Importance Of Justification By Faith

Justification by faith is of great importance, it is the foundation of our whole position and standing with God. Martin Luther wrote, “ When the article of justification has fallen, everything has fallen.” John Calvin called it “ the main hinge on which religion turns.” Thomas Watson said, “Justification is the very hinge and pillar of Christianity.” The issue of Justification was the primary dispute between the reformers and the Roman Catholic Church, and the problem was, and still is, between salvation by faith alone and salvation based on good works. So, why is justification so important to us? Because Justification by faith is the answer to the problem, that has followed human beings ever since the fall of Adam. How can a man be right with God his maker? How can a man stand in the presence of God? This is what Paul wrote in the letter of Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The act of Justification enables us to be right with our God.

The doctrine of justification has to do with our status before the just judgment of God, that every person will ultimately be called into account before Him. The whole world will come before the final divine tribunal. We will all come to that place, at that time, as either unjustified or justified sinners. Paul says, "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed…" (Acts 17:30-31) This judgment will be a righteous judgment by a righteous God. Those who will be judged are unrighteous people and God, will be the judge, and only He, is respon...

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...when any and every contribution towards his salvation on the part of the believer or on the part of the Church is absolutely and unequivocally shut out. Justification must be seen and received as a blessing dependent wholly and exclusively on Christ alone, on what he is and what he has done—a blessing enjoyed simply through being joined directly to him, through finding one's all in him, through drawing one's all from him.” "Justification by Faith: the Reinstatement of the Doctrine Today," Evangelical Quarterly, July, 1952, p. 166.

We can conclude with John Murray, "Justification by faith is the jubilee trumpet of the gospel because it proclaims the gospel to the poor and destitute whose only door of hope is to roll themselves in total helplessness upon the grace and power and righteousness of the Redeemer of the lost." Collected Writings of John Murray - 2; p.217.