Justification

by Samuel Burger

Good works cannot justify.

God demands perfection but we cannot meet those demands. Our highest act of morality is still tainted with sin compared to God’s standard of perfection. Although morality is important, it does not serve as the basis of our justification with God. The only way we can meet God’s standard of perfection is approaching our faith in Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul, who heavily relied on his morality and religion, understood what Christ came to do. Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Charles Spurgeon stated eloquently in one of his sermons on how we can reach the state of justification. Spurgeon said, “It is not by tears, nor prayers, nor humblings, nor working, nor Bible-reading, nor church-going, nor chapel-going, nor sacraments, nor priestly absolution, but by faith.”

Works is a consequence.

Works do not play a part in our justification before God. We cannot be justified by works and grace at the same time. Justification is the work of God declaring us to be righteous in Christ Jesus before any internal change is made. We cannot improve ourselves to the point of justification. However, what is the place of works in the person who is justified by faith alone? Paul writes that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

Conclusively, we can reason that we are saved by faith alone but the faith that saves is never alone. In fact, the works in the life of a Christian are prepared beforehand. The person who is justified is a new creation and God works in that person to will and to do for His good pleasure. In essence, regeneration cannot be separated from justification.

About The Author Samuel Burger is pastor of Chestuee Worship Center, located at 1414 Athens Road, Calhoun, Tennessee 37309.