What Good Does It Do To Believe?

 

But how does it help you now that you believe all this?

That I am righteous in Christ before God, and an heir of eternal life.

How are you righteous before God?

Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. In spite of the fact that my conscience accuses me that I have grievously sinned against all the commandments of God, and have not kept any one of them, and that I am still ever prone to all that is evil, nevertheless, God, without any merit of my own, out of pure grace, grants me the benefits of the perfect expiation of Christ, imputing to me His righteousness and holiness as if I had never committed a single sin or had ever been sinful, having fulfilled myself all the obedience which Christ has carried out for me, if only I accept such favor with a trusting heart.

Why do you say that you are righteous by faith alone?

Not because I please God by virtue of the worthiness of my faith, but because the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ alone are my righteousness before God, and because I can accept it and make it mine in no other way than by faith alone.

 

I. The Ministry of Jesus Enables Believers To Expect Eternal Life

A. The great mystery of our holy religion is that faith can provide righteousness. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17 )

The doctrines of the Creed form the structure for grace.

B. Paul was quoting the great message of the Old Testament. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. (Habakkuk 2:4)

C. Faith is the instrument of justification before God. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)

D. The importance of believing God's revealed and historical truth could not be more emphatically stated in Scripture. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)

II. Righteousness Develops According to a Pattern

A. Righteousness anchors in true faith in Jesus Christ. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 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 3:21-22)

B. Believers know they are sinners and abandon denial and evasion. What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:9-10)

C. Our best human effort cannot keep us from sinning. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (Romans 7:23)

D. We bring no personal merit to the throne of grace. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)

E. Salvation is entirely a matter of grace. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the Gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)

F. In Christ believers obtain all the benefits which would have been theirs if they had not sinned. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)

G. The judicial record now accounts the believer as actually righteous with God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:3-5)

H. Not only do believers avoid the hell they deserve, but they also gain the heaven Christ deserved. But for us also, to whom it shall be Imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; (Romans 4:24)

I. All we bring to the gospel is a trusting heart. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 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, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:24-25)

Ill. Faith Stands by Itself

A. All that believers need as Christians comes to them through the operation of faith. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)