Joyfully Justified
Teacher’s study guide in justification by faith
by
Roger Smalling, D.Min
Based on
The
Bible: English Standard Version
Joyfully Justified by Roger Smalling
www.smallings.com
The student’s manual is
identical to this one except that answers to questions and suggestions to the
teacher have been removed. Underlined texts mean that in the student’s manual,
these are a blank line for the student to fill in. The texts in block are
either long answers to the questions or suggestions to the teacher as to
further comments. The teacher is at liberty to ignore the latter or use his
own.
This study is a return to the biblical gospel, through which
the student will learn how to preach with greater conviction, experience a new
freedom from legalism and a fresh fellowship with God.
The church is flooded with false gospels today. Media has
exposed Christians to every wind of doctrine by those who deceive you with empty words, Ephesians
4:14.
Not since the reformation has there existed such a need for
clear Biblical answers as to what Jesus came to save us from and how he applies
that saving work.
This lesson corresponds to Chapter 1 in Joyfully Justified.
Objective
To show there exists only one message of salvation, the
problem it resolves and the importance of defining it correctly. Students will
enjoy a fresh perspective of the richness of justification and its centrality
in salvation. This will effect their entire world
view, self-concept, manner of prayer, evangelism and relationship to other
Christians.
Students will be prepared to defend biblical teaching on
salvation and refute objections, as the Bible requires, ... so that he may be able to give instruction
in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. Titus
1:9
Note: Allow the students
to read the following section and then you may comment on it.
Westminster
Shorter Catechism:
Question 1: What is the
chief end of man?
Answer: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
All Christians understand the importance of glorifying God. Yet
many fail to enjoy fellowship with God the Father. They
perceive him more as an entity to serve than a personality to enjoy. They have
put a barrier between themselves and the Father. This study will help identify
what is that barrier and how to remove it.
Effects of fellowship with God the Father:
- A new security of
salvation
- Freedom from a guilty
conscience
- Avoids legalism
- Better understanding of
how to grow in grace
- Greater confidence in
evangelism
- An appreciation of their
identity and authority in Christ
Diagnostic: A few key questions
At very end of this study
guide is an initial diagnostic test with ten questions to help the class
understand justification better. The answers to all the questions are negative.
The importance of justification:
Galatians 1:6-9
Explain how Paul was
tolerant regarding minor matters of conscience such as in Romans 14: Food,
religious festivals, etc. When it came to any alteration in the definition of the
gospel, he became a lion and absolutely intolerant. Paul’s anger shows through
in this passage.
Read the text here.
Comment on how Paul used the word gospel
and that the rest of the book deals with justification. Therefore,
justification is the gospel. The words justification
and gospel are synonymous in
Paul’s mind.
V.6- so quickly deserting
Human
nature tends to deviate from the gospel message. The problem is based on the
desire to add something. In the case of the Galatians, it was legalism. In
others, it may be dependence on works.
V.8- not that there is
another one…
Only one gospel. Anything
different from Paul’s teaching is a different gospel. Paul uses strong language
like distort and accursed.
Note: the difference in Greek between HETEROS and ALLO:
HETEROS means something of a different
kind.
ALLO means something of the same kind.
The teacher may use this
difference to show that Paul refused to recognize any other definition of the
gospel than his own. No such thing exists as two different perspectives of
gospel.
When it comes to the definition of the gospel, we have the
right and duty to be uncompromising and dogmatic.
V.8,9- Accursed in
Greek is anathema and means “cursed
of God.”
Here is where the teacher
can deal with ecumenism. Explain that a profession of faith in Christ is not
sufficient grounds for unity with other groups. For that, it is necessary to
profess and teach the gospel as Paul proclaimed it. The judiaizers
also called themselves Christians yet Paul did not consider them such. It was
against these that Paul used the term accursed.
Romans 1— The problem to resolve
Read Romans 1:18-20, 2:5, 5:9
1.
According
these verses, from what is the gospel designed to save us? The wrath of God.
Jesus came to save us from God!
2.
What
happens to those whose righteousness does not exceed that of the Scribes and
Pharisees, according to Matthew 5:20? They do not inherit the kingdom of
God.
Here the teacher may mention that this emphasis on the wrath of God has
been lost in evangelical circles today, thus giving room for false gospels such
as the prosperity movement or self-esteem teachings.
The cause of the wrath of God
3.
What is the point of reference for the concept
of righteousness?
Deuteronomy 4:8; Romans 2:13
The law
4.
What is the point of reference as to sin? 1 John
3:4 The
law
5.
What is the point of reference as to judgment?
Romans 2:12 The
law
6.
Does the divine law apply to everyone or only to
believers? Romans 3:19 To all. Nobody is exempt from
the divine law.
7. Does
God require that the righteousness of the law be fulfilled in believers? Romans
8:4. Yes ___X___ No
______
The question is how it is fulfilled.
Key principle
The only point of reference as to moral injunctions is the
law of God and he requires perfect obedience to that law.
The revelatory function of the law
8.
What does the law reveal about God? Romans 3:1-4 His
righteousness
9.
What does the law reveal about man? Romans 3:19,20 Man’s
unrighteousness
10. The cause for
the wrath of God? Romans 1:18 The broken divine law
From this lesson we learn…
·
The problem to resolve in the gospel is that
humanity is under the wrath of God.
·
The doctrine of justification by faith alone in
Christ alone is the gospel.
·
There exists one sole single version of the
biblical message of salvation. Those who deviate from it are cursed of God.
·
The benefits of understanding justification are
ample and profound.
Quiz
True or false
1.
_____ The main problem to solve in the gospel is
human poverty, ill health and lack of self esteem.
2.
_____ An important consequence of understanding
justification is freedom from legalism.
3.
_____ The apostle Paul recognized different
legitimate perspectives of the gospel.
4.
_____ The problem to solve in the gospel is how
to obtain the righteousness necessary to escape the wrath of God.
5.
_____ One purpose of the gospel is to make it
possible to enjoy fellowship with God.
Lesson 2: Definitions and background
Corresponds
to Chapters 2 and 3 of Joyfully Justified.
Objective
Define the term justify
and show the reason for its necessity through the covenant of works and the
law.
Definition
Justification is a legal declaration by God that a person is
righteous compared with his law. The grounds is the
perfect righteousness of Christ, imputed by faith alone, in Christ alone.
·
It is a legal declaration from God.
·
It is involved with God’s law.
·
Its basis is the righteousness of Christ.
·
That righteousness is credited to the
believer.
·
The means by which it is credited is faith
alone
Does justification mean “made righteous” or “declared righteous”?” Luke
7:29; 16:15;
1 Timothy 3:16
·
Justification means declared righteous.
·
Justification does not mean made righteous.
Therefore justification
is not a process. It is a divine declaration from God, the moment a person puts
faith in Christ.
Here,
the teacher can use an illustration in which he describes that it is logically
impossible for a judge to make a partial decree of “not guilty” of a suspect. The
decree is either “guilty” or “not guilty.”
Biblical anthropology: Genesis
1:26,27
1.
What is the status of mankind before God? Image
of God
2. Did
humanity lose its status as the image of God after Adam fell? James 3:9
Yes _____ No __X__.
Explain here that many
things can happen to a statue which represents a noteworthy person: it can be
stolen, broken and get dirty. But it still remains a representation of that
person. Therein lies its value, despite its condition.
Covenant of works: Westminster Confession, Chapter 19, Article 1
God gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, by which He
bound him and all his posterity, to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual
obedience, promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the
breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it.
What is a covenant?
A covenant is a contract between two parties. The Bible uses
the term covenant because of the
particular nature of the relationship between God and man.
Two possible kinds of covenant
SUNTHEKE: An
agreement between equals.
DIATHEKE: An
agreement between a benefactor and beneficiary, such as the adoption of a
child.
What elements are necessary for a contract to be valid?
·
Identify the participants
·
Benefits
·
Conditions each party must fulfill.
·
Termination: How long does the contract last?
·
Validation: How to confirm the contract as
legitimate. In today’s society, signatures validate a contract. In ancient
times, it was by vows or by witnesses.
The question of obedience
1.
What degree of obedience does God require?
Matthew 5:18, 48; James 2:8-10;
1 Peter 1:15 Absolute
perfect obedience
2.
What is promised for obedience? Leviticus 18:5;
Deuteronomy 8:1; Proverbs 7:2; Matthew 19:7 Life
The disconnect between free will and responsibility: Romans 3:9-19
3. Does
God still require obedience despite human inability to comply?
Yes ___X__ No _____
Discussion question:
If the above is so, how can it be just?
Explain to the students
that mankind remains the image of God despite the fall of Adam. His identity as
image of God did not change. Therefore his responsibility to God did not change
either. Furthermore, the sinfulness of man does not remove from God the right
to command what is just. The sinfulness of humanity is a chosen slavery.
Therefore, God has the right to require obedience from man, despite human
inability to comply.
Of Good Works: Confession of Faith, Chapter 16, Article 1
Good works are only such as God has commanded in His holy
Word, and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of
blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intention.
From this lesson we learn…
·
Mankind is still the image of God, although
fallen.
·
The covenant of works is still in force and
applies to everyone, everywhere.
·
God requires perfect obedience as the condition
for life.
·
Partial obedience is disobedience.
·
The moral law of God in the Old Testament is the
only point of reference that God recognizes for moral terminology.
Quiz
True or false
1.
_____ God requires that the righteousness of the
law be fulfilled in Christians.
2.
_____ Justification is a process.
3.
_____ Sanctification is a process.
4.
_____ God requires obedience from mankind
despite man’s inability to comply.
5. _____
God accepts partial obedience.
Lesson 3: The covenant of grace
Corresponds to Chapters 2 and 3 of Joyfully
Justified.
Objective
Explain the covenant of grace as the foundation principle of
justification.
Covenant with Abraham: Genesis 17; Galatians 3
In both these chapters, we find the elements of a contract
as discussed in the previous lesson.
********
Group exercise
Genesis
17
1.
Who are the participants? V.1 God, Abraham
and his descendants
2.
What is the condition to fulfill? V.1 Perfection
3.
What are the benefits? V.7 The Lord will be
his God.
4.
How long does the covenant last? V.7 Perpetually
It is essential that the
teacher explain that the covenant with Abraham is in fact a continuation of the
covenant with Adam. The participants are the same, God and man, perfect
obedience is required and the benefits are divine blessings.
Galatians 3
1.
Find in this chapter the same elements in the
covenant with Abraham.
2.
According to verses 1 and 7, who are the
participants? God, Abraham and his descendants.
3.
What is the condition that God requires of
Abraham? Perfection
4.
According to verse 9, what is the condition for
entering the covenant? Faith in Christ
Point out that faith in
Christ does not negate the requirement of perfection in Genesis 17:1. Faith
makes it possible for sinful man to fulfill the condition. Students need to
understand the difference between replacing
the condition and fulfilling the
condition.
5.
What does Paul call the covenant with Abraham in
verse 8? The gospel (good news).
6.
According to verse 13, from what are we
redeemed? The curse of the law
7.
Who validates the covenant? V.23,24 Christ
Based on comparison between Genesis 17 and Galatians 3, can
we say that the covenant with Abraham is the Christian covenant of grace? Yes
___X__ No _____
Explain that what makes
the covenant with Abraham the covenant of grace is that God himself, in Christ,
fulfilled the condition of perfect obedience as our substitute and attributes
to our account the benefits by faith. The requirement of perfect obedience is
fulfilled, not annulled.
The teacher may take the
liberty to undermine the error of dispensationalism. Show that Paul tried to
clarify in his writings that the gospel is not something new and does not
replace any Old Testament covenant. Such covenants are fulfilled in Christ, who
accomplished all the conditions of the covenant of works on our behalf.
End of group exercise
********
From this lesson we learn…
·
The covenant with Abraham is the Christian
covenant and is called the covenant of grace.
·
Christ fulfilled the covenant condition of
perfect obedience as our substitute, which is why the Abrahamic covenant is
called the covenant of grace.
·
We enter the covenant by faith, just as Abraham
did and are therefore counted as Abraham’s descendants.
·
The covenant was confirmed by the sacrifice of
Christ.
Quiz
True or false
1.
_____ Justification is inseparable from the
covenant with Abraham.
2.
_____ Galatians 3 confirms that the covenant
with Abraham is the covenant of grace.
3.
_____ Christ confirmed the covenant with Abraham
by his sacrifice on the cross.
4.
_____ According to Paul in Galatians, the
children of Abraham are the Jews today.
5. _____
God required perfection from Abraham as the condition of the covenant.
Corresponds to Chapter 4 in Joyfully
Justified.
Objective
Show imputation as the central aspect of justification.
Definition of imputation
Attributing to the account of a person that which pertains
to another. This is the central concept in justification and the key to
understanding reconciliation of sinners with God.
Reconciliation by imputation: 2 Corinthians 5:19-21
1.
According to this text, what was counted to Christ? Our sins
2.
What, in turn was counted to us? Righteousness
The theological term for mutual imputation is called commutation.
Explain that our sins were
accounted to Christ so that his righteousness could be accounted to us. When
there is a mutual accounting, as in this case, it is called in theology commutation.
In verse 19, the phrase, not counting their
trespasses against them translates the Greek word LOGIZOMAI. This is the word Paul uses in Romans 4 to explain the
concept of imputation of the righteousness of Christ to the believer’s account.
For a clear understanding of justification, a grasp of this word is essential.
Imputation in Romans 3:22
3.
From where does righteousness originate? From
God
4.
By means of what does righteousness come? By
faith
5. To
whom does righteousness come? Those who believe
Romans 4, the key chapter on imputation
In this chapter, Paul elaborates on what he said in Chapter
3. He explains why the means of righteousness is faith and not works.
Uses of LOGIZOMAI in Romans 4
This Greek word translates as count in the ESV, as credit in
the NIV and impute in the KJV. Uses
of the word can be found in verses 3, 11, 22, 23, 24.
…just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to
whom God counts righteousness apart from works: Verse 6
… blessed is the man against whom
the Lord will not count his sin. Verse 8
6.
Although the word LOGIZOMAI is not used in Philippians 3:9, how is the concept
expressed? Righteousness…through
faith in Christ
Other uses of LOGIZOMAI in the
LXX
Genesis 15:6; Leviticus 7:18; 27:23
The Catholic concept: Infusion
The Catholic Church rejects the concept of imputation in
favor of infusion. This means a
partial righteousness is infused into the soul of the person at baptism so that
the person will be able to start earning merits by character development.
Discussion: Why
is the concept of infusion, instead of imputation, erroneous?
• God always requires
perfect righteousness. Partial righteousness does not exist.
• The Greek term LOGIZOMAI does not carry the meaning of
infusion.
• The term infusion does not involve a legal
attribution and therefore does not reflect biblical justification.
Imputation and the representative principle in the covenant of works: The
Adam-Christ parallel. Romans 5:12-21
The concept of imputation implies that one person may be
represented by another. How does this apply in the covenant of works with
Adam? See the group exercise below.
******
Group exercise
In Romans 5:12-20 we find four things that are counted to us
from the fall of Adam. What are they and in which verses are they found?
• Sin, V.12
• Death, V.12
• Judgment, V.16
• Condemnation, V.18
End of exercise
******
Discussion: Read
Romans 5:17. Does this appear just?
Explain that Adam was the
federal head of the human race and its representative. We were part of Adam
like cells in his body. If we object to this, then logically we ought to object
to Christ as our second Adam, our
representative. We were not personally present in the garden of Eden when Adam
fell. Neither were we present at Calvary when Christ obtained salvation for us.
Grace is not fair in the sense of giving the same to
everyone equally. It is, however, just. Grace is so far superior to fairness that
the term fair does not deserve to be
mentioned in the same sentence as the word grace.
Discussion: In Romans 5:15 and 19, what is mean by where sin
increased, grace abounded all the more…?
The
sin of Adam brought sin and judgment. But the free gift of God’s grace
surpasses it. The value of grace is greater than the guilt of our sins. We gain
more than Adam had before the fall.
7.
Adam was innocent before the fall. What do
believers inherit from Christ?
V.19 Sin
8.
How does this relate to 2 Corinthians 5:21? Righteousness
imputed to us
The Arminian error: Justification consists only in the forgiveness of
sins.
•
Absence of sin is not righteousness. It is innocence.
•
Righteousness consists in something to do, not merely in something to avoid.
• Christ is our righteousness. This is not simply
freedom from sin. 1 Corinthians 1:30
From this lesson we learn…
• Imputation is fundamental in the
concept of justification.
• Imputation means attributing to
a person what belongs to another.
• The fall of Adam and all its consequences
were credited to the account of all his descendants.
• The grace of Christ is counted
to his descendants, believers.
• In the domain of theology, the
word commutation refers to the
imputation of the guilt of our sins to Christ and the imputation of his
righteousness to us.
Quiz
True or false
1.
_____ Imputation is fundamental in the concept
of justification.
2.
_____ The word imputation means “attributing to one person what belongs to
another.”
3.
_____ The term commutation means “mutual imputation.”
4.
_____ Two aspects of justification are the
forgiveness of sins and the imputation
of the righteousness of Christ.
5.
_____ Reconciliation with God is the objective
of imputation.
Lesson 5: The righteousness and mediation of
Christ
Corresponds to Chapter 4 of Joyfully
Justified.
Objective
Explain the substitution of Christ and the nature of the
righteousness imputed to us.
In what does the righteousness of Christ consist?
1. Is
it human righteousness, divine righteousness or both?
Romans 5:18,19
A human righteousness, divinely acquired and applied.
Passive and active obedience
Compare Philippians 2:8 with Hebrews 5:5-8.
Some teach that the obedience of Christ in going to the
cross is the only obedience that is credited to us. Others teach that the
obedience of Christ in his life under the law is also credited to us.
2.
Which is the biblical teaching? See Hebrews
5:1-5 and Galatians 4:1-5.
His obedience under the law is also
credited to our account.
Explain this essential
point: The law requires not only that we avoid bad things but must actively do
good things. For example, Jesus said to John the Baptist, it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness, (Matthew 3:15),
which refers to doing what the law required. The notion “I do not harm anyone,”
does not fulfill a positive command to love our neighbor and feed our enemies.
Therefore, the obedience
of Christ consists in two phases: Passive and active. The active is his life
under the law which fulfilled its demands. His passive obedience is submission
to the cross for the punishment deserved by those who transgressed the law.
In reformed thinking, both
the active and passive obedience of Christ are credited to the believer.
The mediation of Christ
3.
In 1 Timothy 2:5, what does Paul emphasize in
the mediation of Christ? The man
Christ Jesus. This indicates the mediation is viewed from the human side.
4. According
to Hebrews 9:13-15, what did Christ earn for himself by his sacrifice? To be
mediator as high priest
From this lesson we learn…
·
The righteousness of Christ imputed to us is a
human righteousness, divinely acquired and applied.
·
The active obedience of Christ refers to his
life under the law. His passive obedience refers to his death on the cross.
Both are credited to the believer.
Quiz
True or false
1.
_____ The righteousness we receive in
justification is a human righteousness, divinely acquired and applied.
2.
_____ When we are justified, God infuses a
partial righteousness in our souls.
3.
_____ According to reformed theology, the
passive obedience of Christ in his sacrifice on the cross, as well as his
active obedience under the law, is attributed to the believer.
4. _____
The sacrifice of Jesus earned for him his office of mediator.
Lesson 6: The faith that justifies
Corresponds to Chapters 5 and 6 in Joyfully
Justified.
Objective
Define and discuss the
biblical definition of saving faith versus popular notions along with Arminian,
Catholic and neo-Charismatic errors.
1.
What is the biblical definition of faith
according to Romans 4:21? Trusting God to keep his promises.
2. What
is the origin of biblical saving faith? John 6:44,65; Acts 13:48; 18:27;
1 Timothy 1:14; Hebrews 12:2; Philippians 1:29; The grace of God
Components of justifying faith
Romans 4:16-21- The example of Abraham
Three elements of biblical faith:
Note:: The Catholic
Church, along with protestants, agree at this point. The difference is that in
Catholicism, personal trust in Jesus is not necessary for salvation; a
contradiction of everything in the epistles about salvation. According to the
Catholic Church, agreement with the dogmas of the church is all that is
necessary,.
·
Information: Notitia
·
Logic: Assensus
·
Trust: Fiducia
The cause of justification: Agent versus instrument
Romans 3:22 and Philippians 3:9
Explain that we are saved
by Christ, not our own merits. A good example is that of the sculptor using a
chisel to form his work. The sculptor is the agent doing the work and the
chisel is the instrument. Christ is the agent in communicating grace and faith
the instrument he uses.
Are we saved because of faith?
Greek: DIA PISTEOS versus
DIA PISTIN— by faith versus because of
faith. The latter is not found in the New Testament.
Justification is always by means of faith and never because of faith. The original Greek
distinguishes between faith as an agent and faith as an instrument. Faith is
never meritorious, an important point. Explain here that the phrase because of faith is not found in the New
Testament. If it were, it would imply that faith, by itself, is the agent doing
the work and therefore a merit.
Is faith itself our righteousness?
The Old Testament verse most commonly cited by the apostles
is Genesis 15:6: And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
Does this mean that faith itself is the righteousness
imputed? See the Arminian error below:
Arminian error
A common Arminian teaching, coming from John Wesley, is that
our faith itself is credited for righteousness. This is false for several reasons:
·
Christ is our righteousness, 1 Corinthians 1:30.
We cannot be justified by two different sources of righteousness.
·
This would amount to self-righteousness,
treating Christ as a mere supplement to our own.
·
Our faith is imperfect.
·
The Greek text does not support this
interpretation. See below.
EIS DIKAIOSUNE= toward righteousness,
i.e., with a view to obtaining righteousness; not ANTI DIKAIOSUNE= instead of righteousness.
The neo-Charismatic error
This movement insists that faith is a mystic force a
believer can manipulate to obtain what he desires. It is not mere trust in God,
according to this view. In fact, this thinking is ancient Gnosticism disguised
as Christianity. An example of this false teaching is…
Charles Capps:
Faith is the substance, the raw material.... that God used to
create the universe, and he transported that Faith with His words....Faith is the substance of things, but you cannot see
faith. Faith is a spiritual force. [i]
According to such thinking, faith as a mystical force, is so
important that even God is dependent on it.
James 2
V.14- Can that faith
save him?
Explain that the Greek
grammar insinuates this faith is a
kind of faith that has no intention of manifesting itself by good works. Such
is not a saving faith. The contrast
is between faith that saves versus the kind that does not.
V.19- You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons
believe—and shudder!
James again describes the
kind of faith that does not save. Demons have information and logic but no
trust or commitment. This alone is a sufficient refutation of the Roman
Catholic doctrine regarding faith. A faith without personal trust in Jesus
Christ is no better than that of demons.
V.20- Do you want to be
shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
Faith
without works is dead. A good illustration is the wake of a ship. If there is a
wake behind the ship, this proves it is in motion. Living things move. Even
trees and plants move
with sunlight and grow, though slowly.
V.21- Was not Abraham our father justified by works
when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
Was
Abraham already justified by faith before the incident with Isaac? Yes! Genesis 15:6. Therefore, James 2:21
cannot refer to personal justification for salvation. It means Abraham’s work
of obedience in offering up Isaac validated the sincerity of the faith he already
had, proving it was more than mere knowledge.
V.22- You see that faith was active along with his works, and
faith was completed by his work…
How do we make our faith grow?
Answer: Get to work for God!
From this lesson we learn…
·
Faith means trusting God to keep his promises.
·
The grace of God is the source of saving and
faith and is given to the elect.
·
Christ is the only agent of salvation and faith
is the instrument. False teachers normally confuse the difference between agent
and instrument.
·
Faith is not a good work or virtue in and of
itself. It must be linked to Christ to be the instrument for communicating
grace.
·
The Bible teaches that justified people will be
obedient to God.
Quiz
True or false
1.
______ Faith, by itself, is such an
important virtue that God rewards it with grace.
2.
______ James taught that faith plus works equals
salvation.
3.
______ The Bible teaches the doctrine of the
inevitability of the obedience of those who are justified.
4.
______ Faith itself is our righteousness.
5.
______ Saving faith is given to the elect and to
those alone.
Lesson 7: Benefits and practical results
Corresponds to Chapters 7,9 and 10 in Joyfully Justified.
Objective
Describe the benefits of justification, legal and
experiential.
******
Group exercise
According to Romans 5:1-19, what are the
experiential benefits of justification?
V.1 Peace with God
V.2 Access to grace
V.9 Salvation from the wrath of
God
V.17 Abundance of grace and the
gift of righteousness
End
of exercise
******
Adoption
After our sins have been forgiven and the righteousness of
Christ has been credited to us, the legal benefit that follows is adoption as children
of God.
Galatians 4:4-7
1.
What did God do that made our adoption as
children possible? He sent his son.
2. What
hindered our adoption as children of God? We were under law, not grace.
Explain that a
relationship based on law and a relationship based on grace are mutually
exclusive. If we try to relate to God on the basis of our obedience to moral
law, then we are viewing God as our judge and not as our father. Obedience to a
judge establishes a different type of relationship than obedience to a father,
even if moral law is involved. The first is based on fear, the second on grace.
The teacher may ask the class to discuss this point.
3.
What did God grant us when he adopted us as his
children? He gave us the spirit of
his son, the Holy Spirit. See also Galatians 3:14.
Discussion: According
to verse 7, what kind of relationship with God the Father is normal for adopted
children? How does this differ from a type of legal relationship?
A love relationship of trust
Explain that the word ABBA is like “daddy” in English. It is a
relational term, not a legal one.
Security of salvation
******
Group exercise
Answer the following questions based on the book of 1 John.
4.
What is the natural motivation of those who are
saved? 1 John 3:3 They desire purity.
5.
Of what are those born of God incapable? 1 John 3:9 Incapable of living a life
of sin.
6.
Who or what hinders Christians from practicing a
life of sin? 1 John 5:18 Christ himself hinders them.
7. In
the final analysis, what is the cause of our obedience according to
Philippians 2:11-12? God himself works in us to produce that obedience.
Answer the following based on Romans 6:15-18:
8.
Are sinners capable of not sinning? No. They are slaves to sin.
9.
What do Christians naturally seek? Righteousness
10. How do
justified people, not under condemnation, behave? They are obedient to God.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
End of exercise
******
The golden chain of salvation: Romans 8:30
11. How
many of those whom God predestines does he also call? All
12. How
many of those he calls are also justified? All
13. How
many of those he justifies does he glorify? All
In
Chapter 7 of Joyfully Justified, there is a
list of reasons why we do not lose our justification. The teacher may use two
or three examples of these as a supplement to this exercise, if he desires.
Another way to proceed is to examine the rest of Romans 8 to show all the
things that cannot separate us from the love of God.
Freedom from legalism: Galatians 5
14. What
kind of slavery is Paul referring to in verse 1? Acceptance with God based
on law.
Note: Students sometimes
say “freedom from sin.” Although that is true, it is not the correct answer in
this context. The following verses, (verses 2-4), show that Paul has freedom
from the law in mind.
15. According
to verse 5, on what do we base our hope of righteousness? On faith alone,
not on the law.
16. What
is the warning Paul gives in verse 13? Do not use our freedom as a pretext
for carnality.
Here the teacher should
discuss the tension between freedom from law versus libertarianism. Although we
ought to obey the moral law of God, our obedience is always imperfect and
therefore the obedience of Christ is the only basis for acceptance with God as
his children. Taking advantage of the concept of grace as an excuse for sin is
profoundly sinful. Refer again to Jude 4.
Here is also a good time
to show why one may feel a lack fellowship with God. The believer may be putting
a rule or law as a condition to be approved by God, instead of depending on
grace. Such a rule could be something very good such as church attendance,
Bible reading or evangelism. We might do such supposing that God loves us more
for doing them. This devalues the sufficiency of the cross and the grace of
God. Show the difference between being sons and being servants.
Discussion: What
are the experiential benefits of justification?
From this lesson we learn…
·
Experiential benefits of justification are peace
with God, access to grace, the love of God among others.
·
Legal benefits of justification are adoption as
sons, security of salvation and freedom from legalism.
Quiz
True or false
1.
_____ We are justified by faith but sanctified
by obedience to the law.
2.
_____ Our continued acceptance with God is based
on our continued obedience to the moral law.
3.
_____ All those justified will be glorified.
4.
_____ Since we are not under the law as the
means of justification, the law has absolutely no use for the Christian.
5. _____
Freedom from the law, by means of justification, is freedom to sin.
Corresponds to Chapter 8 in Joyfully
Justified.
Objective
Show how certain groups
teach false gospels by changing the definitions of words related to
justification. A mature believer must be aware of this satanic method.
The characteristic of all false gospels
Every false gospel follows the pattern expressed in Romans
10:1-3. What is that pattern? Trying to establish one’s own righteousness
instead of submitting to the free grace of the righteousness of Christ in the
gospel.
Catholicism
At the Council of Trent in 1545, the Catholic Church
declared anathemas on whoever teaches justification by faith alone. [2]
Catholicism says: Faith yes, but not faith alone.
This is why there can be no unity between evangelical
Christians and Catholics. A Catholic-Protestant ecumenism is apostasy.
Catholic definitions
Faith: Intellectual acknowledgement that the
doctrines of the Catholic Church are correct. Personal trust in Christ is
unnecessary. Faith is a meritorious virtue, deserving grace.
Grace:
An initial divine impetus to help a person start the process of earning
salvation by merits.
Justification: A process of attaining righteousness
in two phases:
Phase one:
Forgiveness of the sin of Adam through baptism.
Phase two:
Infusion of a partial righteousness to earn eternal life by merits.
Instrumental cause: Baptism, not faith
Infusion versus
imputation: A partial righteousness is infused into the soul of
the person to start him on the road for developing a meritorious character.
Arminianism
Justification: Forgiveness only. Justification can be
lost through returning to a life of sin. The Arminian fears that permanent
justification grants a license to sin. They misinterpret Romans 8:1 as conditional.
[3]
Obedience:
A perfect obedience is unnecessary; distinguishes between mortal sins and
venial, as Catholicism does. Mortal sins can lose justification.
Imputation: Faith itself is our righteousness; misinterprets
Romans 4, ignoring Romans3:22 and Philippians 3:9.
Grace:
The divine disposition to forgive us. Grace is not sovereign in Arminianism.
Neo-Charismatics and Pentecostals
Justification: Same as Arminians
Faith: A mystical force that one can manipulate to
obtain whatever he or she may desire. Faith is not a mere trust in God but a
force to apply. This view is really nothing more than ancient Gnosticism
disguised as Christianity.
A complete study of this theme is found in Smalling's book, The Prosperity Movement.
From this lesson we learn…
·
All false gospels teach a person may be saved in
part by their own righteousness instead of submitting to the righteousness of
God in Christ, who earned it for us on the cross.
·
Catholicism distorts the words corresponding to
justification by giving them other definitions than those indicated by the
Bible, such as:
o
Grace is a divine impetus to help a person on
the road to merit eternal life.
o
Faith is mental assent to the dogmas of the
church, not a personal faith in Jesus Christ.
o
Justification is a process that begins at
baptism through which God infuses a partial righteousness.
·
Arminianism holds that justification is involved
only with forgiveness of sins, not a permanent imputation of the perfect righteousness
of Christ.
·
Charismatics and some Pentecostals confuse the
difference between agent and instrument by attributing to faith itself a saving
or healing power.
Quiz
True or false
1.
_____ In the gospel, faith is the saving agent
and Christ is the instrument.
2.
_____ Justification is involved only with the
forgiveness of sins.
3.
_____ Faith, in itself, is a powerful force.
4.
_____ When we are justified, God infuses a
partial righteousness in our souls.
5. _____
Catholic-Protestant ecumenism is a good idea from a biblical perspective.
Lesson 9: Review and conclusions
Objective
Review of the essential principles of justification.
Covenant of works
• The promise of life under the
condition of perfect obedience.
• Adam
broke the covenant of works, which resulted in the condemnation of the entire
human race.
• The covenant of works is
expressed in the moral law of the Old Testament.
• The
duration of the covenant of works depends on perfect obedience as the
condition.
• The righteous wrath of God is
the problem to solve in the question of salvation.
The covenant of grace
• The covenant with Abraham is the
Christian covenant.
• This covenant
incorporates perfection as the condition, as in the covenant of works.
• Christ
fulfilled all the conditions for the covenant and of the moral law as the
second Adam, both in his life and in his substitutionary death.
Imputation
The basis for acceptance
with God is not only the forgiveness of sins but also the imputed righteousness
of Christ. Adam no longer represents the believer; Christ does.
Agent and instrument
Christ is
the agent who brings to fruition the work of salvation through faith alone. Faith,
in and of itself, has no saving power.
Benefits
Freedom from the wrath of
God, fear, law-based acceptance and legalism. A new identity as adopted
children of God.
Evangelism
Through a better understanding of the gospel, one can have a
clearer understanding of how to evangelize.
Diagnostic
If the teacher desires, he
may use the final diagnostic below. Contrary to the diagnostic at the beginning
of the course, all the answers of this one are true.
The promise
At the beginning of this study, the teacher promised to show
what is the barrier that hinders us from enjoying God the Father fully.
We put rules between God and us as conditions for him to
accept us more than he already has. By doing that, we base our acceptance with
God on the quality of our own obedience, instead of the obedience of Christ.
The only thing between ourselves and God the Father is the cross and that is
not a barrier. It is an invitation.
God is no longer our judge but our Father. His wrath is
satisfied and he will never be angry with us. We are no longer criminals before
a court. We are children with hurts.
Initial diagnostic: Justification by faith
To be presented at the beginning of the first class so that
students may understand their need of the subject.
True or false
1. _____ Justification means to be made righteous.
2.
_____ Faith is the efficient cause of our
justification.
3.
_____ Justification is a process through
which God makes us righteous.
4.
_____ With the coming of Christ, it is no
longer necessary that the righteousness
of the law be fulfilled in us.
5.
_____ Saving faith is a virtue that deserves
reward.
6.
_____ The essential aspect of justification is
involved with this: The forgiveness of sins.
7.
_____ Being righteous means being innocent.
8.
_____ Justification can be lost through mortal
sin.
9.
_____ We are righteous before God simply because
we are forgiven.
10. _____ When
we put our faith in Christ, God infuses righteousness in our souls.
This diagnostic can be
given at the end of the course to verify that the students understood the material.
True or false
1.
_____ Justification is a legal declaration by
which God declares a person not guilty before his holy law.
2.
_____ According to the apostle Paul, the word justify is virtually synonymous with salvation.
3.
_____ Sanctification is a process.
4.
_____ The word justify means “declare righteous.”
5.
_____ Two aspects of justification are the
forgiveness and imputation of the righteousness of Christ.
6.
_____ The central aspect in justification is the
concept of imputation.
7.
_____ Believers are as justified on earth as the
saints in heaven.
8.
_____ Romans 4 is the key chapter in the New
Testament on imputed righteousness of Christ.
9.
_____ The meeting point between God and man is
the imputed righteousness of Christ.
10. _____
Grace comes by faith alone, precisely because faith is not inherently
meritorious.
Syllabus for Students of Miami International Seminary
This course is a study in
the doctrine of justification by faith, Sola Fide, and counts as Soteriology
102 for students of MINTS.
Objective and benefits
This study will give the student a new sense of security in
his relationship with God, a positive identity as a Christian and freedom from
legalism and self-condemnation.
The study will also grant
a clearer perspective of what is the gospel and help the student to preach,
teach and live the message of salvation with greater conviction and confidence.
Materials
The book Joyfully Justified
by Smalling is the textbook for the course.
A student’s study guide will be given out at the beginning
of the course.
The Bible used will be the English Standard Version (ESV.)
Chapters to be studied are Genesis 17; Galatians 1,3,4; Romans 3,4,5.
The textbook exists only in electronic form and may be
obtained in the following ways:
• Downloadable
free in Word or PDF from Smalling's website: www.smallings.com
• Kindle version:
Cost $2.99, Amazon Kindle, search “Roger Smalling.”
Evaluations
To be determined by the teacher.
Essay requirements
MINTS requires essays and/or book
reports from all students for this course.
• Certificate level: A book report of three pages on a book
with no less than 300 pages.
• Bachelor level: Essay with a total reading of 300 pages and
length of essay no less than 10 pages.
• Master level: Essay of no less than 15 pages, having read no
less than 600 pages.
Bibliographic references must follow the exact form as the
example below, with accurate punctuation, italics where required and number of
pages read of the works cited.
Doe, John. Sola Fide
Among Extraterrestrials. Wacko Publications: Area 51, Nevada, 2013. (299
pages)
[i] Quote borrowed from
http://www.bible-reading.com/crisis.html#4b. This quote in turn is from
Christianity In Crisis, by Hank Hanegraaf.
Another similar quote by Capps
is:
He framed the world with His words. You cannot build without
substance. He took words--faith-Filled words were God's substance. Here,
essentially, is what God did. God filled His words with faith. He used His
words as containers to hold His faith and contain that spiritual force and
transport it out there into the vast darkness by saying 'Light be!' That's the
way God transported His faith causing creation and transformation.
Dynamics of Faith & Confession. Tulsa, OK: Harrison House, 1987,
28-29, emphasis in original.
[2] See Catholic Encyclopedia
on this point. Quoted in the textbook.
[3]
As pointed out in the textbook, there are no conditional clauses in Romans 8:1.
The clause “who walk according to the spirit” is descriptive of those who are
not condemned, i.e. justified.