In Romans 5:1 Paul writes, "Therefore being justified by faith" Paul states this after writing to the Romans reminding them what the prophet said, "the just shall live by faith" (Romans 1: 17). Surely, there should be no one that would question the fact that men are justified by faith before God. The question arises, "What is the faith that justifies?" Is it just a fact of feeling good, "a better felt than told" faith that no one can explain or a faith based upon the instruction from God?
The scriptures do not leave us to guess as to what faith is and how it is received. In Romans 10:17 we read, "So faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Here we learn that faith comes by hearing the word of God. But is simply hearing the word of God faith? No! Jesus taught that hearing alone would not result in man being justified. In Luke 6 we read that Jesus said, "But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of the house was great" (Luke 6:49). Jesus describes the one who hears, but does not active himself in what he hears as receiving great ruin. In this case one hears, but does not develop within himself the faith to be pleasing or justified by God. Faith is more than hearing, although it comes from hearing the word of God and then faith causes one to act or do what we have heard (James 2:26).
Many believe that man is justified or saved by faith when he hears and does not act upon that faith. But God's Word teaches that man is not justified when he hears only. If that were the case then Jesus would have not taught that man should do anything else after hearing the word of God. In Hebrews 11, we have record the many great men and women who lived their lives and pleased God or were justified by faith. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sara, etc. all pleased God by faith. In order to please God we must have faith (Hebrews 11:6). But as in each of the lives of those mentioned in Hebrews 11 their faith caused them to do something God had told them to do.
Abraham is mentioned in Hebrews 11 and Paul also mentions Abraham in writing to the Romans as he speaks of being justified by faith. Let us look at Abraham and see what the Bible tells us about his being justified before God. First, we see Abraham leaving his homeland not knowing where he was going. He was promised to have heirs when he and Sara were old and past the normal age to have children. But Abraham believed (had faith) in God and did what God told him to do. Paul writes concerning Abraham's faith saying, "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he (God, DAC) had promised, he was able to perform" (Romans 4:20-21). It was with that attitude that Abraham exhibited his faith by doing what God commanded. Even after Isaac was born God told Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt offering in the land of Moriah. Abraham did exactly as the Lord commanded him and would have offered his son if the angel of the Lord had not stopped him (Genesis 22:1-12). Could Abraham explain and give answers for how the Lord was going to fulfill his promises to him? No, but upon hearing the word of God Abraham did what he was told and was then was justified by faith.
We must recognize that justification by faith is not based on how one might feel about a matter. Feelings can be deceptive. Remember Jacob's feeling of remorse when he saw Joseph coat that had been dipped in blood and thought Joseph was dead (Genesis 37:32-35). Jacob thought, believed, felt that Joseph was dead but it was not the truth.
May we all look to the truth recorded in the word of God. Then allow that truth to develop an active and living faith in our lives recognizing that we are justified by faith, as we look for, receive and obey the truth of God's word.
~In Gospel Power, Anderson, Alabama, 4/18/99.