Justification: Of Grace by Faith
Justification is entirely of grace, and it is received through faith, which is a response to God's word.
G.W. North emphasizes that justification comes solely through grace by faith, asserting that faith cannot exist without the preaching of God's word. He explains that true faith requires a heartfelt confession of Jesus Christ, as mere repetition of words lacks the saving power. North highlights that humanity's spiritual deadness and moral corruption mean that salvation is entirely a work of God's grace, with no contribution from man. He underscores that eternal life is a gift from God, made possible through the Holy Spirit's ministry, which is essential for experiencing this life. Ultimately, North illustrates that God's nature is love, and His grace is freely given to all who believe.
Text
There is no justifying God or man apart from faith, and there is no faith for man apart from the preaching of the word of God. We must take God's word for it. God's plain statements of truth and the preaching of that word alone can bring faith to men's hearts; explanations will not do it. Men's explanations may bring light to minds and, insofar as they are true to God's word, are good as far as they go; but in order to be saved a man must go beyond that and with all his heart believe God's word and confess Jesus Christ publicly with his mouth. God's word must be answered by man's word -- the two given words constitute the making of the bond -- both must be confessions of truth; God's word certainly is truth, and so must man's word be.
The saving power is not the repetition of true words by the mouth, but the confession of truth from the heart; justification is entirely of grace. On man's part it is entirely of faith; he has nothing to give, he must receive. Indeed man cannot contribute anything to his own salvation, for he is spiritually dead; he is also morally corrupt and mentally confused. Therefore God could not righteously expect man to make any contribution towards his own salvation at all; it would be morally wrong for Him to expect it anyway. In one splendid passage Paul is at pains to point out that work is work and earns its due reward and that grace is grace, and bestows everything freely as of special favour.
God's part is grace, His mind towards us is grace, His attitude is grace, His work is grace; He has everything to give, and expects to do the entire work Himself. This is nothing other than sheer love and utmost generosity, it can be nothing else. We wonder at it but God is love -- it is His nature. He can be nothing other and can do nothing other than this.
Paul testifies later that eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord is the gift of God. By this he means to tell us that, far more than that, we can have eternal life because of what Jesus has done. That is true of course; whether they be the pre-historical or the historical acts and facts of salvation, we are eternally indebted to the Lord Jesus for all of them; they are indispensable to us.
But Paul is wanting to take us on beyond that into the present ministry of God through His Son. Eternal life is only presently possible to us because the Holy Spirit is being ministered to us by and through Him. No one can have eternal life except the Holy Spirit be given him. This is why He is called the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Paul gives much space later to developing truth associated with this aspect of the Holy Spirit's ministry, and we shall be considering that in due course.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Necessity of Faith
- A. Faith is required for justification
- B. Faith is not generated by human explanations
- C. Faith is a response to God's word
- II. The Role of God's Word
- A. God's word is the source of faith
- B. God's word must be confessed with the heart
- III. The Nature of Justification
- A. Justification is of grace
- B. Justification is by faith
- IV. The Limitations of Human Contribution
- A. Man is spiritually dead
- B. Man is morally corrupt and mentally confused
- C. Man cannot contribute to his own salvation
- V. The Nature of God's Grace
- A. God's part is grace
- B. God's work is grace
- VI. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
- A. Eternal life is only possible through the Holy Spirit
- B. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
Key Quotes
“We must take God's word for it.” — G.W. North
“Justification is entirely of grace.” — G.W. North
“God is love -- it is His nature.” — G.W. North
Application Points
- We must respond to God's word with faith in order to be justified.
- God's part in salvation is entirely of grace, and He expects us to receive it by faith.
- The Holy Spirit is necessary for eternal life, and He is the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.