Theology / Justification

  • Not by Works of the Law

    Galatians 2:15–16

    We see people doing good things every day — loving their children, caring for elderly parents, giving money to cancer research, and so on. Nevertheless, even the best deeds of sinners are insufficient in God’s sight. Even if unregenerate people ...Read More

  • Our Living Hope

    1 Peter 1:3-5

    Jesus’ death is not significant because He was a good man who died but because He was a perfect man who died and rose again. The resurrection is certain proof that death has no rightful claim on those who obey ...Read More

  • Paying for Our Sin

    1 Peter 3:18

    Christ not only died for us, He lived for us as well. Understanding this point helps to assure us of our salvation. We are, of course, called to please God through obeying His will. Nevertheless, we realize that the best ...Read More

  • Peace with God

    Romans 5:1–11

    In the new covenant era, Isaiah 52:7 is fulfilled in the work of God’s people as they publish news of peace with Him across the world (Rom. 10:15). All of us who have found peace with God ...Read More

  • Peace with God

    Romans 5:1–11

    Being forgiven and set free from bondage to sin are not the only benefits we receive from being justified in the sight of God; we also receive peace with Him. If you have trusted in Christ alone for salvation, the ...Read More

  • Peace With God

    Romans 5:1–2

    Before we came to know Jesus we were at enmity with God. We sought only to war against Him and to become independent of His sovereign rule. However, once we came to know Christ and to trust in Him alone ...Read More

  • Perfect Obedience

    Romans 5:18-19

    Paul’s comparisons of our unions with Adam and Christ show us how wrong we are in our tendency to think that some goodness in us motivated God to save us. We were lost, justly condemned. But God saved us ...Read More

  • Redeemed by Faith

    Romans 3:19–28

    We cannot live our lives before the face of God until we are clear that it is the perfect obedience of Christ alone that saves us. If we think that we earn our own righteousness, we have not been justified ...Read More

  • Redemption in Christ

    Romans 3:21–31

    According to Dr. R.C. Sproul, the Bible teaches that in our redemption “our record does not change, but our guilt does” (Faith Alone, p. 96). It is impossible for the Lord to forget anything, but when we are justified ...Read More

  • Rome’s Analytic View of Justification

    Romans 1:16–17

    Roman Catholics and Protestants differ on several fundamental matters, not the least of which is the doctrine of justification. It is essential that we do not blur the lines on this issue, for the very gospel is at stake. We ...Read More

  • Severed from Christ

    Galatians 5:2–4

    Martin Luther says that Galatians 5:2 “is a touchstone, whereby we may most certainly and freely judge all doctrines, works, religions, and ceremonies of all men.” Any of these that promise righteousness and salvation through them are to be ...Read More

  • Synthetic Justification

    Romans 1:16–17

    Because of the way heretics like to misuse the language of Scripture, theology often uses highly technical terms in order to make sure that doctrine remains faithful to the apostolic writings of the Bible. The use of analytic versus synthetic ...Read More

  • The Carnal Christian

    1 Corinthians 3:1-4

    We must always be clear that our good works can never make us righteous before God. Yet we must be equally clear that justifying faith immediately and inevitably evidences itself through good works such as our confession of faith and ...Read More

  • The Curse of the Law

    Galatians 3:10

    Martin Luther comments on Galatians 2:17 that God’s law “requires perfect obedience unto God, and condemns all those who do not accomplish the same,” and on 3:10 he says that to follow God’s commandments is not ...Read More

  • The Curse of the Law

    Galatians 3:6–14

    The curse to which Paul refers is nothing less than exposure to the unmitigated wrath of God Almighty. It is a frightful and dreadful thought, eclipsed only by the reality that this is the destiny of all those who do ...Read More