Understanding Saving Faith: Union with Christ
Summary
In our exploration of Romans 3:19 through 5:11, we delve into the profound nature of saving faith. The Apostle Paul, in his exposition, emphasizes that both Jews and Gentiles are under the condemnation of God, and that justification cannot be achieved through works of the law. Instead, it is through faith in Jesus Christ that we are justified, receiving God's grace as a gift. This faith is not merely an intellectual assent but a deep, personal union with Christ, where we are bound to Him in His death and resurrection.
John Calvin's insight reminds us that unless we are united with Christ, all His work remains of no value to us. This union is not just a theological concept but a living reality, where we are bound to Christ by the Father's election, the Son's incarnation, and the Spirit's regenerative work. Faith is the means by which we receive Christ and all His benefits, not as separate gifts but as a holistic embrace of the Savior Himself.
Paul's teaching in Romans underscores that faith is not passive. It is an active, personal engagement with Christ, where we receive Him and His righteousness. This faith excludes boasting, as it is entirely a work of God's grace. It does not rest on sacraments or works but is a wholehearted trust in Christ alone. The Reformers rediscovered this truth, emphasizing that assurance of salvation is not a distant hope but a present reality for those who are in Christ.
The nature of saving faith is such that it transforms our lives, leading us to boast in God and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that they produce endurance and hope. This faith is not a legal fiction but a living, active trust in Christ that results in a life of obedience and holiness. It is a faith that rests on the sufficiency of Christ, not on our works or the sacraments, and it is this faith that brings us into the fullness of God's grace and glory.
Key Takeaways:
- Saving faith is a personal union with Christ, where we are bound to Him by the Father's election, the Son's incarnation, and the Spirit's regenerative work. This union is essential for all that Christ has done to be of value to us. [08:44]
- Faith is not passive but an active engagement with Christ. It involves receiving Him and His righteousness, excluding any boasting in ourselves. This faith is a gift from God, yet it requires our active participation. [38:52]
- The Reformers emphasized that assurance of salvation is a present reality for those in Christ, not a distant hope. This assurance is rooted in the sufficiency of Christ's work and the grace of God, not in our works or the sacraments. [16:38]
- Justification by faith excludes our obedience from being the basis of our salvation but fulfills it in sanctification. True faith leads to a life of obedience and holiness, as we are transformed by the Spirit. [01:01:02]
- Saving faith is a wholehearted trust in Christ alone, not resting on sacraments or works. It is a faith that boasts in God, rejoices in sufferings, and results in a life of obedience and holiness. [57:46]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:55] - Introduction to Romans
[02:41] - The Condemnation of All
[03:12] - Righteousness Through Faith
[05:04] - Justification and Peace
[06:11] - The Nature of Saving Faith
[08:44] - Union with Christ
[11:49] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[13:58] - The Reformation's Rediscovery
[16:38] - Assurance of Salvation
[19:32] - Faith and the Trinity
[23:50] - Implications of Faith
[29:39] - Believing Into Christ
[38:52] - Active and Receptive Faith
[57:46] - Faith and Sacraments
[01:01:02] - Faith and Obedience
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Romans 3:19-5:11
- Ephesians 1:3-10
- John 15:1-5
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Romans 3:19-5:11, what is the role of the law in understanding sin and justification? How does Paul describe the purpose of the law? [02:41]
2. In the sermon, how does John Calvin's insight about union with Christ relate to the value of Christ's work for believers? [06:48]
3. What does the sermon say about the role of the Holy Spirit in the believer's union with Christ? How is this union described? [09:49]
4. How does the sermon explain the Reformers' rediscovery of justification by faith? What was the impact of this rediscovery on the assurance of salvation? [16:38]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of being "united to Christ" change the way believers understand their relationship with God? What implications does this have for daily living? [08:44]
2. The sermon emphasizes that faith is not passive but an active engagement with Christ. How does this understanding of faith challenge or affirm your current view of faith? [38:52]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that saving faith transforms a believer's life, particularly in terms of boasting and rejoicing in sufferings? [57:46]
4. How does the sermon address the relationship between faith and works, particularly in the context of justification and sanctification? [01:01:02]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal understanding of faith. How can you actively engage with Christ in your daily life, rather than viewing faith as a passive belief? [38:52]
2. The sermon discusses boasting in God and rejoicing in sufferings. Can you identify a recent challenge where you struggled to find joy? How might a deeper understanding of faith help you in similar situations? [57:46]
3. Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. How can you be more aware of and responsive to the Spirit's work in uniting you with Christ? [09:49]
4. The sermon highlights the assurance of salvation as a present reality. How does this assurance affect your confidence in God's promises? Are there areas in your life where you struggle to trust in this assurance? [16:38]
5. How does the idea of justification by faith, apart from works, influence your view of obedience and holiness? What practical steps can you take to live a life that reflects this understanding? [01:01:02]
6. The sermon mentions the importance of receiving Christ and His righteousness. What are some practical ways you can focus on receiving rather than achieving in your spiritual journey? [42:55]
7. Reflect on the concept of union with Christ. How can this understanding shape your interactions with others and your approach to community within the church? [08:44]
Devotional
Day 1: Union with Christ as the Foundation of Faith
Saving faith is a profound personal union with Christ, where believers are bound to Him through the Father's election, the Son's incarnation, and the Spirit's regenerative work. This union is essential for all that Christ has accomplished to be of value to us. It is not merely a theological concept but a living reality that transforms our relationship with God. John Calvin's insight highlights that without this union, Christ's work remains ineffective for us. This union is the means by which we receive Christ and all His benefits, not as separate gifts but as a holistic embrace of the Savior Himself. [08:44]
Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV): "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will."
Reflection: How does understanding your union with Christ change the way you view your daily relationship with God? What steps can you take today to deepen this union?
Day 2: Active Engagement in Faith
Faith is not a passive state but an active engagement with Christ. It involves receiving Him and His righteousness, excluding any boasting in ourselves. This faith is a gift from God, yet it requires our active participation. It is a dynamic relationship where we are called to actively trust and rely on Christ, not on our own works or merits. This active faith is what transforms our lives and aligns us with God's purposes. [38:52]
James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Reflection: In what ways can you actively engage your faith today? Consider one specific action you can take to demonstrate your trust in Christ.
Day 3: Assurance of Salvation as a Present Reality
The Reformers emphasized that assurance of salvation is a present reality for those in Christ, not a distant hope. This assurance is rooted in the sufficiency of Christ's work and the grace of God, not in our works or the sacraments. It is a confidence that comes from knowing that our salvation is secure in Christ, and it transforms the way we live our lives. This assurance allows us to live with peace and joy, knowing that we are fully accepted by God. [16:38]
1 John 5:13 (ESV): "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life."
Reflection: How does the assurance of your salvation impact your daily life? What can you do today to remind yourself of this assurance?
Day 4: Justification and Sanctification in Faith
Justification by faith excludes our obedience from being the basis of our salvation but fulfills it in sanctification. True faith leads to a life of obedience and holiness, as we are transformed by the Spirit. This transformation is not a legal fiction but a real change in our lives, where we are empowered to live in a way that honors God. Our obedience is a response to the grace we have received, not a means to earn it. [01:01:02]
Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV): "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."
Reflection: In what areas of your life is God calling you to greater obedience? How can you rely on the Spirit's power to transform you in these areas?
Day 5: Wholehearted Trust in Christ Alone
Saving faith is a wholehearted trust in Christ alone, not resting on sacraments or works. It is a faith that boasts in God, rejoices in sufferings, and results in a life of obedience and holiness. This trust is not based on our own efforts but on the sufficiency of Christ's work on our behalf. It is a faith that leads us to live with confidence and hope, knowing that we are secure in God's love and grace. [57:46]
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to place your trust more fully in Christ? How can you actively choose to trust Him today?
Quotes
First, he says, "We must understand that as long as Christ remains outside of us, and we are separated from Him, all that he has suffered and done for the salvation of the human race remains useless and of no value for us." "As long as Christ remains outside of us, and we are separated from Him, everything that Christ has done, everything that we have explored in the gospel, thus far," says Calvin, "is useless. It is of no value for us unless we are joined to the Lord Jesus Christ." [00:06:49]
We are bound to Christ in the purpose of the Father in His holy election from before the creation of the world; we were chosen in Christ. We are bound to Jesus Christ because He has taken to Himself, assumed our humanity, and assumed that humanity in order to bear our sins and God's judgment against them on the tree. And we are bound to Jesus Christ by the glorious sovereign ministry of the Holy Spirit as He descends upon us mysteriously and powerfully, and ultimately, irresistibly, to bring us to new birth, so that if anyone is thus by the Spirit in Christ, there is a new creation. [00:09:04]
The election of God, the incarnation of Christ, the present ministry of the Holy Spirit are all engaged in bringing us to living personal faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And so, as Paul expounds what Christ has done for us in these verses 21 through 25, and uses all the big words of the gospel; there is propitiation from the wrath of God in Jesus Christ, there is justification in Jesus Christ, there is reconciliation in Jesus Christ, but his great emphasis is all of this needs to be, as he says here in verse 25, "Received by faith." [00:11:49]
And, of course, the Reformers understood, they had sensitive ears or ears sensitized to the gospel that while the church of Rome throughout the Middle Ages proclaimed that salvation was by grace, when the Reformers asked the church, "Tell me how you spell grace?" it was at that point that they realized that the spelling and the syntax of that medieval way of salvation was actually a medieval way of damnation. [00:15:17]
And so, faith is this whole-souled, whole-being entrustment of myself to the Lord Jesus Christ as the alone sufficient One, to bring me pardon from my guilt, deliverance from my bondage, and eternal glory in the presence of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit and the Father and all the saints and angels and cherubim. He alone can bring me there. And by faith, the simplest, poorest, weakest individual who takes hold of this strong and all-sufficient Christ may rejoice in the assurance of their salvation. [00:21:09]
And you see, Paul is trying to say by re-crafting even the language he is using that when we come to faith in Jesus Christ, that faith in Jesus Christ does not come to Jesus Christ to detach from Jesus Christ, one of the blessings of the gospel, and then comes again to detach from Jesus Christ another blessing of the gospel. Incidentally, it's this error that I think lies behind the whole epoch of controversy that Dr. MacArthur was speaking about yesterday. [00:27:47]
And you see, this is why the Apostle Paul says that the redemption is to be found in Jesus Christ. We are justified by His grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. Here are some marvelous words of the late professor John Murray, and I quote them not just because he was a Scott, but because he was a great theologian. Listen to this. The students used to say they needed to go for their dictionary after his lectures. [00:30:24]
And Paul answers these questions in, as it were, a short form at the end of chapter 3. And then, in an amazing way, he says in chapter 4, "Now think about Abraham," and he goes through each of these three questions in chapter 4 and says, "How do we find the answer to these questions in the Scriptures?" So, you see, he's put before us justification by free grace through faith in Jesus Christ, he's raised three absolutely vital questions, and now, he is expounding the Old Testament Scriptures and showing us how we learn this from the Scriptures themselves. [00:48:33]
Saving faith boasts of nothing in itself but everything in Christ. Look at what he says in verse 27, "What becomes of our boasting if justification is by faith?" "It is," he says, "It is excluded." But now follow his reasoning which is the reasoning I think of a genius who sees the simple truth. By what kind of principle of works is boasting excluded? By a law of works. Now, think about it. Boasting is excluded...on what principle does the gospel exclude boasting? [00:50:54]
And so, there is no boasting because it's the ungodly who are justified by faith. And yet, and yet, and yet, chapter 5 verse 2, chapter 5 verse 3, chapter 5 verse 11, the mouth that has been shut under the condemnation and wrath of God that has taken hold of Jesus Christ begins to boast and boast and boast; boasts in the hope of the glory of God, boasts even in its sufferings, boasts in God Himself. It's all gloriously, gloriously, gloriously of grace. [00:53:22]
Saving faith excludes our obedience from justification but marvelously fulfills it in sanctification. And this he marvelously works out again in chapter 4 verse 13 when he speaks about Abraham who was justified by faith, growing strong in faith as he gave glory to God, and no longer looked upon the circumstances of his life to determine the stability of his salvation, and was, especially in the sacrifice of Isaac, willing to be obedient to the Lord. [01:00:00]
Saving faith shuts my mouth, excludes boasting, but leads me to boast in Christ. Saving faith focuses on Christ, not on sacraments, but is blessed by receiving the kiss of Jesus Christ in the sacraments. Saving faith is not dependent upon my obedience, but obedience is the hallmark of the man or woman filled with the Spirit. "Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling. Naked, come to Thee for dress; helpless, look to Thee for grace. Foul, I to the fountain fly. Wash me, Savior, or I die." [01:01:38]
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