I’ll Tell You What…

Romans chapter 4 is one of those chapters that I find joy in reading because more than one argument is made to prove a central point: Abraham’s justification through faith. Of course, this chapter is not without controversy so I will make a short point concerning justification through the work of Matthew George Easton…

Salvation through faith alone is one of those topics that seem to cause more rifts in the Body than anything else. Many have broken away from mainstream Christianity to form their own groups because they believe that it takes works alone or work in addition to faith to save the soul. That’s not to say that good works is not necessary. James and our Lord Jesus make it clear that good works will follow those who are truly saved (Matthew 7:15-20, Luke 3:1-14, James 2:14-26).

Matthew George Easton (1823-1894) explains justification better than I ever could in his dictionary, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition (1897, Thomas Nelson):

a forensic term, opposed to condemnation. As regards its nature, it is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon (q.v.) of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; and so the person justified is declared to be entitled to all the advantages and rewards arising from perfect obedience to the law (Romans 5:1-10).

It proceeds on the imputing or crediting to the believer by God himself of the perfect righteousness, active and passive, of his Representative and Surety, Jesus Christ (Romans 10:3-9). Justification is not the forgiveness of a man without righteousness, but a declaration that he possesses a righteousness which perfectly and for ever satisfies the law, namely, Christ’s righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 4:6-8).

The sole condition on which this righteousness is imputed or credited to the believer is faith in or on the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is called a “condition,” not because it possesses any merit, but only because it is the instrument, the only instrument by which the soul appropriates or apprehends Christ and his righteousness (Romans 1:17; 3:25,26; 4:20,22; Philippians 3:8-11; Galatians 2:16).

The act of faith which thus secures our justification secures also at the same time our sanctification (q.v.); and thus the doctrine of justification by faith does not lead to licentiousness (Romans 6:2-7). Good works, while not the ground, are the certain consequence of justification (6:14; 7:6).