Justified, How? by T. GODFREY

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 7, 1915

Justified, How?

By T. GODFREY

T. GODFREY

“How then can man be justified with God, or how can he be clean that is born of woman?” Job 25:4.

BEFORE the fall of man, man maintained his righteousness by obedience to the law of God, the law witnessing to the same. At that time man was upright, or righteous. Eccl. 7:29. He was perfect in his nature. Gen. 1:26, 31. Then there was no sin in the world. There was no sickness, no sorrow, no crying, no pain, no death. Then man conversed with God face to face. Holy angels were his daily companions and instructors. The effulgence of God's glory and presence flooded the garden of God. Joy and peace reigned supreme. Oh, how we long for the return of those days of innocence, when again we can see him face to face. Rev. 21:1-7; 22:1-4.

But there came a time when man disobeyed the voice of God (the law of God), and fell from that high, holy, and intimate relation with God and holy beings, and was brought under the law (Rom. 6:14); under condemnation (Rom. 5:18); under sentence of death, for God had said, “In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:17).

The lawlessness of man had separated between him and his God, and his sins had hidden God's face from him. Isa. 59:2. Therefore the law could no longer witness to man's righteousness. The law of God, like its author, is eternal (Deut. 33:27; Ps. 111:7, 8) and unchangeable in its very nature (Ps. 89:34; Mal. 3:6; Eccl. 3:14). Therefore the law could not be repealed or amended, neither could sentence for its violation be changed or commuted. Man could not be his own deliverer. He could not deliver himself by works. Man was in a lost condition. He was without hope and without God in the world. Eph. 2:11, 12.

But God, through his infinite wisdom, had provided for fallen man a way of escape from sin and death. This plan was laid before the world began (1 Peter 1:18-20), and was put into effect at the fall of man. Concerning this plan of redemption, the Word of God says:—

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:16-18.

God gave his only begotten Son to become a substitute for fallen man, to die in his stead to satisfy the demands of a broken law, for man had transgressed the law that demanded the life of the transgressor. Says the apostle Paul:—

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (“reconciliation,” margin). Rom. 5:8-11.

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10.

Since the fall of man, we are justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the law witnessing to our righteousness. Jesus having died for us, we accept him as our substitute and personal Saviour. We become dead to the law through him. We are no longer under its condemnation. Says the apostle:—

“For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:19, 20.

“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” Gal. 3:11.

“For by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Rom. 3:20.

The apostle Paul tells us that he had not known sin or lust except the law had said, “Thou shalt not covet.” Rom. 7:7.

“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.” Gal. 2:16.

“Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” Gal. 3:21, 22.

“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish [confirm] the law.” Rom. 3:31.