Righteous by Faith
16 yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. Galatians 2:16, NET©
There is nothing we can do to become righteous. There is no kind of good works or any amount of goodness that will save us. The only thing that can save us, is that we believe in Jesus Christ.
We are only justified the by faith in Jesus Christ, the savior.
According to Your Faith
We can read in the bible over and over again, that Jesus always asked the people who sought to be healed, whether they believed. There is a corelation between God answering us, and us believing.
As you believe – Matthew 9:27-29, NET©
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, shouting, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
28 When he went into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”
29 Then he touched their eyes saying, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.”
When we believe God for something, we get it according to our faith. That is why it is important to we believe the truth. If we do not know the truth but believe a lie, then that is what we get.
Therefore, we must believe the gospel as it is presented to us in the bible. Believing in Jesus Christ is also to confess to the gospel:
- That Jesus is God’s only begotten son
- That Jesus is God in human form
- That Jesus was sinless and never sinned
- That he died for our sins, weaknesses and diseases
- That he resurrected from the dead and defeated death
There is so much more that is part of the gospel than what is mentioned here, but it is still the most important foundational parts. May it be as you believe.
Whoever Believes Shall Have Everlasting Life
40 For this is the will of my Father– for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40, NET©
It is the will of God, that whoever believes in Jesus should have eternal life, and will arise on the last day. The whole Christian faith is based on, that we are destined not to perish, but to live.
Partially it is about to live spiritually, so that we do not remain dead and separated from God. Due the fall of mankind in the garden of Eden, we are by nature dead and lack fellowship with God.
By the end of the day, everyone will rise from the dead. Those who are justified will arise to everlasting life. A life together with Jesus Christ in the new Jerusalem, that is to come down from heaven, and with a resurrection body similar to the body of the angels.
Blessed Those Who Believe
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29, NET©
One of the disciples of Jesus, Thomas the doubter. Could not believe that Jesus, was the savior, until he had stuck his fingers through the wounds of Jesus.
The rest of the disciples believed in Jesus because they had seen him. They had lived with him for three years and witnessed him doing miracles. They had been involved in doing miracles themselves in the name of Jesus.
Blessed be those who believe in the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus, without having seen Jesus with their own eyes. Those who receive the gospel in pure faith, even though they have not met him.
An Opportunity for Everyone
31 Because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man (Jesus) whom he hath ordained; whereof he has given assurance unto all men, in that he has raised him from the dead. Acts 17:31, KJV
Justification through faith is not limited to a small group of people. Faith in Jesus Christ is something that God offers everyone of us through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
All people have a God given opportunity to receive righteousness through faith. And that is a faith that God wants to give us. If we do not have faith, we can have it given to us, everyone included, whomever it may be.
The Promise Through Faith in Jesus
22 But the scripture imprisoned everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given– because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ– to those who believe. Galatians 3:22, NET©
The first covenant between God and mankind, which is the foundation for salvation, is the covenant between God and Abraham. The promise of that covenant was inherited by Isaac and then Jacob. That promise was then carried on, through the covenant of Sinai, to the people of Israel. But this promise is not fulfilled until Jesus sealed the covenant of Zion on the cross of calvary.
It is on the cross as the promise was fulfilled. The promise of an inheritance, of everlasting life and righteousness, and all that is mentioned in the scriptures. Abraham was justified because he believed God about the promise, in the same way we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. And through the covenant of Zion we have access to the promised inheritance.