Justified by Faith: The Unchanging Truth of God's Grace
Introduction
Today, we’re going to examine the heart of the Gospel — justification by faith. This is the cornerstone of our faith, a doctrine that has been proclaimed from the early church and echoed through the centuries.
As we turn to Paul's letter to the Romans, we are reminded that it is not by our works, our merit, or our efforts that we are made right with God. Instead, it is by faith alone in Christ alone. This is a doctrine that transforms lives. It answers the question: How can a sinful person be made right with a holy God? The Gospel offers freedom and assurance that we are justified by God’s grace.
Charles Spurgeon put it this way: “The gospel is for the undeserving. It is for sinners, for rebels, for enemies of God. It offers pardon, righteousness, and eternal life to the guilty.”
Let’s look at four key verses in Romans that explore the depth of this truth: Romans 3:28, Romans 4:5, Romans 8:33, and Romans 5:8. Each of these verses reveals the unshakable truth of justification by faith and the overwhelming grace of God.
Let’s begin by looking at the first passage: Romans 3:28 (NLT): “So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.” This one verse is the cornerstone of our faith. Let’s break it down, understand it, and discover what it means for us today.
Point 1: Justification by Faith, Not by Works
Romans 3:28 (NLT): “So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.”
Paul is writing to both Jewish and Gentile believers in Rome. The Jews were steeped in the tradition of the Law of Moses, and they often believed that obeying the Law was the way to be made right with God. But Paul makes a radical, transformative statement: we are made right with God through faith—not by works or by the Law.
The Greek word used for "made right" here is “dikaioo” which means to be declared righteous or to be justified. This is a legal term, suggesting that God, the Judge, declares us righteous, not based on our own merit, but on our faith.
To drive home this point, Paul echoes this again in Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT): “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Salvation is a gift—it’s not something we earn through our good works.
We live in a world that values achievement. The message we often hear is, “Work hard, and you’ll earn your way.” But the Gospel tells us something different. It says, “No matter how hard you try, you can never earn your way into God’s favour.” Instead, God has given us grace. Faith is the hand that receives this gift. Have you received it today?
As Pastor John MacArthur once said, “Justification by faith is the hinge on which all true religion turns.” Our entire Christian faith hinges on this truth.
Point 2: God Justifies the Ungodly
Romans 4:5 (NLT): “But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.”
Here, Paul continues the theme of justification. Notice that he says God counts people as righteous because of their faith. The Greek word for "counted" is “logizomai,” meaning to reckon or credit. God credits righteousness to our account—not because of our works, but because of our faith.
And notice who God justifies: the ungodly. This is revolutionary! God doesn’t wait for us to clean up our lives before He declares us righteous. He justifies us while we are still sinners. Paul reiterates this truth in Romans 5:6 (NLT): “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.”
Picture a courtroom scene. You stand before the Judge, guilty of breaking the law. There’s no way you can defend yourself. But then the Judge himself steps down from the bench and declares, “I will take the punishment in your place.” This is what God has done for us through Christ. He justifies the ungodly!
Tim Keller writes, “The essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less, because I know I am justified by the sheer grace of God.” This humility transforms us, as we recognize that we are justified not by our own works, but by God’s grace alone.
Point 3: No Condemnation for the Justified
Romans 8:33 (NLT): “Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.”
This verse offers one of the most profound assurances of the Christian faith: once we are justified, no accusation against us can stand. The imagery here is again that of a courtroom. Satan, the accuser, stands ready to accuse us of every sin we’ve committed. But God, the Judge, has already declared us righteous. The charges have been dropped.
The word "accuse" in Greek is “egkaleo,” meaning to call into account or bring a charge. But because of God’s justification, no one can bring a legitimate charge against us.
Romans 8:1 (NLT) reinforces this: “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” In Christ, we are not condemned—we are justified.
Brothers and sisters, if you’ve put your faith in Jesus, know this: God’s verdict is final. You are justified. You are forgiven. Don’t let the enemy’s accusations rob you of the peace that comes with knowing you’re in right standing with God.
As Charles Spurgeon beautifully put it, “There is no sin which is little, for it will be a great hell that will punish the least sin; but there is no sin that is great, for there is a great Christ to deliver us from the greatest sin.” In Christ, no sin is too great to be forgiven.
Point 4: God’s Love Demonstrated in Christ
Romans 5:8 (NLT): “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
This verse is the pinnacle of God’s love. It tells us that God didn’t wait for us to clean up our act before He loved us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. The Greek word for "love" here is “agape,” which is selfless, sacrificial love. God’s love for us is not based on anything we have done, but on His character and His grace.
Paul writes in Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT): “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)”
Think about the prodigal son. He rebelled, squandered his inheritance, and ended up in a pit of despair. But when he returned home, his father didn’t wait for him to clean up. The father ran to him, embraced him, and restored him. That’s the kind of love God has for us.
God’s love for you is not conditional on your performance. He loved you at your worst, and He loves you now. This love should transform us. It should fill us with gratitude and compel us to live for Him.
As Pastor Rick Warren once said, “God’s love is not based on your performance; it’s based on His character. God loved you enough to send Jesus to die for you even when you didn’t care about Him.... God’s love is like an ocean. You can see its beginning, but not its end.” God’s love for you is endless, and it is this love that has justified you through Christ.
Conclusion and Call to Action:
Today, we’ve explored the profound and beautiful truth of justification by faith. We’ve seen that we are made right with God not by our works, but by our faith. We’ve discovered that God justifies the ungodly, that no one can accuse us, and that God’s love for us is demonstrated through Christ’s sacrifice - Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
Call to Action: This week, let this truth transform you. If you’ve been trying to earn God’s favour, stop striving and rest in His grace. If you’ve been feeling condemned by past sins, remember that God has justified you. If you’ve been carrying the weight of guilt, lay it down and embrace the freedom of your justification. Walk in the freedom that comes with knowing you are loved, forgiven, and accepted by God. And if you’ve experienced the love of God in Christ, go and share that love with others. Speak the Gospel into someone’s life this week, and let them know about the God who justifies the ungodly.
Let’s pray.
