SolaFide2

RandyP

2017 Sermon Prep

Intro - Justification = Being "Right" with God

Sola Fide - Reformed position: "Justification by Faith Only"

EDITOR: Forensic vs Transformative Justification

Sola Fide - Importance to Christian Walk Today

Hinge

My humble attempt at using 5 Solas collectively to help examine Sola Fide

SolaScriptura (re: Sola Fide)

Common use of word Justification throughout scripture suggests:

example = Jesus justified by Father; just and justifier of
example = Father justified in actions with Israel
example = closeness to word Righteous; Pardon; Propitiation
example = as frequently contrasted with word Condemnation (not the execution of punishment, but as declaration of guilt)

(For better explaination see: media: epub/Doctrine_of_Justification_-_Arthur_W._Pink.epub )

(SolaScriptura) Justification by Law?

From Start Law = Conditional "IF" Covenant

Blessing nkjv@Deuteronomy:28:1-14 if you diligently obey...these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you (Blessed shall you be: you in city/country, fruit of your body/produce of ground+herds, basket+kneading bowl, come in+go out, enemies defeated+flee, storehouses; Establish you as holy people, all peoples of the earth shall see; LORD will grant you plenty, LORD will open to you His good treasure, LORD will make you the head, you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day...)

Curse nkjv@Deuteronomy:28:15-68 if you do not obey...all these curses will come upon you and overtake you ((the very same things above that were supposed to bless them); nkjv@Deuteronomy:28:37 you shall become an astonishment/proverb/byword among all nations; nkjv@Deuteronomy:28:46 they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder, and on your descendants forever; nkjv@Deuteronomy:28:63 ..just as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing)

Why? nkjv@Deuteronomy:29:13-15 that He may establish you today as a people for Himself, and that He may be God to you, just as He has spoken to you, and just as He has sworn to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I make this covenant and this oath, not with you alone, but with him who stands here with us today before the LORD our God, as well as with him who is not here with us today

Effect? nkjv@Deuteronomy:29:24-26 All nations would say, "Why has the LORD done so to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?' Then people would say: "Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt;

Return? nkjv@Deuteronomy:30:1-3 "Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God drives you, and you return to the LORD your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, that the LORD your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you.

In need of further explaination/interpretation? nkjv@Deuteronomy:30:11-12 "For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, "Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'

FAILURE PREDICTED:

nkjv@Deuteronomy:31:16-18 ..this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant.. I will forsake them.. many evils and troubles shall befall them, so that they will say in that day, "Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us? ..because of all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other gods

nkjv@Deuteronomy:31:25-30 ..Moses commanded the Levites.. "Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there as a witness against you; for I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD, then how much more after my death? .. Gather to me all the elders.. that I may.. call heaven and earth to witness against them.. I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt.. evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands."

nkjv@Joshua:24:14-22 Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth.. choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.. people answered and said: "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD.. He is our God." ..But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good." And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD!" So Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD for yourselves, to serve Him." And they said, "We are witnesses!"

Result Historically? nkjv@Psalms:106:43 Many times He delivered them; But they rebelled in their counsel, And were brought low for their iniquity. Nevertheless He regarded their affliction, When He heard their cry; And for their sake He remembered His covenant, And relented according to the multitude of His mercies.

Purpose of Law (SolaScriptura)

nkjv@Galatians:3:19 ..It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made..

nkjv@Galatians:3:22 ..confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

nkjv@Galatians:3:23 ..we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

nkjv@Galatians:3:24 ..the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Note: nkjv@Galatians:3:21 ..if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.

Note: nkjv@Galatians:4:4-7 @ But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Conclusion:

nkjv@Galatians:3:11 @ But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."

nkjv@Romans:3:20 @ Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

nkjv@Galatians:3:21 @ Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.

nkjv@Romans:3:21 @ But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

nkjv@James:2:12 @ So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

(SolaScriptura) Justification by Works?

kjv@Jeremiah:17:9 @ The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

nkjv@Proverbs:21:2 @ Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts.

OT Context = People doing whatsoever was right in their own eye, breaking law by their own traditions

nkjv@Matthew:5:20 @ For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Conclussion:

nkjv@Luke:17:10 @ So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, "We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do."'

EDITOR: Frequent reference to being zealous for and "judged" by our works?

(SolaScriptura) Justification by Faith?

kjv@Romans:5:1 @ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Consider this:

Quoted resource: strongs 'G4102'

G4102 @ πίστις pistis pis'-tis From G3982; persuasion that is credence; moral conviction (of religious truth or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher) especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance belief believe faith fidelity.

(see: word study - PistisFaith or slidy:PistisFaith )

MAJOR SUBJECTS IN CONTEXTUAL CONNECTION TO PISTIS:

IS BORN OF GOD
REVEALS GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS
GIVEN IN PROPORTION/MEASURE
REGARDING - BELIEF IN TRUTH
REGARDING - BELIEF IN/OF JESUS
REGARDING - GOD/GOD'S POWER
REGARDING - HIS PROMISES
REGARDING - JUSTIFICATION/PEACE
A MYSTERY HELD
COMES BY HEARING/SCRIPTURE
LAW OF FAITH AS OPPOSED TO LAW OF LAW
ACCESS To GOD MADE BY
HOPE/EVIDENCE OF THINGS UNSEEN
INVOLVES OBEDIENCE TO FAITH
LIVED BY/FIDELITY TO
MINISTRY OF
BELIEVER CAN BE WEAK/SOUND/RICH IN
WORKS PATIENCE IN BELIEVER
PUBLIC/SECRET SIDES OF ITS NATURE
IS MUTUAL/INCLUSIVE
IS BEFORE/TOWARDS GOD
ANYTHING NOT OF FAITH IS SIN
EXEMPLIFIED IN PAST AS PRODUCING MARKED EFFECTS THEN BUT WITH EYE ON FUTURE

Consider this:

Quoted resource: torrey 'Justification'

Justification Before God @ Promised in Christ kjv@Isaiah:45:25 kjv@Isaiah:53:11 -- Is the act of God kjv@Isaiah:50:8 kjv@Romans:8:33 -- Under law -- Requires perfect obedience kjv@Leviticus:18:5 kjv@Romans:10:5 kjv@Romans:2:13 kjv@James:2:10 -- Man cannot attain to kjv@Job:9:2 kjv@Job:9:3 kjv@Job:9:20 kjv@Job:25:4 kjv@Psalms:130:3 kjv@Psalms:143:2 kjv@Romans:3:20 kjv@Romans:9:31 kjv@Romans:9:32 -- Under the gospel -- Is not of works kjv@Acts:13:39 kjv@Romans:8:3 kjv@Galatians:2:16 kjv@Galatians:3:11 -- Is not of faith and works united kjv@Acts:15:1-29 kjv@Romans:3:28 kjv@Romans:11:6 kjv@Galatians:2:14-21 kjv@Galatians:5:4 -- Is by faith alone kjv@John:5:24 kjv@Acts:13:39 kjv@Romans:3:30 kjv@Romans:5:1 kjv@Galatians:2:16 -- Is of grace kjv@Romans:3:24 kjv@Romans:4:16 kjv@Romans:5:17-21 -- In the name of Christ kjv@1Corinthians:6:11 -- By imputation of Christ's righteousness kjv@Isaiah:61:10 kjv@Jeremiah:23:6 kjv@Romans:3:22 kjv@Romans:5:18 kjv@1Corinthians:1:30 kjv@2Corinthians:5:21 -- By the blood of Christ kjv@Romans:5:9 -- By the resurrection of Christ kjv@Romans:4:25 kjv@1Corinthians:15:17 -- Blessedness of kjv@Psalms:32:1 kjv@Psalms:32:2 kjv@Romans:4:6-8 -- Frees from condemnation kjv@Isaiah:50:8 kjv@Isaiah:50:9 kjv@Isaiah:54:17 kjv@Romans:8:33 kjv@Romans:8:34 -- Entitles to an inheritance kjv@Titus:3:7 -- Ensures glorification kjv@Romans:8:30 -- The wicked shall not attain to kjv@Exodus:23:7 -- By faith -- Revealed under the Old Testament age kjv@Habakkuk:2:4 kjv@Romans:1:17 -- Excludes boasting kjv@Romans:3:27 kjv@Romans:4:2 kjv@1Corinthians:1:29 kjv@1Corinthians:1:31 -- Does not make void the law kjv@Romans:3:30 kjv@Romans:3:31 kjv@1Corinthians:9:21 -- Typified kjv@Zechariah:3:4 kjv@Zechariah:3:5 -- Illustrated kjv@Luke:18:14 -- Exemplified -- Abraham kjv@Genesis:15:6 -- Paul kjv@Philippians:3:8 kjv@Philippians:3:9

Note: Reformers define Justification as "forensic": "Right as declared by God"
Example = slave of sin being adopted as a son by royal family
Example = a wedding guest from the distant byways given a wedding robe by the groom in order to partake in the wedding feast.
As opposed to defining Justification as a "transformational" process: "made right little by little by a process of law or works towards perfection". Sanctification is the term reformers define as transformation separate but similar to justification and is not really complete until the glorious day we finally "see Him as He really is".

You will get a better sense of why this "forensic" understanding is important to sola fide as we continue examining it in the light of more of the solas. For instance:

SolaGratia (re: Sola Fide)

nkjv@Titus:3:7 @ that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

(SolaGratia) Justification by Law?

nkjv@Galatians:5:4-5 @ You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

nkjv@Romans:9:32 @ Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.

nkjv@Romans:4:14 @ For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect,

(SolaGratia) Justification by Works?

kjv@Romans:11:6 @ And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

nkjv@Romans:4:4 @ Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

(SolaGratia) Justification by Faith?

kjv@Romans:3:24 @ Being justified freely by his grace...

nkjv@Ephesians:2:8 @ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Our truest form of faith has come as a result of God's Grace/Righteousness and our faith is in God's continuing grace/righteousness. That grace and righteousness has been proven out and extended for our access in HIS Son Jesus Christ. Faith is the best (only) available candidate for receiving God's declaration of justification and have it be by God's grace.

Summation:

nkjv@Romans:4:16 @ Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

Unlike the conditional covenant made with Israel concerning the keeping of the Law (which men never kept as evidenced by what all happened to Israel), the covenant that superseded it is the covenant of promise made to Abraham 430 years before that

kjv@Galatians:3:29 @ And if ye be Christs, then are ye Abrahams seed, and heirs according to the promise.

kjv@Galatians:3:8 @ And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

kjv@Galatians:3:16 @ Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

How do we know that the most important part of this unconditional Abrahamic covenant was made regarding a Seed (Christ) and not many seeds (Israel)? That takes us back to the larger overall superseding unconditional covenant made clear back with Adam:

nkjv@Genesis:3:15 @ And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

This will become central to our examination because not only do we have a whole lot of various scriptures to support being "right" with God through faith alone, scripture reveals to us that we have unconditional superseding covenant. And if unconditional, if as a result of Christ's complete and all sufficient work itself (Sola Christus), then it is also only by God's grace.

Peter puts it this way:

nkjv@2Peter:1:3-4 @ as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

We will talk about this partaking by "imputation" shortly.

SolaChristus (re: Sola Fide)

kjv@Romans:5:9 @ Much more then, being now justified by his blood

kjv@Romans:3:24 @ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

kjv@1Corinthians:6:11 @ And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

nkjv@Romans:3:25-26 @ whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

(SolaChristus) Justification by Law?

Christ Jesus is the complete fulfillment of the Law.

nkjv@Romans:10:4 @ For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

The Law pointed us to Jesus
EDITOR:

nkjv@Galatians:3:13 @ Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree" ),

(SolaChristus) Justification by Works?

kjv@Romans:5:18 @ ... even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life

nkjv@Hebrews:9:14 @ how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

(SolaChristus) Justification by Faith?

Two prominent Christian definitions historically to compare:

Reformed:

Living as fully persuaded of the hope revealed/purchased/brought about by Christ alone, relying upon His ability alone to make us "right with God", on God's terms as revealed in the scriptures alone, by God's grace alone, for God's glory alone.

(regarding justification = forensic (declared right/righteousness is imputed by Christ/grace and faith alone) - having the assurance born of all this)

Roman Catholic:

Having been justified initially by baptism into the Church and remaining justified by the continuing (up to date) confession and penance for sins yet committed, justification progresses towards completion by means of performing seven Church sanctioned works (Sacraments). At death, the soul will be finally purged of it's innate sinful nature by suffering in purgatory, the length of this purging can be reduced by the Vicor of Rome applying the extra merits of certain Church Saints to their credit (at his discretion) and by prayers of the rosary by the Church faithful to the Immaculate Mother Mary.

(regarding justification = transformative (made/progressing toward becoming right/righteousness infused into/faith plus works plus future purging plus Saints extra merit) - assurance until you done something wrong again)

SolaDeoGloria (re: Sola Fide)

(SolaDeoGloria) Justification by Law?

According to biblical history the Law has only been fulfilled once - by Jesus.
-fail at one point = failed at all nkjv@James:2:10
-Law has confined all to be under sin nkjv@Galatians:3:22
-made their own righteousness nkjv@Romans:10:3 nkjv@1Timothy:1:7

nkjv@Romans:3:28 @ Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

This solely for God's glory

(SolaDeoGloria) Justification by Works?

kjv@Romans:4:2 @ For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

nkjv@Romans:9:11 @ (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls),

(SolaDeoGloria) Justification by Faith?

nkjv@Psalms:32:1-2 @ Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Background from which critics are coming

Jew - legalism/tradition over scripture/Christless/nationalism

Catholic - Tradition over scripture/7 sacraments as works/Authority of Vicor of Rome+Church/ritualism+iconism

Liberal - relativism/nihilism/agnosticism/atheism

Whether Jew/Catholic/Liberal/Protestant - Our duty is to examine (each one of us personally)

Validity of 5 Solas
Interaction between 5 Solas
The wealth of other doctrines the 5 solas systematically draw us into
Consistency of 5 Solas
Practicality of 5 Solas

After thorough examination:

Do the 5 solas hold up? (reasonably) (more so than other alternatives)
Can difficulties with 5 solas be satisfied? (reasonably)
If so, are you willing to commit to all that they lead us further to believe?
If so, are we willing to contend for the faith on these five point/pillars?
if still not.. Why not?

Summation

Sola Fide - Justification by faith alone "Right with/by God"

There certainly is a place for the Law:

not one jot or tittle passes untill all be fulfilled nkjv@Matthew:5:18

nkjv@Psalms:1:1-2 @ Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

nkjv@Romans:2:18 @ and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, the law.

nkjv@James:4:11 @ Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

nkjv@Mark:12:33 ..love the Lord God with all.... nkjv@Galatians:5:14 @ For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

nkjv@Romans:13:10 @ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

There certainly is a place for the works:

faith without works is dead nkjv@James:2:17 nkjv@James:2:21-22 nkjv@James:2:24
we have been created unto good works kjv@Ephesians:2:10 nkjv@2Timothy:3:17
should be zealous of good works nkjv@Titus:2:14 careful to maintain nkjv@Titus:3:8
encourage each other to good works nkjv@Matthew:5:16 nkjv@Titus:2:7 nkjv@Hebrews:10:24

The proper place for the law and works is after justification by faith where self has been crucified, the works of the flesh are dead, the soul has been raised into Christ (Christ has been put on), the Spirit is indwelling, the fruit of the Holy Spirit begun, the soul has been washed and regenerated, the mind transformed, the true image of Christ has been formed within the believer, the meat of the word sought after, etc.. Then and only then, the place of the Law

EDITOR: Cheap Grace/Antinominism/Sandemanianism

EDITOR: BIG ENDING

Comment Board:SolaFide2

Further Resources:
SolaFideVerses - Verses pro and con (please examine each in full context)

Child Threads:
SolaFide2a 1st draft