JUSTIFIED FAITH: IN CHRIST

Galatians 2:16

Know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. Galatians 2:16

Yes, we are justified by faith. However, it is Jesus’ faith, trust, and faithfulness to God and to us that saves us, not our own faith. This is the Good News. Only faith in Christ, Who fulfilled the works of the Law on our behalf, is able to justify the sinful man or woman. Only by believing on the only begotten Son of God, Who died on the cross to pay the price for our sin, can a guilty sinner be declared righteous and justified in the eyes of God.

The faith of Christ is the absolute trust Jesus had in our Father in Heaven. Our faith is broken. Jesus, as a human being, never broke faith with our Heavenly Father. His trust was absolute all the way to His last moment on the cross, where He finally uttered, "Into Your hands I commend my spirit."

This complete trust in God is what makes Jesus the Messiah He claimed to be. His faith is paramount to His divinity. Without the trust Jesus had as a human being at the cross, there would be no sacrifice for our salvation. Yes, we are saved by the holiness of the blood Jesus shed for us, but you should also know that we are justified, made right with God, through the faith Jesus had as a human being.

Both the humanity of Jesus and His Divinity are equally important in the gospel's message of salvation. God is love. Faith is your response to God's love. Love and faith go together. They cannot be separated. Take away any one of the two and the relationship with God falls apart.

This is the lesson Jesus teaches throughout His ministry. The power of this one lesson is fully demonstrated by Jesus going to the cross. His trust in our heavenly Father is unbroken. This is the trust in God, Jesus wants us to have.

This is the faith He calls us to live by. Salvation along with a new relationship of faith in your Heavenly Father completes the message of the cross. Let us never forget that we are justified by faith in Christ, accepted in Christ, fully justified by His grace, and clothed in His righteousness, redeemed from the curse of the Law through Christ Jesus our Savior!!!

Father, thank You for this day and for the breath of Your life changing Word. Lord, let Your abundant blessings pour out over my friends and family today. Lord, the glorious truth is we are not justified by the works of the Law and there is nothing we can say or do to merit our own salvation. Lord, thank You that we are justified only by faith in Your finished work on Calvary's Cross. Lord, thank You that You gave Your life as a ransom for us and became a curse on our account so we might become the righteousness of God in You. Lord, use my friends to boldly proclaim this glorious truth to all today.

Father, we love You. Amen.