I don't suppose there is a doctrine
having to do with the salvation of sinners which is more fundamental
to the gospel than that of justification. Yet there is probably no other
doctrine any more misunderstood and misapplied than this. If
a man errs on the teaching of this doctrine, then it is certain
that practically every other doctrine which he would seek
to set forth will necessarily be skewed or twisted as a result. The basis upon which men are
expected and exhorted to be the followers of Christ will revolve
around demands to fulfill the law or perform some duty in some
respect if a man fails to grasp the true grounds upon which the
justification of the saints of God fully rests. Paul's letter
to the Galatians was written primarily to set the record straight
on this very matter, and a proper understanding of this book is
necessary to having a proper understanding of sound doctrine,
which relates to this subject, and in essence the very nature
and purpose of the preaching of the gospel itself. The natural
religion of man requires that he be found performing some deed,
often even called faith, in order to gain the attention and favor
of God. Practically every religious order
and sect in the earth maintains this notion in one form or another. Sadly, even the majority of those
who profess to be the followers of Christ and who would claim
to revere his teachings hold to this same line of thought
in varying degrees and applications. The preponderance of teaching
today holds that men are required to do something in order to be
justified. This something is generally defined
as having faith. They tell us that all men are
born under the wrath of God with the sentence of condemnation
upon their heads. The only way that this sentence
can be lifted is for them to express faith in Jesus Christ
who has graciously provided a means of justification for all who
will take advantage of it. And the moment that this faith
is seen in them, God then removes condemnation and pronounces them
justified. The faith by which the sons of
God are justified, however, is not their own faith, but rather
the faith of Christ. Paul said, I am crucified with
Christ. Nevertheless I live, yet not
I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live
in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved
me and gave himself for me. The faith by which he lives is
the faith by which he is justified. How else could the apostle speak
of being crucified with Christ unless he was in Christ when
Christ was crucified? It is this union with Christ
which is described as being from before the foundation of the
world. Thus we observe that the entire basis of our justification
is in that which He has performed for us before we ever drew our
first breath. So in order to properly understand
justification by faith, then it is necessary to look at what
the scripture says about the faith of Christ. The Lord Jesus
Christ, God in the flesh, became the servant of God, humbling
himself to the death of the cross in order to redeem that bride
which is his. This he did as a human being,
taking upon himself the likeness of sinful flesh, walking upon
this earth as a perfect man, without sin, and full of faith. At every turn of his life he
demonstrated the perfect faith of a perfect man. Thus we see
the faith of Christ in action. We see the faith of Christ in
its manifestation in men as He is pleased to grant faith to
those who have none, nor possess the ability to gain it by any
other means. This faith is applied and provided
by Him apart from any work, duty, or effort on the part of those
to whom it is given. The faith of Christ is that body
of truth upon which the children of God rely upon, and have an
abiding hope therein that he shall keep them from falling,
preserve them until he returns for his purchased possession,
and dwell with them forever. This is the doctrine of Christ
which is synonymous with the faith of Christ. The sole grounds
of the justification of the saints of God rests upon the work which
Christ has performed as their mediator, substitute, and redeemer. This is the faith of Christ.
All other ground is sinking sand.