THE LAW IN THE GOSPEL PLAN.
By F. M. Burg
II. Justification by Faith.
THE subject of discussion in Romans 3 and Galatians 3, and like chapters from which men get their supposed proofs that the law is abolished, is justification by faith, and not in any sense an argument as to whether Christians should keep the law. The question of justification by faith concerns people who are sinners and under condemnation. Whether people who have been justified and freed from past guilt through the blood of Christ should keep the law, is wholly another question; it is not the subject of the chapters named above. "By the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:20, also 7:7. When the sinner stands face to face with the law which he has broken, and because of which transgression the Son of God had to suffer that the debt might be paid and the sinner be free, he sees his guilt under the movings of the Spirit of God as he could not in any other way. This is the object of the law to the transgressor, that by it sin may become "exceeding sinful." Rom. 7:13. "And where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Rom. 5:20. With the thought so clearly before us, that to the sinner the law is designed to make his guilt appear, that to him by this means sin becomes "exceeding sinful," it follows necessarily that his justification, or freedom from his guilt, can not be by means of the law. In Rom. 3:19, 20, Paul states this conclusion very plainly. And in writing to the Galatians he says, "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. Justification, forgiveness, freedom from guilt of past transgression, can be found only through faith in the blood of Christ. Speaking of Jesus, Paul says: "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past [literally, removing them], through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time His righteousness; that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Rom. 3:25, 26. This is clear, and needs no comment. We are justified from past guilt by faith in the blood of Christ. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:1. To recapitulate: Justification is for men who need it; and this embraces all, for "all have sinned;" all have broken the law and stand condemned. The object of the law in such a case is to bring conviction of sin to the transgressor, through the work of the Holy Spirit. And when the man reaches this point, when he sees his wretched and lost condition, he cries out in sorrow and in a sense of his need, and pleads with God to be merciful to him a sinner. And through his bitter tears he sees the suffering Saviour on the cruel cross. That scene is enough to assure him that God is willing to abundantly pardon his transgressions. While confessing with mingled sorrow and gratitude the sins of his life, he believes, and finds Him faithful that promised. Now that the past is covered, the assurance possesses his soul that his sins, tho as scarlet, are taken away; condemnation is lifted from him, and he is free. He is at peace with God through Jesus Christ. III. Third Chapter of Galatians.
Verse 8: "And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen [actually, justify sinners] through faith, preached before the Gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed." The subject of the chapter before us is justification by faith. God promised Abraham, covenanted with him, that sinners should be justified by faith. If the reader will keep this in mind, he will be safeguarded against any wrong conclusion, or wrong application of any expression found in the chapter. Verse 10: "As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse." Now bear in mind that the writer here does not say that Christian people who keep the law are under the curse. He is not talking of Christian people. He is speaking of people who need to be justified, that is, sinners. If such people seek justification by the works of the law, they are "under the curse;" they have in this denied or rejected the death of Jesus for their redemption. The apostle follows the above statement with this: "That no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident." Verse 11. And it surely is evident, and it is hoped that it has been made to appear evident to the reader thus far. "The law is not of faith;" it is simply the expression of a Christian's legitimate duty. Verse 12. In verses 13, 14, the statement is clearly made that Christ has paid the debt for the transgressor by His death on the tree, so that the blessing promised to Abraham, of justification from past guilt, might come to him who would believe. In verse 15 the writer uses an illustration to make clear the thought he is about to express. He says that when men make a covenant or an agreement and it is sealed, it can not be changed by any one. That is clear to all. Hence the application which he makes: God made promise to Abraham that men, or sinners, should be justified by faith; and the promise was confirmed in Christ. That promise, or covenant, can not be changed. He says that the law which came in four hundred and thirty years after the promise to Abraham was made, could not disannul or make it of none effect. The promise stands just the same since the law was spoken at Sinai as before. The law was not given to justify sinners. That the law can not justify the offender, has been clearly shown in these studies; and up to this point in Galatians 3, this fact is still urged.12 Then the question in verse 19 is a logical one, just such a question as we would ask, since it appears, as it does, that the law can not justify man, and was not given for that purpose: "Wherefore then serveth the law?" What is its purpose? Why was it given? Why do we have it in its written form? The answer is given: "It was added because of transgression." Men had sinned; and that the offense might abound, that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful (Rom. 5:20; 7:13), the law was set forth. In this it becomes a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. Verse 24. "Is the law, then, against the promise of God? God forbid." Verse 21. And as long as sin is here and men need a Saviour, until He come to whom the promise of the kingdom was made (Ps. 2:7–9), the law will serve this glorious purpose. Then, the new covenant fully consummated with the Israel of God, the law will be in the heart of every one, from the least to the greatest. All will know the Lord, and righteousness will fill the earth.