All That Believe Are Justified By Faith - Or is it Through Faith?

Acts 13:39 (NKJV)  and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.  This is what Paul said in his message in the synagogue in

Antioch.  What did he mean by that statement which was made at the end of his message in which he briefly traced the history of Israel from the time that they were slaves in Egypt through the resurrection of Jesus?

According to the Oxford Dictionary   the definition of justify is:

1)Show or prove to be right or reasonable,

2) Declare or make righteous in the sight of God.

So according to these definitions then, by Him (Jesus), everyone who believes is shown or proved to be right or reasonable and declared or made righteous in God’s sight.  That is a powerful and awesome statement.  

In Romans 3:30 Paul says “since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.   If those of us who are now one body have been justified why are did he say that some of us (the circumcised or Jew) are justified by faith and others (uncircumcised or Gentile) justified through faith since all who believe are justified?

Wow what a question!

I don’t think there is any difference and here’s why.  If there is no distinction between Jew (circumcised) and Gentile (uncircumcised), then it is logical that there is no difference in the way they are justified.  

Galatians 3:27-29 (HCSB) 27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ ⌊like a garment⌋. 28  There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29  And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.

This from Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers “By faith.—Through faith. In the one case faith is regarded as the instrument, in the other as the means; but the two expressions come to be almost convertible. In like manner there is no essential difference indicated by the fact that the first noun has not the article, while the second has it. The former is more abstract—the quality of faith in man; the latter more concrete—faith as embodied in the gospel. The two prepositions, “by” and “through,” are in English nearly convertible, or differ from each other no more than “instrument” and “means.”

 Justification is Instant

Justification whether by or through faith is instant it is not a process.   Just as the thief on the cross acknowledged Jesus his joining Him in paradise was instant. 

Luke 23:40-43 (HCSB) 40  But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment?  41  We are punished justly, because we’re getting back

Not Guilty

what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”  42  Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” 43  And He said to him, “I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise.”

We are justified at the moment we do as Paul says in 

Romans 10:9-13 (NKJV) 9  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11  For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13  For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

Here is what Charles Spurgeon says in one of his devotions;

"We are now-even now pardoned; even now are our sins put away; even now we stand in the sight of God accepted, as though we had never been guilty. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” There is not a sin in the Book of God, even now, against one of His people. Who dareth to lay anything to their charge? There is neither speck, nor spot, nor wrinkle, nor any such thing remaining upon any one believer in the matter of justification in the sight of the Judge of all the earth. Let present privilege awaken us to present duty, and now, while life lasts, let us spend and be spent for our sweet Lord Jesus."

If you've never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you have not been pardoned or accepted by God.  He loves you and has provided a way for your pardon and acceptance but it's your decision.  The way to pardon and acceptance is simple, as simple ans "TNT" (Romans 10:9-10).  If you're ready just repeat this prayer in all sincerity, if it's not sincere then you're really not ready, but if you are this is all you have to ask God;

“Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior.”

Once you pray this, or a similar, prayer in all sincerity your salvation and justification is instant.

If you have just prayed this prayer call, text, email, Tweet, change your Facebook status and tell somebody, and leave me a comment or email me at donald@donjake-strategicadviser.com.  Then find a bible believing church and start to fellowship with other believers.  Welcome to the family of God. 

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MORE INFORMATION ON JUSTIFICATION

Justification:  God’s Plan & Paul’s Vision,  Justification:  Five Views, Justification and the Gospel:  Understanding the Context and Controversies