But to the one who does not work (for his salvation), but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness…
Romans 4:5
Righteousness By Faith
As the belt of truth keeps us balanced in our spiritual lives, so the breastplate of righteousness fits over our chests, protecting our hearts. We have already seen that this breastplate represents right standing with God. Today’s passage reminds us that this righteousness does not come as a result of anything that we do rather it comes to us by faith.
Paul contrasts those who would work for their salvation with those who simply believe. When we place our trust in Jesus Christ and what He has accomplished on the cross on our behalf, we are acknowledging our faith that He justifies the ungodly, a spiritual condition that each of us share. As we place our faith in Christ, that faith is then credited to us as righteousness. In other words, righteousness comes by faith in Jesus.
The word “justifies” is very similar to that of righteousness. In fact, both words essentially mean the same thing in that they carry the same definition. To be justified by God is for Him to declare us “as we ought to be.” The condition of being righteous also means that we are “as we ought to be.” What makes the word “justifies” so important is that it demonstrates that God is the One doing the work of justifying us or making us righteous. This is done completely apart from any works on our part and is established in our spiritual lives by faith in Jesus. So we obtain righteousness as we trust completely in Jesus to justify our lives by faith.
Paul makes a similar declaration in the following passages:
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction…
Romans 3:21-22
Christian authenticity will always declare that the righteousness of God is procured by Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, completely “apart from works.” This is a difficult message for the religious but for sinners, it is music to their ears. Paul tells us that this righteousness comes to us by faith in Jesus to everyone who believes. He goes on to declare:
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
Romans 3:24
I believe that this statement alone is sufficient to accurately communicate the Christian gospel to anyone sincerely wanting to know how to be saved, justified, and made righteous before God. “We maintain” and should always maintain, “that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” It seems so simple but our sinful nature will often insist that we add something to God’s plan of redeeming and reconciling mankind to Himself. But the truth is that we must let go of the old covenant in order to grab hold of the new. Paul made it very clear that those trying to be made righteous through works are putting themselves in spiritual jeopardy (Galatians 5:4-6), not to mention distorting the gospel in the process. Consider the following:
Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
Romans 3:31
By faith, we are actually establishing the Law. Consider the purpose of the Law. It was given so that our sin would increase (Romans 5:20). It was given to us as a tutor to lead us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). And Jesus has fulfilled the demands of the Law (Matthew 5:17) thus making a way for everyone who believes to be declared righteous in His sight. This is exactly why we call the gospel “good news.”
So putting on the breastplate of righteousness means:
- Being made right with God
- Knowing that this righteousness comes by faith in Jesus
…nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
Galatians 2:16
mytwocents.info 