Justification by Faith and Obedience
"By the deeds of the law," says the apostle, "shall no flesh be justified in his sight" (Rom. 3:20), hence some conclude that it is useless to attempt to keep the law. But in this they overlook the reason stated by the apostle, namely, "for by the law is the knowledge of sin." It is evident that the law cannot justify one who has transgressed it, and that is just the point which the apostle makes to show all men their need of Christ. All have sinned, transgressed the law, and having transgressed it they cannot be justified by it, therefore they must be justified by faith or not at all. The case of the justified sinner may be feebly illustrated by the pardoned criminal. The law of the land condemns the man, but the governor, as an act of unmerited favor, pardons him. The law never could have forgiven his crime, it could only condemn him, but the governor pardons him; shall he then say: The law could not justify me, therefore I will not henceforth keep the law? Certainly not; what he ought to say would be: I was deserving of punishment but the governor has pardoned me, and now I will testify my gratitude by being a good, law-abiding citizen of the commonwealth. And can the penitent and forgiven sinner say less? Shall we not say with the psalmist: "O Lord, put me not to shame. I will run in the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart"?