JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE

so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. Titus 3:7-8

It was on the basis of these two verses, John Bunyan wrote the excellent and useful work, Christian Behaviour, a treatise on practical Christianity. Bunyan wrote: “That the best way to provoke both ourselves and others to good works, is to often affirm to others the doctrine of justification by grace, and to believe it ourselves.” Our justification as believers in Christ comes from God’s grace alone— NOT from good works, not by the declaration of a saved or unsaved sinner— because it is God alone who justifies (Rom 8:33). Yet, good works must accompany grace. The truth of justification by grace stirs the soul saved by grace because it prompts us to exalt, worship and serve God in Christ. Why? We have been set free from the bondage of sin and darkness (John 8:31-32). The corruptions of our flesh still remain, however, and some enthusiastic, yet, presumptuous babes in Christ may take a perverse view of good works, suggesting that grace must abide without works to be grace. This silliness fails to recognize that with freedom comes responsibility. In America, we have freedom of speech; yet, to yell ‘fire’ in a crowded theater, endangering lives thereby, is an criminal abuse of that freedom. Likewise, in America, we have a freedom to bear arms in case our government flips its lid and we must defend ourselves against the tyranny of chains and slavery. Yet, there is a responsibility in owning personal firearms, for the safety of self and those around us. We have been justified by grace alone through faith alone, by Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, for God’s glory alone. He who has justified us by grace is a holy God. Yet, to not aspire to holiness, the beauty of Christianity, and to not aspire to good works, the fruitfulness of Christianity, is a perversion of biblical grace and a dishonor to the holy God who has saved us.

=======

Today's M'Cheyne Reading Schedule: 4/24 - Num 1; Psa 35; Ecc 11; Titus 3

If you don’t have one, get a free PDF copy of Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s “Daily Bread” Bible Reading Calendar by Clicking Here.

=======