Justification By Faith

“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

"He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become sons of God, even to those who believe in His name. 

"We have believed in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no mortal man be justified.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.

"Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

What do these passages of scripture have in common?  They tell us that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ.  “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, being convinced of things not seen.”

I am convinced that neither good works, nor mitzvahs, nor religious rituals can save a man’s soul but only justification by faith in Jesus Christ.  That is the righteousness bestowed by God through faith in Christ by whom a sinner is freed from the penalty due for his sins.  I am also convinced that no single denomination or independent church holds a monopoly on reconciliation with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Indeed, the righteousness bestowed by God through faith transcends denominations and churches.

During one of the best sermons I've ever heard, the homilist declared that Christians must believe in the works, the words, and the deity of Jesus Christ.

When I think of His works, I think of His crucifixion for our sins & the miracle of miracles, His resurrection from the dead.  When I think of His words, I think of loving God with all our heart, and soul, and mind; and our neighbour as ourself, a challenge to all of us.  When I think of His deity, I think of Isaiah 9:6.

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;

And the government will rest on His shoulders;

And His name will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

This passage leaves no doubt as to the identity of Jesus.  He is Mighty God and He is co-eternal and co-equal with God the Father.