Justification by Works
The scriptures teach three courtrooms in which the subject of justification applies: the courtroom of heaven; the courtroom of our mind and heart; and the courtroom of men’s opinions. In previous essays, we considered how we are justified in the courtroom of heaven by the grace of God through the blood atonement of Jesus Christ and how we are justified by faith in the courtroom of our heart and mind. In this essay, we will consider how we are justified by works in the courtroom of men’s opinions.
How do other people view us in light of our profession of faith? Are we viewed as infidels or hypocrites, or are we viewed as sincere dedicated disciples of Christ? Now we may say that it does not matter how other people view us, but it does. We are admonished to “Let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify God.” In addition, the true disciples are declared to be the “light of the world.”
In II Pet. 1:10 we are told to “give diligence to make your calling and election sure.” Now to whom are we to make it sure? To God ‑ no, He is the one who called and elected us! To ourselves and to others ‑ yes, we assure ourselves and others of our calling and election by the good deeds and works we do.
James states in James 2:17, 18, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” The truth, so plainly stated here, is that good works are a manifestation of our faith. Faith cannot be manifested without good works. The evidence of our faith in the eyes of others is our good works. If people do not see good works in our lives what evidence do they have that we are truly people of faith? The question is asked in James 2:21, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?” How do we know that Abraham truly believed God? Was it not that he offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Thus, in our opinion, Abraham truly believed God for the evidence was manifest in his work of offering Isaac up on the altar. Therefore, in our opinions Abraham was justified as a man of faith.
Similarly, John the Baptist, was looking for evidence of repentance when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism as he said unto them, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” John wanted to see evidence (good works) of a repentant life before he would consent to baptize them. Surely, this should be the pattern for the church to follow today in receiving someone for baptism.
The scriptures are abundant that warn us about false teachers and false prophets. The scripture also teaches us how that we can identify them. Matt. 7:15‑20 reads, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit: but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Thus, we are able to identify the false teacher from the true. The true preacher or teacher will be justified in our opinions by the good fruits he manifests whereas the false prophet or teacher will be identified as such by his evil fruits.
In Mark 2:3‑5 we read of four who carried a paralyzed man unto the Lord, “And they came unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son thy sins be forgiven thee.” Now the scriptures said that Jesus “saw their faith.” However, what was described to us was that the four friends of the palsied man lifted up the man and his bed to the roof, broke up the roof and let the man and his bed down before Jesus. In other words, their faith in Jesus was demonstrated by their charitable works toward the palsied man. They were justified as men of faith by the works they performed.
Finally, as people, especially God’s people, view our lives what do they see? Do they see us as people of faith, as children of God, or do they see us as hypocrites who are playing religion? Our works will either justify us or condemn us in the courtroom of men’s opinions.
Should not we strive to live godly lives that we may glorify our heavenly Father and not bring shame and contempt to that worthy name by which we are called?