How Can We Be Saved? Faith Alone
January 15, 2017
Scripture: Romans 1:16-17
I. You are justified by being declared righteous.
A. Romans 1:16-17 are the theme verses of the whole book of Romans. The book is about the gospel (vs. 16). The word gospel means good news. The good news that we find in the Bible is about our salvation. But how is the righteousness of God (vs. 17) good news for us? Shouldn’t it terrify us that we are going to one day stand before a righteous and holy God? But Paul is not writing about God’s righteousness in vs. 17. Paul is instead writing about our righteousness as Christians. We can receive righteousness as a gift from God. And how do we receive this wonderful gift of God’s righteousness? By faith alone. Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” It is your faith in Jesus that justifies you, not all your work.
II. You are justified by the alien righteousness of Christ.
A. The righteousness of God that Paul writes about in vs. 17 is alien to us because it is external to us. It comes from outside of us. God’s righteousness is alien to our nature. It is not naturally a part of us. But the good news of the Gospel is that God can give you the righteousness of Jesus as a gift. And it is the righteousness of Jesus that you receive as a gift by faith that saves you. Paul writes about the alien righteousness of Jesus in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
III. You are justified by faith alone.
A. Romans 1:17: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” How do we receive the gift of the righteousness of God? The righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith. This is a rhetorical way of saying that faith and nothing but faith can put us in a right relationship with God. We contribute nothing to our righteous standing with God. The last words Jesus said before he died are in John 19:30: “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” It is finished, Jesus said. The job is done. The task is complete. You are fully accepted by God because of what Christ has done. There is nothing left for you to do.
IV. Because you are justified by faith alone you can have assurance of salvation.
A. The doctrine of justification by faith alone is a deeply personal doctrine. What happens to you every time that you sin? There’s a voice that speaks in your ear. And that voice comes from the pit of hell and makes you doubt your salvation. But because we are justified by faith alone we have the wonderful promise of Romans 5:1: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The apostle John wants every Christian to rejoice in the assurance of 1 John 5:13: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” How can you know that you have eternal life with God? By faith in Christ and faith alone.
Application:
Don’t trust in your good works to save you. Faith alone in Christ will save you.
Sources:
The letter to the Romans
Commentary on Romans by Douglas Moo
“Why the Reformation Still Matters” by Michael Reeves and Tim Chester