Dear Congregation,
We have seen that the heart of the Reformation can be captured in the watchword phrases – Sola Scripture – Sola Fide which means according to Scripture alone, by Faith alone. But to say that requires us to say more.
The Scriptures reveal that we are sinners under condemnation through the original sin of Adam in which we share by nature of our natural descent, and compounded by the actual sins of our heart and life. The problem that surfaced again at the time of the Reformation was that of how someone can be right with God, be justified. And it was to the Word of God they turned, to which alone a reliable and true answer may be found, and which was found. We are justified by God through Christ whom we receive with all His merits as our Saviour through faith. It has been said that justification is by faith alone, a faith that is in Christ alone – or Solus Christus. The ground of our being declared righteous by God is due to the work of Christ alone.
The saving work of Jesus Christ has two components.
The Bible speaks of the passive obedience by which is meant His dying in obedience to atone for our sin, the wages of which is death.
| “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21 |
But if this was all that happened, we would not be righteous before God but neutral, as Adam was before the fall, still bound to perfectly keep the covenant of works.
The Bible however also speaks of His active obedience by which is meant Jesus Christ’s living the life of flawless obedience in our place, keeping the covenant of works, and accomplishing a perfect righteousness on behalf of the people whom God the Father had given to Him to redeem.
| “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth” – 1 Peter 2:22“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” – Romans 5:19 |
Adam’s disobedience was accredited to all who are united to him, and the obedience of Christ, the last Adam, is accredited to all of those united to Him.
The record of this one “who knew no sin” is imputed to us when we trust Him alone. Looking at us in Christ, God sees a record of perfect obedience and declares us righteous in His sight.
We are not saved by our good works, which are non-existent in the sight of God no matter how we may pat ourselves or one another on the back for what we do. We are saved representatively by Jesus Christ on account of His good works.
| “And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” – 1 Corinthians 15:45 |
The Gospel given to us in the Scriptures is that Jesus did not come to give us our best life now or to bring us wealth and health today. He came to earn a righteousness for us that would overcome death and make us worthy of the new heavens and earth.
But that still begs the questions of why He did it, and of why it is being offered and offered freely, and why is it that some receive this justification by faith while others remain and die in unbelief. And that we will look at more closely next time as we consider ‘Sola Gratia – Grace alone.’
Solus Christus – by Christ alone!
Together in Christ’s love and service,
John
Your Pastor