Believe To Be Justified?

QUESTION

According to Galatians 2:16 and Romans 3:20, did Paul and others believe in Jesus Christ so that they might be justified in the sight of God by the faith of Christ?

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ANSWER

Let’s look at those passages…

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)

It is Christ’s faith (or faithfulness one might say) in fulfilling his covenant obligations that justifies us. Our believing this fact only reconciles our understanding to this preexisting truth. Our faith is not participatory IN our justification, but is evidentiary OF our justification. It is the evidence of things not seen, namely the justification of God’s elect family by either covenant or cross or both.

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)

This verse affirms that our efforts to keep the law are not instrumental in justifying us before God. Paul goes on to state…

“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” (Romans 3:22)

This affirms that the righteousness of God (our justification) is based on what Christ has done, and those for whom it was done are evidenced by their belief therein.

Some of the older writers liked to say “faith does not create” and I believe that is an important observation. Faith does not create or initiate a state of justification. It does not ratify or effectuate justification. Faith is that which embraces the preexisting truth, by cross or covenant, of man’s justification by what Christ did at Calvary in keeping with a covenant promise.

- Elder Daniel Samons