Gò0dNews from the Pastor’s Desk
Justification
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by Samuel Burger
ood works cannot justify. God demands perfection but we
cannot meet those demands. Our highest
change is made. We cannot improve ourselves to the point of justification. However, what is the place of works in the person who is justified by faith alone?
act of morality is still tainted with sin compared to
Paul writes that we are created in Christ Jesus for
God’s standard of perfection. Although morality
good works. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in
is important, it does not serve as the basis of
Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
our justification with God. The only way we can
advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
meet God’s standard of perfection is approaching our faith in Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul, who heavily relied on his morality and religion, understood what Christ came to do. Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Charles Spurgeon stated eloquently in one of his sermons on how we can reach the state of justification. Spurgeon said, “It is not
Conclusively, we can reason that we are saved by
by tears, nor prayers, nor humblings, nor working, nor
faith alone but the faith that saves is never alone. In
Bible-reading, nor church-going, nor chapel-going, nor
fact, the works in the life of a Christian are prepared
sacraments, nor priestly absolution, but by faith.”
beforehand. The person who is justified is a new
Works is a consequence.
creation and God works in that person to will and to
Works do not play a part in our justification before
do for His good pleasure. In essence, regeneration
God. We cannot be justified by works and grace at the
cannot be separated from justification.
us to be righteous in Christ Jesus before any internal
6 // July 2021
About The Author
same time. Justification is the work of God declaring Samuel Burger is pastor of Chestuee Worship Center, located at 1414 Athens Road, Calhoun, Tennessee 37309.
