have sent.' Mark 10:30 '...Receive in the age to come eternal life.'
Matthew 25:46 Heaven not hell
Eternal life is to know God intimately and not be separated from Him by death.
Justification is a legal transaction : Acceptable to God. It took place between the Father & the Son at the cross. It takes place between the Father & the believer in Jesus at conversion. It is not something we feel.
We do not feel righteous or forgiven, but God gives us assurance that we have moved from darkness to light, from separation to union with God, from conflict to peace with God, from turmoil of heart to inner joy.
