Justification by Faith: Freedom Through the Spirit
Devotional
Day 1: Faith as Liberation from Works
Our justification before God is not something we can earn through our own efforts or adherence to the law. Instead, it is a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ. This liberating truth frees us from the burden of trying to earn God's favor through our works. When we embrace this truth, we are empowered to live in the power of the Spirit, allowing love and obedience to flow naturally from our transformed hearts. This is not about abandoning good works but understanding that they are the fruit of our faith, not the root of our salvation. [07:06]
Galatians 3:11-12 (ESV): "Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for 'The righteous shall live by faith.' But the law is not of faith, rather 'The one who does them shall live by them.'"
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you still trying to earn God's favor through your own efforts? How can you begin to rest in the finished work of Christ today?
Day 2: Establishing the Law through Faith
The law is not nullified by faith; rather, it is established. When we are justified by faith, we are set free from the law's condemnation and empowered by the Spirit to fulfill its righteous requirements. This is not a call to lawlessness but to a deeper, Spirit-led obedience that flows from a transformed heart. The law, while good and holy, serves to reveal our sin and our need for a Savior. Through faith, we are empowered to live in a way that fulfills the law's true intent: love. [06:48]
Romans 3:31 (ESV): "Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law."
Reflection: How can you allow the Spirit to lead you into a deeper obedience that fulfills the law's true intent of love in your daily interactions?
Day 3: The Law as a Mirror, Not a Ladder
The law reveals our sin and our need for a Savior. It is not a ladder to climb for justification but a mirror showing our need for Christ's redemptive work. The law is weak through the flesh and cannot save us or make us righteous. Christ's death and resurrection provide the means for our justification, and through the Spirit, we are enabled to live in a way that fulfills the law's true intent: love. [15:24]
Galatians 3:24 (ESV): "So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith."
Reflection: In what ways have you been using the law as a ladder rather than a mirror? How can you shift your perspective to see it as a guide that points you to Christ?
Day 4: Love as the Fulfillment of the Law
Love is the fulfillment of the law, and it is the fruit of the Spirit. As we rest in our justification, the Spirit produces love in us, enabling us to live in obedience to God's commands. This love is not something we can manufacture on our own; it is a supernatural work of the Spirit within us. As we grow in our relationship with Christ, love becomes the natural outflow of our lives, fulfilling the law's true intent. [17:23]
Romans 13:10 (ESV): "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."
Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience the love of Christ through you today? How can you intentionally show them this love in a practical way?
Day 5: Christianity as a Supernatural Religion
Christianity is a supernatural religion, not one of willpower. It is about being transformed by the Spirit, who empowers us to live in a way that pleases God and fulfills His law. This transformation is not something we can achieve on our own; it is a work of grace that begins with our justification by faith. As we rely on the Spirit's power, we are lifted by Christ, riding in His strength, and bearing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. [21:20]
2 Corinthians 3:5-6 (ESV): "Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are relying on your own willpower instead of the Spirit's power? How can you invite the Spirit to transform this area today?
Sermon Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound truth of justification by faith and its implications for our lives. The central theme is that our justification before God is not achieved through our own efforts or adherence to the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ. This liberating truth frees us from the burden of trying to earn God's favor through our works. Instead, it empowers us to live a life of love and obedience, not out of obligation, but as a natural outflow of the Holy Spirit's work within us.
Paul's teaching in Romans addresses a common misunderstanding: that justification by faith nullifies the law. On the contrary, Paul argues that it establishes the law. When we are justified by faith, we are set free from the law's condemnation and empowered by the Spirit to fulfill its righteous requirements. This is not a call to lawlessness but to a deeper, Spirit-led obedience that flows from a transformed heart.
The law, while good and holy, is weak through the flesh. It cannot save us or make us righteous. It serves to reveal our sin and our need for a Savior. Christ's death and resurrection provide the means for our justification, and through the Spirit, we are enabled to live in a way that fulfills the law's true intent: love. Love is the fulfillment of the law, and it is the fruit of the Spirit's work in our lives.
This message challenges us to examine our own lives. Are we relying on our own efforts to climb the hill of righteousness, or are we resting in the finished work of Christ and allowing the Spirit to transform us from within? Christianity is not a religion of willpower but of supernatural grace. It is about being lifted by Christ, riding in His strength, and bearing the fruit of the Spirit.
Key Takeaways
1. Justification by faith liberates us from the futile attempt to earn God's favor through our works. It is a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ, freeing us to live in the power of the Spirit. [07:06]
2. The law is not nullified by faith; rather, it is established. When we are justified by faith, we are empowered to fulfill the law's righteous requirements through the Spirit's work in us. [06:48]
3. The law reveals our sin and our need for a Savior. It is not a ladder to climb for justification but a mirror showing our need for Christ's redemptive work. [15:24]
4. Love is the fulfillment of the law, and it is the fruit of the Spirit. As we rest in our justification, the Spirit produces love in us, enabling us to live in obedience to God's commands. [17:23]
5. Christianity is a supernatural religion, not one of willpower. It is about being transformed by the Spirit, who empowers us to live in a way that pleases God and fulfills His law. [21:20] ** [21:20]
According to Romans 3:27-31, how does Paul argue that faith establishes the law rather than nullifies it? [06:48]
In Romans 8:2-4, what does Paul mean by saying "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death"? [13:17]
How does Romans 13:8-10 describe the relationship between love and the fulfillment of the law? [17:23]
What is the role of the Holy Spirit in enabling believers to fulfill the law's requirements according to the sermon? [17:03]
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Interpretation Questions:
How does the concept of justification by faith challenge the idea of earning God's favor through personal effort? [00:32]
What implications does the sermon suggest about the relationship between grace and sin, particularly in the context of living a life that pleases God? [10:17]
How does the sermon explain the transformation that occurs in a believer's life when they rest in their justification by faith? [19:19]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that love is the fulfillment of the law, and how is this love produced in believers? [17:23]
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Application Questions:
Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you are still trying to earn God's favor through your efforts? How can you shift your focus to resting in Christ's finished work? [00:32]
The sermon emphasizes the power of the Holy Spirit in transforming our lives. What specific steps can you take to be more open to the Spirit's work in your daily life? [21:20]
Consider a time when you felt burdened by trying to fulfill religious obligations. How can the truth of justification by faith bring freedom and joy to your spiritual walk? [19:40]
Identify a relationship in your life where you struggle to show love. How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to help you fulfill the law of love in that relationship? [17:23]
The sermon mentions that Christianity is a supernatural religion, not one of willpower. How can you practically rely on God's grace rather than your own strength in your spiritual journey? [21:20]
Think about a specific commandment that you find challenging to keep. How can understanding that love is the fulfillment of the law change your approach to this commandment? [17:23]
Reflect on the idea that grace is not just leniency but empowerment. How can this understanding change the way you view your struggles with sin? [12:24]
Sermon Clips
"Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the law. Now, where did that question come from? Why does Paul raise the question? It sounds like somebody's at his back saying, 'You're nullifying the law.' That's what they're accusing him of. You're nullifying the law. Something's wrong here." [00:00:58]
"By works of the law no flesh will be justified in his sight, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. So there he's saying if you try to get Justified, if you try to get right with God as a sinner by the performance of works of the law, you fail. Works of the law can't get you right with God." [00:03:30]
"Now apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been manifested. He goes on to say this manifestation of the righteousness of God is the giving of the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, apart from the law. So set the law aside for a moment, set it aside and receive the gift of righteousness through faith in Jesus." [00:04:07]
"Paul's teaching of justification by faith apart from works of the law is causing his critics to say, 'Okay, you just nullify the law then, right? Cancel it out, no Authority, no legitimate place. This is gone, leave it aside, run away from it.' To which Paul answers, 'No, indeed, may it never be.'" [00:06:01]
"On the contrary, my teaching of justification by faith alone apart from works of the law establishes the law. Now, what does he mean? It doesn't nullify the law when I teach that you must get right with God not by the performance of the commands of the law but by trusting in Christ and the grace of God in him alone apart from works of the law." [00:06:30]
"Then by faith, you begin by faith as a Justified person who has a right standing with God. You begin by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit to pursue the law rather than pursuing it by works in order to be justified by it. If you do the latter, you will in fact nullify the law." [00:07:32]
"People who are justified by faith alone apart from works of the law do not go on under the Dominion of sin. That's the point of chapter six. Why don't they? Answer: Grace is a power, not just leniency. Grace comes into your life through faith and empowers you to have different affections and different loves." [00:12:05]
"The law of the spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. So here you are climbing up this track, and he says, 'No, no, no, you're set free from doing that. That's sin and death. If you try to do that, you got two options: climbing that thing, the law of Works produces boasting only.'" [00:13:24]
"What the law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. You can't get your sin problems solved by climbing anything or doing anything. God sent Christ to die so that your sin would be executed in him." [00:14:33]
"Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the Fulfillment of the law. Where does love come from? Oh, that we had time to dwell on Galatians 5 and six. The fruit of the holy spirit is what? Love, joy, peace. The fruit of the holy spirit is love, not the work of the flesh." [00:17:47]
"Christianity is a supernatural religion, not a willpower religion. And many of us have grown up perhaps in homes where you never even heard about Grace. You never even heard about the Holy Spirit indwelling, empowering you to do what you didn't ever dream you could do and changing your wants and your desires so that you love what the law requires." [00:21:20]
"Is there power? Is there Supernatural reality? Have the eyes of your heart been opened so that the smile is ravishingly beautiful and irresistible and transforming you from one degree of glory to the next so that you say, 'I want to know that man. I want to be lifted by that man. I want to be in the cable of that man.'" [00:22:50]