“THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH”

John Wilson

“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is
evident, for, the just shall live by faith” (Gal. 3:11).

“THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH”

John Wilson

“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is
evident, for, the just shall live by faith” (Gal. 3:11).

This verse was written by the apostle Paul as he was rebuking the Galatians
for turning away from the gospel of grace and observing certain ordiances of
the law of Moses. It is important to note that in this one verse there are
two quotes from the Old Testament. These were written by two men who lived
under the law, David and Habakkuk.

The first part of the verse is from Psalms 143:2. David prays, “And enter
not into judgement with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be
justified.” David knew that he would be condemned if he entered into the
judgement of the law, therefore he often mentions God’s mercy, compassion,
and forgiveness (especially in many of his Psalms).

In Romans 3:20, Paul refers again to David’s prayer saying “Therefore by
the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight.” In
defending salvation by faith, Paul states that the law was given “that all
the world may become guilty before God,” and “by the law is the knowledge
of sin” (Romans 3:19-20). Then in Romans 3:24 the principle of God’s grace
is emphasized: “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus.” In the following verse we learn the very
important truth that this redemption that in Christ’s sacrifice was not just
for our sins, but for the sins of those in the Old Testament. According to
this verse and verse 26, God is declaring Himself righteous and just in
forgiving sins in the past because Christ’s death was for their sins also.

Hebrews 9:15 also brings out this truth: “And for this cause He is the
mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of
the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are
called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

In Romans 4, we have an important passage showing that those in past ages
were saved by faith without works. Verse 3 states, “Abraham believed God
and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Quoted from Genesis). But
we read that Abraham offered sacrifices, paid tithes,

and received circumcision. Yes, but Paul says that he was not justified by

works, and adds in the following verse (Romans 4:5-8) that David was not
justified by works either. “But to him that works not, but believes on him
that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as
David also described the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputes
righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are
forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord
will not impute sin” (taken from Psa. 32:1-2). So God declared Abraham and
David righteous without works.

Another example from the Old Testament is Abel. Hebrews 11:4 says, “By
faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which
he obtained witness that he was righteous.” This verse states that he
obtained witness that he was righteous, that is, he was justified by faith
before he brought the sacrifice.

But some will say, “Did not God command a sacrifice for the forgiveness of
sins?” Several times in Leviticus 4, we read, “and the priest shall make
an atonement (sacrifice) for him concerning his sin and it shall be forgiven
him.” The key word here is atonement, which is a translation of the Hebrew
KAPHAR, meaning “to cover.” The sacrifice covered the sin, but did not take
it away, for Hebrews 10:4 says, “It is not possible that the blood of bulls
and goat should take away sins.” God commanded an offering because, is His
mind, it signified the future perfect sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.
Therefore righteousness could not be by the sacrifices of the law, even as
we read in Galatians 2:21. “for if righteousness came by the law, then
Christ is dead in vain.” Paul told the Jews in Acts 13:39, “And by Him all
that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be
justified by the law of Moses.”

Galatians 3:11 was mentioned at the beginning o this study as containing two
references from the Old Testament. The second part of this verse is from
Habakkuk 4:2 which reads, ”the just shall live by faith .”This reference is
so important that it is also quoted in Romans 1:17 and Hebrews 10:38. It is
interesting to note that in Galatians 3:6-13 we have seven quotes from the
Old Testament. They all illustrate the truth that the just are blessed
through faith. Otherwise, they are under the curse of the law.

Some believe that salvation was by faith plus works because of Mark 16:16.
This Kingdom ordinance states, “He that believes and is baptized shall be
saved.” However, Hebrews 9:10 says that the law “stood in meats and drinks
and divers washings (baptisms), carnal ordinances. “But carnal ordinances
cannot save; they were a type of the spiritual reality. Therefore water
baptism was a type even as were the sacrifices and offerings. There is no
such thing as baptismal regeneration. Sins cannot be cleansed by washing.
That water baptism was a type of cleansing from sin can clearly be seen in
Acts 22:17, “arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins.” This is
similar to various washing of the law which were cleansing and purifying
ceremonies (see Leviticus 14 and 15). We now understand why there is no
command for water baptism in Paul’s epistles, and why Paul says. “For
Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.” (1. Cor. 1:17).

Although it is obvious that today we are saved by grace through faith
without works, we must also understand that this was also God’s principle in
every dispensation. This gives God all the glory and praise in salvation,
as often declared in both the Old and New Testaments. “For thou, O Lord,
art a God full of compassion and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in
mercy and truth”(Psa. 86:15).

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness; according to the
multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions” (Psa 51:1). Also
in Psalm 51, “For thou desirest not sacrifice, else would I give it, thou
delightest not in burn offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:
a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Vs 16,17).

Paul’s writings likewise give glory and praise to God, saying, “To the
praise of the glory of His grace, whereby He has made us accepted in the
beloved. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:6,7).

This study would not be complete without considering the passage in James
2:14-26, where we read, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified,
and not by faith only”(v. 24) This seems to contradict Romans 3:28 which
says” a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” The key to
understanding the passage in James is to first understand that the word
justify (to declare righteous) is used two different ways in the Bible.

The most general use of the word means “to be declared righteous in God’s
sight.” As defined in Unger’s Bible Dictionary, is “to show to be just,
right, or in accord with reason: vindicate.” This meaning could be clarified
by its use in the following verses:

Matthew 11:19” Wisdom is justified of her children.”

Job 9:20 “If I justify myself, mine own mouth would condemn me

Psalms 51:4 “that thou (God) mightiest be justified when thou spikiest”

1 Corinthians 4:4. “For I know nothing against myself, yet am I not
hereby justified”

It should be evident that James is using the word justify, meaning “to
show to be just, right: vindicate.” He is saying that you must have good
works to be justified before men. Nowhere in James 2 does it say that God
justified a person by his works. Therefore the passage must be interpreted
with the idea of being justified in men’s eyes, or in other words, justified
as far as man is concerned. This can be demonstrated by the following
phrases from James 2:1:4-24:

Verse 14: What does it profit?

Verse 18: Shew my thy faith without works, and I will shew
thee

my faith by my works.

Verse 21-22 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when

He offered Isaac? Seest thou how faith
wrought with

his works?

Verse 24: Ye see then how that by works a man is justified.

We know that Abraham was declared righteous or justified before God in
Genesis 15:6, many Isaac was offered. So he was justified forever in God’s
sight by faith alone, but he was justified in man’s sight when by faith he
offered Isaac.

We know that Abraham was declared righteous or justified before God in
Genesis 15:6, many years before Isaac was offered. So he was justified
forever in God’s sight by faith alone, but he was justified in man’s sight
when by faith he offered Isaac.

James also emphasized a fundamental principle demonstrated throughout God’s
Word; that is, that a true and living faith produces obedience and works.
So in James 2 it is stated three times that “faith without works is dead.”
A good illustration of this principle is found in Hebrews 11, where we read
of many whose obedience and works were the results of their faith. So it is
evident that living faith will produce good works as a result of faith (see
Titus 2 and 3). Note Titus 3:8 where we read”…that they which have believed
in God might be careful to maintain good works.”

These observation concerning James 2 are not an exposition, but are meant to
be helpful in interpreting the verse and reconciling them with the great
truth that justification before God is by faith alone, and this because of
HIS grace. “Being justified freely by His grace through redemption that is
in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).

http://paulsgracemessage.org/rightly.htm

For more information, please contact John Wilson at: Grace Bible Courses,
407 W. Hickory Street, Neosho, MO 64850.