A small collection of verses on justification by faith. These are clearly opposed to the thesis of justification by works.
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Justification by faith (alone)
Justification by faith, according to the unequivocal statement in the Holy Scriptures. The “Joint Declaration on Justification” in 1999 does not change that either. Works-based justice in the sense of one’s own righteousness through “good works” is wrong. Sinful man cannot make himself righteous. God “owes” nothing to man. Only by grace through faith can man be saved.
A few verses of justification by faith
Romans 3:27-31
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Romans 4:13-22
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Romans 7:7-13 The law reveals the nature of sin
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Controversial works-statement of James
The verse James 2:24, which is almost famous on this subject, serves again and again as “evidence” for justification by works:
“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
But this statement is only misleading as long as it is quoted alone and not in context. However, if verse 24 is quoted in connection with the two preceding verses, the content of the statement again becomes clear:
“22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”
It is clear that true faith also (automatically) produces corresponding works (actions). Anyone who testifies to his faith, but this cannot be recognized by corresponding works (actions), is fooling himself and others. There is something “rotten” about this “belief”. Learn more about Faith Justice.
Bible verses from King James Version
