“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:18
Jesus is the only way to God!
Tag: saved
D.N. JACKSON: Salvation Before Baptism II (Day 2)
Hello Everyone. Today I am continuing sharing with you the transcript of part two of D.N. Jackson’s series on salvation before water baptism. As I stated before I plan to share a little each day as the whole transcript is quite long and Brother Jackson already divided it up into sections. I hope you receive a blessing from this.
Continue Transcript:
In the second place the testimony of the prophets proves that salvation is obtained before baptism.
And I read Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Now that was spoken by the Apostle Peter in the household of Cornelius. And the Bible says when he heard this, these words . . . “what”? The words pertaining to eternal life, salvation, how to be saved, when he heard that, then of course the spirit came to him because he believed those words. Now in the eleventh chapter of the Acts for it says, as Peter began to speak the spirit came. And that is true because that was in the first part of his message, because Cornelius and his household heard Acts 10:43. And it doesn’t take very long to hear that. Now take your watches and read Acts 10:43 and see how long it takes you to read it. And see if that is not in the very beginning of Peter’s message. And he told him what to do to be saved: “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” He believed this, he was saved, and the spirit came to him in the fullness of the Spirit’s presence. And then of course after the Spirit came to him, in this particular manner, he and his household were baptized.
The Spirit then before water baptism. Liberty, life, joy, peace. Now of course Cornelius back in the Bible times was able to praise God in speaking in other tongues. But the gift of tongues is not ours today, but it was given to those who were children of God in the New Testament times. “[S]hall receive remission of sins” is used in connection with “belief” and is nowhere found in the Scriptures in connection with baptism. The prophets said nothing about baptism for in order to obtain the remission of sins. And the Apostle Paul preached nothing for salvation, but what the prophets preached. Baptism is not a New Testament requirement in order to be saved. Whoever or everyone who believes in Christ said the prophets “shall receive the remission of sins”. This cannot be true if baptism is necessary, because there were some who believed who were never baptized so far as the divine record shows. Belief in Christ means deliverance. A rejection means condemnation.
D. N. JACKSON: Salvation Before Water Baptism II (Day 1)
Hello Everyone. Today I would like to begin sharing with you the transcript of part two of D.N. Jackson’s series on salvation before water baptism. I plan to share a little each day as the whole transcript is quite long and Brother Jackson already divided it up into sections. I hope you receive a blessing from this.
As I stated before D.N. Jackson was an old Baptist pastor born in the 1800’s and living up to 1968. I really enjoy his plain teachings from the Bible. I also find them very helpful. I have access to some of his old radio shows and I have been working on transcribing them into text.
Begin Transcript:
On the proposition that a sinner is saved by grace through faith before water baptism. The Scriptures sustain this proposition without a question of doubt. And here are some reasons why we say this.
And now pick up your pencil and paper quickly and take notes as we speak, and then during the week or as you have time, check on your notes, read the Bible, and I have no fear of your conclusion if you will follow the plain teachings of the Word of God.
Now here is the proposition that we propose to prove by the Scriptures giving you several reasons for them. The Scriptures teach that the sinner is saved by grace through faith before water baptism.
Reason 1: The fact that the Holy Spirit is received by believers before water baptism proves one is saved before baptism.
This is true in the case of Cornelius and his household. “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” (Acts 10.47). Now note that Cornelius and his household demonstrated the presence of the Holy Spirit before Baptism. For we read in verse 46, “For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. . .” Sinners cannot receive the Spirit in this way. “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14.17).
Sonship is proved by the indwelling of the Spirit. Galatians four and six says, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Read also Romans 8:14, “ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
We are shown to be children of God by the indwelling spirit.
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”- Romans 8:16. And then Romans 8:17 the, “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ . . .” So then the believer has the presence of the spirit of God as in the case of Cornelius he had the spirit before he was baptized, therefore the spirit said he was a child of God. And having the spirit, and being a child of God he has liberty. II Corinthians 3:17, “ Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
Preparing the Material: The Church Established and Preserved Pt. 1
The following is part of an article published by Lifeword. It is on the topic of the Church, and I wanted to share it with you today. God bless!
“And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” Matthew 16:18
The Church Established and Preserved
Lesson Aim: To study Articles 15 and 17 of our Doctrinal Statement.
L319. Date: November 1969. Text: Matthew 3:1-3; John 1:35, 42; Matthew16:15,18. Topic: Church: Beginning of; Perpetuity of; Doctrine: Studies In.
INTRODUCTION—We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ took material prepared by John the Baptist and established a visible, local church during His personal ministry upon the earth and that there is and will be a perpetuity of true churches from His days on earth until His second coming.
The discussion of this proposition concerns us in today’s lesson. It deals with two great themes. (1) Jesus set up the church as an institution during His personal ministry, before His death and resurrection, and hence before Pentecost. (2) There has been, is now, and will always be true churches in the world until He comes again. The former deals with the establishment of the church; the latter deals with the perpetuity (continuing without interruption) of the church.
Perpetuity of the church does not mean we can trace through history an unbroken chain of ordained pastors, nor an unbroken chain of baptisms, nor an unbroken chain of churches, nor an unbroken chain of congregations calling themselves “Baptists.”
Perpetuity means there has never been a time in history since the Lord Jesus instituted the church when there was no genuine church of the New Testament order in the earth. We trace the identity of the true churches through doctrine. Those major doctrines which identify them are: regenerated church membership, believer’s baptism, salvation by grace through faith, two church ordinances, democratic government, priesthood of believers, and a separated life.
We do not insist that any one congregation will last forever to prove our doctrine of perpetuity. We believe individual congregations may come and go, but there always has been, and always will be true churches in the world until Jesus comes.
The church is important. It was built by the Lord Jesus, Matthew 16:18.It was added to of the Lord God, Acts 2:47. In it God is to be glorified through the Lord Jesus Christ, Ephesians 3:21. It is engaged to Christ, II Corinthians 11:2. One day it will be presented to Him, Ephesians 5:25-27.
Today’s study should increase your esteem for your own church.
EXPOSITION
I. PREPARING THE MATERIAL, Matthew 3:1-3.
There is a long process between the resolve to build a house and occupying it as a finished edifice. Plans are drawn, materials are ordered, lumber is sawed, bricks are placed, wiring is laid, paint is applied, and so the building arises.
Just so, there was a process which transpired between God’s plan to build a church and the realization of it among men. A key man used of God in preparing the material is called John the Baptist.
1. Who? John was born to aged parents named Zecharias and Elizabeth. He was their only child. His birth was almost miraculous (though his conception was natural) because it came so late in life for them.
Luke 1 records the account. An angel appeared to Zecharias, a priest, as he ministered in the temple in Jerusalem. He announced the birth of the child, said it would be a boy, and commanded that he be named John. As a sign that it was so, Zecharias was struck mute until the birth of the child.
The baby, John, was to be “filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb,” Luke 1:15. (This statement is made of none other in the Bible.) He was to be “great in the sight of the Lord . . . and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God . . . and he shall go . . . in the spirit and power of Elijah . . . to make ready a people prepared for the Lord,” Luke1:15-17.
And so it was that about A.D. 29 there appeared a strange preacher in Judaea. This was John the Baptist beginning the ministry which had been spoken of him before his birth. He was, in truth, “a man sent from God,” John 1:6. What happened to him between infancy and manhood is unknown. His parents doubtlessly died while he was still young. The Bible simply states, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel,” Luke 1:80.
It is very likely that John lived in some Essene community during those silent years. This is indicated by (1) simplicity of dress, (2) severe message against sin, (3) call to repentance, (4) refusal to enter the cities, (5) knowledge of the Scripture. The Essenes were the most conservative and purest of the sects in Judaism. John would have been in good company among them.
2. How? John prepared material for the Lord to use by preaching a message of repentance. His ministry excited great interest among the people. Not only common folk, but even the religious hierarchy in Jerusalem took an interest in him and came to check up on him, John 1:19-28.
He was an unusual preacher. He was unusual in his dress (camel’s hair and a leather girdle). He was unusual in his place of preaching (in the wilderness of Judaea). He was unusual in his message (“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”). He was unusual in his claim to authority (“I am he of whom Isaiah spoke”).
From all over Palestine people came to hear his message of repentance and the soon coming of the Messiah. Scores of them truly repented of their sins, and were baptized of John in the Jordan River.
When Jesus began His ministry there was a group of people who were expecting the Messiah soon to appear and who had already sincerely repented of their sins in preparation of His coming. And thus did John “make ready a people prepared for the Lord,” Luke 1:17.
John preached and baptized. Whence came his authority to do so? From God! That’s all the authority he needed: he was “a man sent from God,” John1:6. But though John had authority to baptize, he did not pass this authority on to following generations after his death. Some who tried to continue it perverted it so that it was no longer Christian baptism, Acts 19: 1-7. Jesus authorized the continuance of baptism but John did not. See Matthew 28:19-20.
3. Why? The ministry of John the Baptist was needed. Men were then, as they have always been, sinful. For Jesus to begin His ministry in a proper way, some must be ready to receive him. John was sent to call men to repentance. Taking the little band of disciples from the converts John made, Jesus began His ministry.
John preached repentance. He demanded it of all. Even the religious leaders were called upon to repent the same as the public sinners. He would baptize no man without evidence of repentance, Matthew 3:2, 8, 11. Repentance means to change one’s attitude so that love for sin dies in the heart and by an act of the will one repudiates sin that he may know the Saviour. Such a change was necessary before sinners were ready for the Messiah to come.
Those who repented were baptized—immersed—in the Jordan River. This testified to the washing from sin which they had experienced inwardly (the baptism of repentance) and expressed their commitment to live like men raised up from death that they might welcome the Messiah.
When Jesus came on the scene, He received baptism at the hands of John. By this act He identified Himself with the sinners He came to save and testified (through burial and resurrection in water) by what manner atonement would be made. After His temptation, He began to gather His own disciples from the disciples of John. John identified Him to the crowd, “. . . Behold the Lamb of God,” John 1:36. Each of the original twelve disciples who became Apostles were converts of John the Baptist according to Acts 1:22. John did a good job preparing the material.
A Few Reasons Why the Word Church Does not Mean Everybody Who is Going to Heaven or a Universal Church
Jesus said in Matthew 18:17 “And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church . . .”
Jesus said to tell it to the Church”. If “the Church” means “everyone who is going to Heaven” or “a universal invisible gathering (or Church)”, then this would be impossible.
I Timothy 3:15 calls the Church the pillar and ground of the truth. “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
Does “the pillar and ground of the truth” describe every person who ever believed in Jesus? Does it describe the multitudes who ate bread and fish and then went away? Or does it refer to those who continued with Jesus, to those who assembled with the Apostles and continued stedfast in the “apostles’ doctrine” (which is Jesus’ doctrine) (Acts 2:42)?
Furthermore Ephesians 4:11-12 tells us that God gave some evangelists, preachers, and teachers “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” If the Church or body is not referring to a local gathering how could a pastor or teacher edify the body of Christ? Can he edify every saved person on the planet?
The Lord made it so that whosoever calls on the name of Lord shall be saved. No matter who you are, no matter where you come from, all you need to do is call on Jesus to be saved. And if you do so He will receive you into His family. But another wonderful truth that we should be able to rejoice in is that God promised that there would be a light in all ages and that the truth wouldn’t die out.
Ephesians 3:21 reads “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
“[U]pon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:18-19
On Baptism II: The Importance of Baptism
Again in Mark 1:44 Jesus said to the leper, “ [S]hew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded. . .”
If this was the only part of the Bible we read we might take away that this man needed to go offer sacrifices to get clean. But that is not what the verse is saying.
The Gospel of Matthew also reads :”And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.” Matthew 8:3-4
So we see that the leper did not offer the sacrifices to get clean. He offered the sacrifices because of his cleansing. He offered the sacrifices for the cause of his cleansing. He offered them for a testimony.
Again Acts 2:38 reads, “[B]e baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins . . .”
Did you know that (kind of )like the leper God wants believers to be Baptized for a testimony of all that He has done for them? It is not necessary for salvation, but the Scriptures place great weight on believers baptism .
After a person has been saved, baptism is the first act of obedience.
”Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ…” Acts 2:38
”[W]hat doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest…” Acst 8:36-37
Again Baptism is not necessary to make you a son of God.
Jesus Christ is and always has been the Son of God.
John 1:1, John 1:14
”For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14
It is not necessary to gain a place in heaven.
None would deny the Son of God a place in Heaven. Jesus always had a place in Heaven.
”… God was manifest in the flesh . . .” I Timothy 3:16
It is not necessary for men to be saved. The thief on the cross received no Baptism, yet was guaranteed a place in Heaven. Luke 23:39-43
But it is not just a custom that men do. It is ordained of God!
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.” John 1:6
In Matthew 3:13-17 we read that Jesus was Baptized. “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:13-17
Jesus said, it was necessary for “us to fulfil all righteousness”. Jesus was telling us that being baptized is necessary for a son of God to keep all his Father’s commandments. It is necessary to fulfill all righteousness.
We are Baptized to show Jesus.
John said,
”[That] he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.” John 1:31
Manifest means “to show plainly”. John said that he was Baptizing in order to show who Jesus was plainly and openly. Jesus was Baptized to declare plainly and openly that He was (and is) the Son of God.
Similarly when we are Baptized, we declare plainly and openly to the world that we are the sons of God. And that we aren’t going to live like the world anymore.
Since, Jesus died and rose again, we are going to reckon ourselves dead to sin, (shown by going under the water) and will walk in newness of life, live a different way than we were before, because of Him, and what He did for us ( shown by when we come up). See Romans 6:2-4.
Jesus also said,”If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15
If we love Jesus, we will do what He asks.
Baptism is also a prerequisite of admittance into one of the Lord’s Churches. The Church is the organization that Jesus Christ set up on this earth (Matt. 16.18). It is the place where He rules (Ephesians 5.23), the place where He promised to meet with His people and to provide His help until the end of the world (Matt. 28.18-20). And it is the place where He wants you to be.
“ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ” Matthew 5:15
The candlestick is one of the Lord’s Churches (Rev. 1.20).
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See also Part 1 of this article:
Baptism I: Does Baptism Save? Scriptures on Remission and Baptism
Related:
Some Scriptures from the Old Testament On the Afterlife and the Resurrection
“Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
. . . But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.” Psalm 49:5-15
This life just doesn’t seem fair sometimes. The wicked often live in wealth and ease. Godly people suffer. But the Bible teaches that is a better day coming for those that believe in Jesus.
Even in the Old Testament, men believed and hoped for a resurrection of the dead. Consider the following Scriptures.
“ From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” Psalm 17:14-15
“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2
Isaiah 26:19 says, “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. . .”
The Psalmist who wrote Psalm 49 declared that God would redeem his soul from the power of the grave. This was sung by the sons of Korah in the worship service. This Psalm then must have been well known. Psalm 17 was a prayer of David. He said that he was one day going to awake in righteousness and the likeness of the LORD. Daniel also spoke of people awaking out of the dust of the earth to everlasting life.
Job spoke plainly, “ For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” Job 19:25-27
The Redeemer that would come is Jesus.
Jesus said, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40
He also said, “, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14.6).
Jesus Christ is the way to eternal life and Heaven.
But, the Bible and the Old Testament also teach that there another place to go.
Proverbs 15:24 tells us, “The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.”
Men do not escape from the grave. Psalm 49 reminds us that just as beasts and all of nature dies, so none of us can escape this appointment.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”(Heb. 9.23).
There is another place to go besides the grave.
Proverbs 12:28 tells us, “In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.”
But, how can there be no death?
Revelations 21:8 tells us, “But the . . . unbelieving . . . shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
There is another death beside the grave and the Holy Scriptures which God gave, speak as a whole that there is hell and judgment which we need to avoid.
Jesus said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The Bible tells us that because the first man sinned death entered into the world (Gen. 3.). It also tells us that because of that each of us inherits a sin nature and each of us will do wrong eventually (Rom. 5.12; 3.23). But, God became man to pay for the sins of man (Hosea 13.14 Isaiah 12.2; John 1:1, 1:14). Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. He came to this earth and was born of a virgin (Is. 7.14 ; Matt. 1.23). He lived a perfect life and never sinned. He laid down His life for all of us on a cross. He rose again three days later, and is sitting on the right hand of God. And He promises that whoever calls on Him to save them from their sins will be saved.
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10
If you have never asked Jesus to save you, my prayer is that you will call on Him today.
How Did People Get Saved in the Old Testament?
How Did People Get Saved in the Old Testament?
Why did they need another way?
Jesus said, “I am the way,
the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”
People in the Old Testament had faith that a Saviour was coming.
“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:” Job 19:25-26
” But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.” Psalm 49:15
Abraham believed in the resurrection of the dead. “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac. . .Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” Hebrews 11:17-19 This surely wasn’t a half-hearted faith!
The Apostle Paul confessed, “[S]o worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” Acts 24:14-15
The Holy Ghost says in the book of Acts, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:43
And how did all the prophets give witness? By the Spirit of Christ that was in them.
“[T]he Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” I Peter 1:11
Jesus was never very far from His people, even in the Old Testament!
“Who”, I ask you, “saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fire”?
“He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:25
“And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.” I Samuel 3:10
“And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.” I Samuel 3:21
Who is the word of God?
“And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” Revelation 19:13 (See also John 1:14).
Abraham also saw the Word of God. “After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” Genesis 15:1
King Solomon said . . .
“If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) . . .” I Kings 8:46
Again in Ecclesiastes, “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20
The Law never saved anyone. God even rejected sacrifices in the Old Testament!
“Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.” Isaiah 1:13-14
Isaiah testified, ” But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags . . .” Isaiah 64:6
All of our works are as filthy rags.
Romans 14:23 tells us, “[F]or whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”
Now compare that with Hebrews 11:4, “ By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”
Read the following: “[B]eing witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:21-23
The righteousness of God is by faith in Jesus. This is witnessed by the law and the prophets. It comes upon all that believe. There is no difference. There is no difference because all have sinned. And there is no difference, because all have come short of the glory of God.
“[T]he just shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4
“And he [Abraham] believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:6
What was the Law for?
“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions . . .” Galatians 3:19
It was added to show us our transgressions or sins. But, notice the word “add”. You add to something.
“And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law . . .cannot disannul . . .” Galatians 3:17 The Law can’t change promises God made before the Law. Before anything else Abraham believed in God. And God promised to bless him. And that happened 400 some years before the law was ever given!
The Law was given as a figure, or picture. “Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;” Hebrews 9:9
The Law was to bring us to Christ.
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24
. . . .
“ Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:27-28
“[T]he just shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4
When Ravens Cry 