5/6/12- How Faith Justifies Us

Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” (Galatians 3:11)

However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.  (Romans 4:5)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Thoughts: It is by grace through faith that we are justified (saved).  God's grace enables us to have faith- and faith is the instrument, the tool of grace.  The Greek is dia pisteos (through faith).  Finding out what saves us can be illustrated by thinking of what makes a great golf drive. The club (faith)- is the instrument, but the hand that wields the club (grace) is the force.  The hand that wields the club also purchased the club.  Faith is a gift of God's grace.  Grace gives us faith.  Grace also wields faith in order to make it work.  The good that comes from a life of faith is not to be confused with faith itself, or as a way to earn our way to heaven.  Back in golf terms, that would almost be like confusing the trajectory of the ball (works) with the hitting of the ball  by the one that wields the club (grace).  The trajectory does not get the credit- it is a result of the one who hit the ball using the instrument.  The Larger Catechism tells us not to give credit to works or to faith for our salvation- but to give credit to God's grace.  Just as we should not give credit for the trajectory or the club for a good shot- but the one who is driving the ball.  

Prayer: Help me to give credit and honor to you alone, O Lord.  Keep me from patting myself on the back when anything good I have is a gift from you.  

Question 73: How does faith justify a sinner in the sight of God?

Answer: Faith justifies a sinner in the sight of God, not because of those other graces which do always accompany it, or of good works that are the fruits of it, nor as if the grace of faith, or any act thereof, were imputed to him for his justification; but only as it is an instrument by which he receives and applies Christ and his righteousness.