Thematic Bible: Justification before God


Thematic Bible














but Israel, who followed the law of justice, hath not attained to the law of justice. why? because they sought it not by faith, but indeed by the works of the law: for they stumbled at that stumbling-stone;


However some that arrived from Judea, told the Gentile converts, unless you are circumcised agreeably to the law of Moses, you cannot be saved. upon which Paul and Barnabas having warmly contested the point with them, it was resolved, that Paul and Barnabas and some others should go to Jerusalem to consult the apostles upon this question. so they set out, accompanied part of the way by the church, and pass'd thro' Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles, which gave great joy to all the brethren. read more.
and being arrived at Jerusalem, they were receiv'd by the church, by the apostles, and presbyters, to whom they related all that God had done by them. but some of the sect of the Pharisees who had embraced the faith, started up, pretending that the Gentiles ought to be circumcised, and observe the law of Moses. The apostles therefore, and the presbyters assembled to deliberate upon this affair. and after the question had been much canvass'd, Peter rose up, and said, my brethren, you know that a considerable time since God chose me from among you to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and bring them to the faith. God who knows their hearts has granted them a testimonial, by giving them the holy spirit, even as he did to us: making no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by the faith. why therefore do you tempt God to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither we nor our forefathers were able to bear? but we believe that it is by the favour of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we are to be sav'd, as well as they. The whole assembly were very silent, whilst Barnabas and Paul related what miracles and prodigies God had wrought among the Gentiles by their ministry. After they had done speaking, James assum'd the discourse, and said, my brethren, give me your attention. Simon has related how God began to visit the Gentiles, to chuse from among them a people consecrated to his name. and this is agreeable to the oracles of the prophets: as it is written, "after this I will return and build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down: I will repair its ruins, and raise it up: that the rest of mankind, even all the nations, that profess my name, may seek the Lord. he that does all these things, is the Lord himself that has said it." for the works of God are all known to him from the beginning of the world. wherefore my opinion is not to disquiet the Gentile converts: but only to write to them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, from fornication, from animals that are strangled, and from their blood. for as to the law of Moses, that has been published in every city a considerable time, being read in the synagogues every sabbath-day. Then the apostles, the presbyters, and the whole church thought it proper to select some out of their own body to accompany Paul and Barnabas to Antioch: such as Judas surnam'd Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, whom they charg'd with this letter. The apostles, the presbyters, and the brethren, to the Gentile brethren at Antioch, in Syria, and Cilicia, send greeting. Whereas we have been appriz'd, that some who went from us, have embarass'd you with their discourse, and unsettled your minds, maintaining, that you ought to be circumcised, and to observe the law, though we gave them no such injunction: after having been assembled, we unanimously judg'd it proper to send particular deputies to you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have exposed their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. we therefore send Judas and Silas to inform you in person of this affair. for by the holy spirit it seemed good to us, to lay no greater burthen upon you, than these necessary injunctions; that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the flesh of strangled animals, and from fornication: you will do well to preserve your selves from these practices. farewel.



but when I saw, they conformed not their conduct to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all: if you being a Jew, live after the manner of the Gentiles, and not according to that of the Jews, why do you constrain the Gentiles to judaize? We are Jews by birth, and not of the sinful race of the Gentiles, yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in him, and not by the works of the law, by which there is no justification. read more.
Now if it be a sin to seek for justification by Christ, then is Christ the minister of sin, which cannot be. on the contrary, if I re-establish what I have demolish'd, I show myself a prevaricator. for by one law, I am dead to the other law, that I might live unto God: I am crucified with Christ, it is not I that now live, but Christ that liveth in me; the life I have in this body I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if justification be by the law, Christ died to no purpose.



what reason then is there for boasting? it is excluded. what, by the ceremonial law? no: but by the law of faith. Verse ConceptsSalvation, Boasting ImpossiblePride, Evil OfSelf Righteousness, And The GospelJustification By FaithBoasting ExcludedFaithFaith KjvBoastinglaw











for not the bare hearers of the law, but they who observe the law, are such as shall be justified, before God. Verse ConceptsAccepting ChristCommitment, to GodHearingListeningWork, And RedemptionHearing God's WordJustified By WorksWorks Of The LawBlessings Of Obedience


For Moses describes the justice that was to be had by the law, thus : "the man who performeth the things here required, shall have life thereby." Verse ConceptsEffect Of The LawLife Through Keeping The LawWorks Of The Law

for he that violates but one precept of the whole law, is as obnoxious to punishment, as if he had broke thro' all the rest. Verse ConceptsJudaismLaw, Purpose OfLegalismStumblingFound GuiltyAll Sins Being EqualBreaking The Ten CommandmentsGuiltBreaking Chains

who shall plead against God's elect? shall God who justifieth them? who shall condemn them? shall Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, and makes intercession for us?




therefore the inheritance is of faith, that it might be meerly of favour, to the end the promise might be assured to all his posterity, not to that part only who have the law, but to that also who have the faith of Abraham, the father of us all, as it is written, Verse ConceptsAdoption, nature ofCertaintyGuaranteePaul, Teaching OfGod, Grace OfJustification Under The GospelJustification By FaithChildren Of AbrahamJustified By GraceRighteous By FaithUnder The LawGraceThe promises of GodPromises concerningFaithDadsAcceptanceFaith KjvGod's GracePromisesHaving FaithStrength And FaithFaith In Godorder

for tho' death reigned thro' the single offence of one, they who receive the most valuable favour, even the gift of righteousness, shall much more easily reign by the life of one, even Jesus Christ. Therefore as by one offence all men fell under condemnation: even so by one act of righteousness, all men are restored to life. for as by one man's disobedience many receiv'd the punishment of sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many receive the reward of the righteous. read more.
the law was introduc'd, that the greatness of the fall might fully appear; but the more sin display'd its enormity, the divine favour was so much the more transcendent. that as sin prevailed unto death, even so might the divine favour prevail by righteousness unto eternal life, thro' Jesus Christ our Lord.

since it is one God, who will justify both the Jews and the Gentiles, through faith. do we then make the law useless by our doctrine of faith? by no means; on the contrary, it is we that observe the law.

to those who are without the law, as without that law, (not as being under no law to God, but as under the law to Christ) that I might gain those who are without the law. Verse ConceptsJustification By FaithThe Law Of ChristWithout The LawStaying Strong And Not Giving UpStaying PositivePositive ThinkingNever Giving UpNot Being Alonelawactingfreeorderflexibilitychrist










nay I think them disadvantages when put in competition with the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord: for whose sake I abandon all these things, and count them as straw, that I may gain Christ, and be his true disciple, not professing that justification, which is derived from the law, but that which is from the gospel,







I tell you this man went home approv'd as just, and not the other. for whoever exalteth himself shall be humbled, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Verse ConceptsHumilityPromotionIndividuals going homeHumbling Oneself