eduweb | Education web | IFN International Family Network d734 | Andreas [ Andrew ] Klamm, Andrew Joy, christian charity ministry

"Giving thanks always for all things unto GOD and the FATHER in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST". Ephesians 5:20 - "...Sagt allezeit GOTT, dem Vater, Dank für alles, in dem Namen unseres HERRN JESUS CHRISTUS;" Epheser 5:20

“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”.

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

Scripture taken from the King James Version (KJV) and

Through the preaching and teaching of the Reformer Martin Luther, the Biblical Doctrine of Justification by Grace through Faith became the basis of the Reformation which began in Germany, and ultimately spread throughout Switzerland, the U.K. (Scotland, England, Wales), Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Since then, the freedoms and privileges enjoyed in the Western Free World were based on this cardinal doctrine of the Bible. Unfortunately, today, many in the Western World have forgotten and neglected this doctrine. There is a great and urgent need to revive this vital doctrine of the Scriptures.

Prior the Reformation in Germany, people throughout Europe did not own a personal copy of the Bible, nor have direct access to the plain teachings of the Scriptures. The availability of the Latin Bible [Codex Vaticanus], was rigidly controlled by Rome, and its hierarchy of priests. By means of a ‘religious-political system’ which they maintained and enforced, a particular system of interpretation which taught salvation by ‘works’. These ‘religious meritorious works’ included worship of a ‘round-wafer god’, a ‘female goddess’, dead saints, idols, icons, relics; the selling of indulgences, purgatory, etc. The Good News of the Gospel was completely obscured for centuries, which were known as the “dark ages”.

After many personal struggles and study of the Bible, Dr. Martin Luther came to understand the true Good News of the Gospel, as taught by the Apostle Paul:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’ [Hab 2:4] (Romans 1:16-17)

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Dr. Martin Luther came to understand from the Bible, the written Word of God, that salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom. 3:23), “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph. 2:8-9). Luther understood that “to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:5); “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1), being “justified by His blood” (Rom. 5:9). It is God who justifies (Rom. 8:33) the ungodly; not the “righteous”, but the “unrighteous”, the “ungodly”. It was this doctrine of Justification by Grace that brought Luther peace with God. The doctrines of the Reformation ignited by Martin Luther have been summarized as follows:

Dr. Martin Luther understood that he must put his faith and complete trust in the Word of God only, because: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. (Rom.10:17). Henceforth, Luther’s desire was to make the Bible, the written word of God, available for the common people to read in their own German language of the day. Being a learned scholar and linguist, he was able to translate, for the first time, the New Testament, into the common German Language of his day. A remarkable scholarly and historic achievement.

Luther had experienced the reality of the freedom that the Word of God promised through the Glorious Good News (Romans 10:15) of the Gospel:

“ Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

Having trusted the Word of God for his eternal salvation, Luther understood that he must agree with the Word of God against the “Traditions of men”, on which Romanist system had based their temporal and religious authority. From personal experience, Luther knew that the Romanist system of his time, had elevated their “Tradition” of men” to have equal authority as the Bible, and by this justified their particular system of interpretation, which taught salvation by ‘meritorious works’, and the worship of idols. The Word of God warned against elevating “the Tradition of men” above the Word (commandment) of God:

“For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men”

“Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” (Mark 7:8,9)

Making the word of God of no effect through your tradition, which you have handed down.” (Mark 7:13)

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)

Luther came to understand that the sole authority by which to settle all matters of faith and doctrine had to be the written word of God – the Holy Scriptures (2Tim. 3:15), and not the ‘traditions of men’ as dictated by the Romanist system:

…the Holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God [God breathed], and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2Timothy 3:16-17)

Sola Scriptura – Only Scripture, became the sole authority on which the Reformation was based. The rest is Reformation history.

"We are not to believe anything except it be proven to us by the Holy Scriptures". Such was the motto of the early Church, and of all the Reformers.

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,²has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:1-3)

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

“..the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17)

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God (John 1:1,14: Rev. 19:13), and the Creator of all things, (John 10:30; Colossians 1:15-19), the Almighty God. (Rev. 1:8). He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and the Word Incarnate (John 1:1; ), who speaks with Absolute Divine Authority. During His incarnation and throughout His earthly ministry, the Lord Christ upheld the Divine inspiration of the Scriptures, and He quoted (“It is written:”) extensively from the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms: “All things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me” (John 24:44).

The Living Word of God, who is Truth (John 14:6), declared, with Divine Authority,

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24)

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)

He also declared, with Divine Authority, the Scriptures to be infallible and without error:

Prior to His ascension, the Lord Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide His Apostles and followers into all truth:

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.(John 14:26)

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me.” (John 15:26)

God the Holy Spirit is the Author of the Bible, the entire written word of God. He inspired all the different writers of the books in the Bible. This plenary, verbal, inspiration means that the Bible is free of error in all that it teaches. “The Holy Spirit indicating…” (Hebrews 9:8). “… the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us:” (Hebrews 10:15). The Bible has Divine Authority, and is therefore absolutely trustworthy in all that it teaches. The Holy Spirit never draws attention to Himself, but always testifies and bears witness of the Living Word of God – the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 15:26; 16:13-14)

The Apostle John, “the beloved disciple”, who was an eyewitness of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (John 19:25-30; 20:31;21:24) also testified:

This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. (1 John 5:6)

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one. (1 John 5:7)

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son. (1 John 5:9)

The Apostle Paul, under divine inspiration (Acts 9:15; 26:16:15-16; Gal. 1:11-12), wrote that : “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God [God breathed], and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. (2Timothy 3:16). “For whatsoever things were written aforetime [before] were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope”. (Romans 15:4) “…which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual”. (1 Cor. 2:12-13).

The Apostle Peter also under Divine inspiration (Acts 1:2) confirmed this vital doctrine in his Epistles. He wrote that we are “born again…..through the word of God which lives and abides forever”. (1Peter 1:23) “…The word of the Lord endures forever.” (1Peter 1:25)

“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:19-21)

Luke, the Gospel writer, and author of the book of Acts also confirmed that the Apostles were inspired by the Holy Spirit to record the Words of Christ: “All that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments unto the Apostles whom He had chosen” (Acts 1:2)

Justification by Grace through Faith

The Biblical doctrine of Justification by Grace through Faith which was ‘re-discovered’ by Martin Luther, became the basis of the Reformation which spread throughout Europe and the Western World. Luther had discovered and experienced the reality of the freedom that the Word of God promised through the Gospel of Christ. Since then, the freedoms and privileges enjoyed in the Western Free World were based on this cardinal doctrine of the Bible. Today, this important Biblical doctrine is in danger of being completely obscured once again to due Higher Criticism, Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, the New Age Religion and the Cults.

“What Saith the Scripture?” regarding this vital doctrine of Justification?

The Living Word of God (Rev. 19:13), “the Word made flesh” (John 1:14), the Lord Jesus Christ, is the Highest and Supreme Authority in all matters, since He is the King of Kings and Lord of lords, (Rev. 19:13,16) the Almighty Creator (Rev. 1:8) of the Universe. There is no greater authority in the Universe.

During His earthly ministry He was asked : “And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?” (Mark 11:28)

“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” (John 5:19)

“For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, ²⁷“and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. ²⁸“Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice ²⁹“and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” (John 5:26-29 )

“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. ⁴⁷“And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. ⁴⁸“He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. ⁴⁹“For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. ⁵⁰“And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” (John 12:46-50)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:16 )

It is clear from the above Scriptures that the Incarnate Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, reveals God the Father’s will and purpose for all mankind. “He is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). His words are infallible and endure forever. “My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me.” (John 7:16 )

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship [Him] in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)

“Father … Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, ²“as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. ³“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

“Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you” (Matthew 21:31)

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)

And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. ⁴⁸He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:47-48)

This means that the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith is offered by the Lord to ‘lost’ sinners only. The Apostle Paul wrote that God “ that justifieth the ungodly” (Rom. 4:3), “the sinner” and not “the righteous” . Paul describes his own experience in a most practical way:

¹²I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service. ¹³Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. ¹⁴The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life. ¹⁷Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:12-17)

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:5-7)

^“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. ¹⁷For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:16)

^“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life”. (John 4:14)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24)

^“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed. (John 6:27)

“I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.

³⁷All that the Father giveth me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out. ³⁸For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. ³⁹And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. ⁴⁰And 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 6:35, 37-40)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.

^“This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. ⁵¹I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world”. (John 6:50-51)

“Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven -- not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever." (John 6:54-58)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 6:54-58)

²⁷My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: ²⁸And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. ²⁹My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰I and my Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)

It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)

The Lord Jesus Christ offers the gift of eternal life to those who will repent of their sin and “receive Him” (John 1:12). These are the words that enable one to be “born again…..through the word of God which lives and abides forever”. (1Peter 1:23) “…The word of the Lord endures forever.” (1Peter 1:25).

The Lord Jesus Christ has “the words of eternal life” ( Luke 6:68). This is the Good News of the Gospel:

What was the reason that He had to die and shed His Blood on the cross at Calvary? It was because of our sins, yours and mine, because of the sins of mankind: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” (Rom 3:10).

All human beings are the offspring of Adam and Eve, who sinned against God. “For … by one man’s offence death reigned by one” (Romans 5:17) “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation” (Romans 5:18). “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23)

Because of the fallen nature of man, no one is righteous in God’s sight (Romans 3:10-11). No man can perfectly keep the Law of God. “By the Law is the knowledge of sin” and “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). A Substitute is therefore needed who would perfectly keep the Law of God and Offer Himself as a Blood Atoning Sacrifice, satisfy the demands of God’s Law, so that God could freely forgive sins and remain just:

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.' (Lev 17:11-12)

The Law of God demands perfect obedience and righteousness: “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin” (Hebrews 9:22)

By shedding His Precious Blood on the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled the demands of the Law – He gave His Perfect Life and Blood for us. The precious Blood He shed on the cross is the Blood of the New Covenant:

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: ¹⁶For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: ¹⁷And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. ¹⁸And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. ¹⁹For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell; ²⁰And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven”.

By shedding His precious blood and dying on the on the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, perfectly fulfilled the Law of God, in every respect and every aspect, thus redeeming the elect from the failure to keep the Law of God. We are justified by God’s grace through faith in His blood atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross, and not by the deeds of the Law:

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,²⁴being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,²⁵whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,²⁶to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

²⁷ Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.²⁸Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:23-28)

The Blood of Christ is infinitely precious to God, because “the life is in the Blood” (Leviticus 17:11). The Life of God, the eternal Holy Spirit dwelt in that Blood, and Christ perfectly obeyed the Law of God – this gave infinite worth to the blood sacrifice. God accepted the Blood Atoning Sacrifice of His Son:

But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:11-14)

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Believers in the atoning blood sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross are declared “Justified” by God Himself, “once for all”, “once for all eternity”. God “imputes” the perfect righteousness of Christ to them, and remains just:

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10)

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (Hebrews 10:12)

For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
¹⁵But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,
¹⁶"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,

God Almighty does not remember our sins any more, because no more offering for sin is needed.

The He adds : ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more’.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh;

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)

“Full assurance of faith” is knowing that “God justifies the ungodly”, and that one is “Justified by grace through faith in His Blood”.

The Lord says : “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool”. (Isaiah 1:18).

The Apostle Paul, being an eyewitness of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, and commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself to teach the Gospel (Acts 9:1-20; 22:6-21; 23:10-11; Rom. 1:1; Gal. 1:11-2:2) expounded the doctrine of justification by faith in most of his epistles:

⁵ But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,⁶just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

       ⁷"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
        And whose sins are covered;
       ⁸Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin." (Romans 4:1-8)

Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him,²⁴but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,²⁵who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. (Romans 4:20-25)

It is God who justifies the “ungodly” .To the believer who trusts in the blood atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, God “imputes” the perfect righteousness of Christ, and His perfect obedience of the Law, as a free gift, completely apart from works. This is what justification means according to the Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostle Paul in his epistles. Justification results in peace with God:

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

⁸But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! (Romans 6-11)

That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:7)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

God’s grace is a most precious term. It means “unmerited, or undeserved favor”. The Apostle Paul presents it in a most practical way:

¹⁸Therefore, as through one man's [Adam] offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's [Christ] righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.¹⁹For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.

²⁰Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,²¹so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:12-21)

¹¹And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. ¹²He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. ¹³These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:11-13)

One of the very sad legacies, however, of the Reformer Martin Luther, have been the tragic consequences of his misunderstanding of the teaching of the Bible regarding the Jewish people as presented by the Apostle Paul in Romans 11.

¹I say then, Hath God cast away His people? [The Jews] God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. ²God hath not cast away His people which He foreknew. (Romans 11:1-2) ⁵Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (Romans 11:5 )

The Jewish people, are still “His people”, chosen according to the election of grace. The Apostle Paul wrote to Gentile Christians, that through “the fall” of the Jewish people, the salvation of God came to the Gentiles:

¹¹I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. ¹²Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness? ¹³For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: ¹⁴If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. ¹⁵For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

One day, God’s mystery will be fully revealed: “ All Israel shall be saved “

²⁵For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. ²⁶And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: ²⁷For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (Romans 11:25-27)

Gentile Christians are commanded to love the Jewish people, because they are beloved of God “for the fathers’ sake” – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – the Patriarchs. This is not optional. Gentile Christians are not to boast about their salvation, (Romans 11:19-22) as if the Jewish people were rejected by God. According to the Bible, the Jewish people are not rejected by God:

²⁸As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. ²⁹For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. ³⁰For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: ³¹Even so have these also now not believe , that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. ³²For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all. (Romans 11:25-27)

Therefore, Anti-Semitism, of any kind, is completely and totally against the will of God according to the Bible. The Jewish people are still the elect and “beloved” by God, who will one day completely fulfill His promise to Abraham and his descendants. (Genesis 15:1-7, 18-21; and Genesis 17:1-22; Genesis 22:16-18). God Almighty will one day judge all nations on their attitude towards Israel and the Jewish people – “On account of My people, My heritage Israel.” (Joel 3:2)

What the Nazi regime did to the Jewish people in “the name of God” is so horrible and abominable, that it is beyond description. The pain, suffering, and anguish caused to the Jewish people is really beyond description. Let us all pray for God’s forgiveness for the unspeakable crimes that have been committed in Germany against the Jewish people, and others, during the Holocaust under the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler. Let us pray for His infinite mercy and forgiveness. Amen.

According to Ephesians 5:20 I give THANKS unto the GOD and the FATHER in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST for the GRACE to publish this information, written by a Brother in CHRIST JESUS, Andrew Palo from Canada, and I give THANKS unto the LORD, my GOD and JESUS CHRIST for saving a wretch like me - for salvation !

“I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given man.

All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated

to us through this book.”

Abraham Lincoln

²I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service. ¹³Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. ¹⁴The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life. ¹⁷Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:12-17)

These are the most wonderful words anyone can hear !

GOD is good ! O give thanks unto the LORD, for HE is good: for HIS mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 107,1)

Andreas [ Andrew ] Klamm

IFN International Family Network d734 International Edition (English/German)

JUSTIFIED BY GRACE

THROUGH FAITH

IN HIS BLOOD

Scripture taken from the King James Version (KJV) and

Justification by Grace through Faith

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