Quote:
|
Originally Posted by The Legalist
I think this is the problem many have... God's righteousness toward us is seen in several ways. The righteousness that saves in the sense of what brought about salvation or the offering of it is not of "anything" we can do or did.
|
Amen. Only what God did can make anyone righteous. People do not realize that contriving enough good deeds to award oneself righteousness is the entire error that Paul had in mind when speaking against salvation by works. Somehow that contrivance issue got lost with many.
I am referring to what Paul said was the gift of righteousness. God deemed Abraham righteous when Abraham believed God.
Paul stated that this sort of righteousness did not come by law. People thought Law's deeds of obedience would make one righteous without any such work of the cross that Paul preached is the sole cause of righteousness. The only WORK anyone can do to be righteous is the work GOD DID in in the work of the cross. Today many do not even know that the work of the cross speaks of the vicarious nature of Christ's death, with His death, burial, resurrection, ascension and even seating at the right hand throne, and so they wonder what you mean by work of the cross. But, the point is only God can do a work that is responsible for the righteousness given to us as a gift.
Instead of righteousness coming by deeds of law, which Jews tried to attain by law keeping, Paul stated righteousness is available aside from any concept of deeds of the Law.
Romans 3:21-22 KJV But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; (22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Two roads led to righteousness. Had humanity not had sin in us all, we could attain righteousness by the law. We would not need the cross. However, the law could not accomplish that for us due to the sins of the flesh. We clashed with law.
Romans 8:3-4 KJV For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Law was intended to make us righteous.
1 Timothy 1:5 KJV Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
Galatians 3:12 KJV And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
One had to DO all the law's requirements in order to be righteous.
The goal of law to produce charity from a pure heart, a good conscience and true faith could not be accomplished by law keeping, but it was granted by grace.
1 Timothy 1:14 KJV And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
This is where
Romans 8:3-4 comes in and says what the law could not accomplish in us, God did through the cross. The righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us. But it is not by works of the law or walking after the flesh to make self righteous by deeds. It is accomplished by walking after the Spirit, or believing in the power of God to instill it into us because of the work God did with the cross.
We believe as Abraham believed, and God makes us righteous. It's a gift.
Romans 5:17 KJV For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
The cross is the only work directly related to righteousness and justification. But any faith that is real is faith that obeys covenantal requirements stipulated by God. James informs us that true faith that is alive and real is faith that works. And when that faith is present, God sees it and justifies the person as well as makes them righteous. And if it is not such a faith, there never follows obedience to the requirements of the covenant.
How does that fit in with your thoughts, Legalist?
Threaded Mode
