THE LAW OF FAITH

"Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law" (Romans 3:21-28, NASB).

Devotion 16 of 30

IT IS A RIGHTEOUS SALVATION

The progeny of the Pharisees has caused men to view faith as weak. They have also attempted to drive a wedge between righteousness and grace. They are fighting a losing battle! God has maintained His character in conferring His own righteousness upon men because of their faith. Doubters may think this is not right, but they are wrong. If men are going to be saved, this is the ONLY way God can remain just, and still justify men. That is the express statement of the Spirit. " . . . THAT HE MIGHT BE just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" (Rom 3:26).

Do You Want Mercy Without Justice?

I have heard this saying many times, "Give me mercy, not justice." It is a foolish saying, prompted by spiritual ignorance! God will not bury His righteousness to save us! He will not disrupt His character to make us righteous. What kind of salvation would that be? It would be unworthy of a holy God, and ineffective for unholy men!

If Jesus did not really take away the sins of the world, God could not forgive the individual. If the devil had not really been "destroyed" by Jesus (Heb 2:14),
believers could not triumph over him. If the world had not been really reconciled in the body of Christ's flesh, those who receive the reconciliation could not be presented holy, blameless, and above reproach in His sight (Col 1:21).

Not only does God receive those who come to Him through Christ, it is right for Him to do so. To state it another way, it would be wrong for God to refuse those coming to Him through His only begotten Son. Salvation is that right!

Confidence and Assurance

This circumstance--the righteousness of salvation--is what enables us to have confidence and assurance before the Lord. It would not be possible to approach the God of heaven with expectation if there was any doubt concerning the uprightness of salvation. Unlike the idols of the world, our God does not have to be placated by those coming to Him. He is not in a state of wrath requiring some form of temporal offering that will calm His anger. He is a satisfied God, having seen, and been pleased with, the sacrifice of Christ. As it is written, "He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities" (Isa 53:11).

What blessedness now flows from a satisfied God! Faith, laying hold of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, enables the individual to confidently come to God. As it is written, "in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him" (Eph 3:12). In fact, we are urged to come in this spirit into the very Holiest place. "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water" (Heb 10:19-22).

No One Can Condemn Those in Christ

Because salvation is itself righteous, none can condemn or lay a charge against those who are in Christ Jesus. If men or demons are tempted to raise an allegation concerning our past, God has justly removed it from the record, remembering such things "no more" (Heb 8:12). Faith stands up to the giants of doubt, fear, and even legalism, and shouts with joy, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom 8:33-39).

None of these things would be possible if salvation was not right. The Lord Jesus, through His marvelous accomplishments, has rendered God righteous in justifiing sinners and reconciling enemies. God is righteous in blotting out our transgressions, giving us His Holy Spirit, and bringing us to glory under the direction of His Son. Praise God for a righteous salvation!

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You through Jesus Christ for the wisdom You have exhibited to angelic hosts in my salvation. I praise Your name that my salvation will stand against the charges of the devil and men.

-- Tomorrow: THE EXCLUSION OF BOASTING --