Having fought the “War of Biblical Confusion/Contradictions” for far too long, the Lord finally calmed me down and began to reveal His confusing eliminating “fine print” to me.  He then showed me that the supposed Law–salvation conundrum I had wrestled with for so long was a problem of my own making.  The Apostle Paul’s focus in the first several chapters of the Book of Romans was not salvation as I had thought, but rather JUSTIFICATION–a totally different subject.  JUSTIFICATION is the Lord’s forgiveness of one’s PAST sins solely by His grace based on one’s faith.  In those chapters the words relative to JUSTIFICATION are mentioned 21 times, while the words relative to SALVATION are mentioned 7 times.  An in-depth study reveals that justification is the focal point.  The point being that the Law has nothing to do with it.  With this foundation laid, let us examine the Law-grace-faith-justification-conversion-holiness-salvation situation with an open mind.

As I noted in the previous posting, God’s Law is His Holy Bible from cover to cover.  He calls His Word His “gospel”–the good news about the coming Kingdom of God (Mk. 1:1,14/ Acts 1:3).  That same gospel was featured  in the Old Testament.  In Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia he wrote that the Scripture (Word–Jesus) preached the gospel to Abraham, the father of God’s chosen Israelite people (3:8).  This was the same gospel preached by Him and His apostles in the New Testament.  The kingdom gospel they preached would become the foundation upon which the New Testament Church was built.

In Romans 1:16,17 Paul tells us how important the gospel is relative to the church and to receiving of eternal life.  Here he says that Christ’s gospel is the power of God UNTO (leading to) salvation for those who believe–have faith in the gospel.   He writes that in that gospel the righteousness of God is revealed to us, and that His righteousness will fill us as we grow in faith.  Faith is not believing IN the Lord.  Faith is believing what He says in His Holy Bible.  Faith is taking Him at His Word (Rom. 10:19).  The kind of faith that He commands requires “works” relative to our faith–we must “work” (obey) His Word.  We are told in James 2:14,17,18,29,24,26 that faith without those works is dead faith.  And in that we live by faith (Rom. 1:17), and in that our faith is based on God’s Word (Rom. 10:19), and in that we must live by every word of God (Mat. 4:4), it stands that if our faith is dead, we are dead.  EVERYTHING REVOLVES AROUND KNOWING, BELIEVING AND OBEYING GOD’S WORD WHICH IS THE SOLE SOURCE OF EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT HIM AND OUR ONLY SOURCE OF FAITH, BY WHICH WE MUST LIVE.  With that in mind, let us examine the Law-grace-justification-salvation confusion that has generated so much error within the church and caused billions of people to follow Satan while believing that they are following God.  NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF SATAN who can deceive even God’s Very Elect (Mat. 24:24).  Relative to the universally embraced “NO LAW–ALL GRACE” theological stance, the whole of professing Christendom has assumed that JUSTIFICATION, CONVERSION AND SALVATION ARE ONE IN THE SAME, AND THAT THE LAW HAS NO PART TO PLAY IN ANY OF THEM.  Nothing could be farther from the Truth.

We will begin by studying the first chapters of the Book of Romans beginning with chapter three verse 20 where we find the first reference to the LAW and JUSTIFICATION (not salvation).  “For by the deeds (obeying) of the LAW can no man be JUSTIFIED.”  Verse 21 notes that God’s righteousness (concerning JUSTIFICATION) is exhibited without the LAW.  In verse 22 Paul states that God’s RIGHTEOUSNESS comes upon us when we ask for JUSTIFICATION with FAITH (belief in His Word).  Verse 24 states that a man is JUSTIFIED by God’s GRACE.  Verse 25 notes that because of a man’s FAITH God grants him JUSTIFICATION–the forgiveness of all of his PAST sins.  Verse 26 states that God reveals His righteousness by JUSTIFYING the man who BELIEVES in Jesus–believes His Word.  Judas believed IN Jesus.  As does Satan, as did Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler.  Many of the world’s most evil people wear crosses, some even have them tattooed on their bodies.  One had a huge cross tattooed on his forehead.  One arrested prostitute sang in her father’s church choir.  Believing in Jesus means nothing.  Believing His Word means nothing.  Believing in and obeying His Word means everything.

In chapter 4 verses 2,3 Paul states that Abraham was JUSTIFIED, not by his works, but by his FAITH in what God said to him.  But remember the incredible works he did AFTER being justified.   JUSTIFICATION (forgiveness of all PAST sins) made Abraham RIGHTEOUS.  RIGHTEOUSNESS is the absence of sin.  When God graciously awards us free JUSTIFICATION He declares us RIGHTEOUS because our PAST sins have been forgiven and forgotten.  This is confirmed in verse 5 where Paul states that by FAITH we are JUSTIFIED and declared RIGHTEOUS (sinless).  JUSTIFICATION removes all sin.  Without sin man is RIGHTEOUS.  Up to this point the Law has not been involved.

In chapter 5 verses 1,9 we are assured that JUSTIFICATION is the result of believing God’s Word that Christ’s blood cleanses us of all PAST sins.  However, His blood does not save us, but rather enables us to be saved.  Note that neither our faith, nor Christ’s blood, nor justification saves us.  Nor does the combination of the three.  They are, however, vital parts of the salvation process.  See The Process of Salvation.  Note that once we are justified, we “SHALL BE (LATER) SAVED” IF …. (here is where the Lord’s fine print becomes vital).  Once JUSTIFICTION has been received we must obey God’s Word until the end of our lives in order to receive salvation.

Following Justification, the next step on the path to salvation is CONVERSION.  True conversion qualifies one for SALVATION.  Justification does not guarantee either conversion or salvation.  Matthew 10:22 states that one must ENDURE TO THE END (in justification) in order to be saved.  How does one maintain one’s justification?  Paul tells us: “It is not the hearers of the LAW who are JUST(IFIED) before God, but the DOERS of the LAW shall be (remain) JUSTIFIED” (Rom. 2:13).  In Romans 5:15-18 Paul gives us a summary of the faith-to-salvation process.  He explains that God’s GRACE is a free gift to those who seek Him with faith.  Through His GRACE He provides the free gift of  JUSTIFICATION, which renders us RIGHTEOUS which, if maintained until the end, results in SALVATION.   JUSTIFICATION IS BASED SOLELY ON GOD’S GRACE.  HIS  LAW PLAYS NO PART IN THE RECEIVING OF JUSTIFICATION AND RIGHTEOUSNESS. This act takes place in A MOMENT IN TIME.  See the series by that name.  The Law comes into play following that moment.

 However, following the awarding of justification there is much work to be done by the justified one if he is to inherit salvation.  Following justification by grace, God’s Law enters the salvation process.  HIS LAW PLAYS THE CENTRAL ROLE IN BEING CONVERTED, MAINTAINING HOLINESS AND RECEIVING SALVATION UPON THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST TO EARTH.

Following justification one must be truly converted (enter God’s strait gate) and walk His narrow way (obey His Law) toward salvation.  He warns that Satan will offer a false conversion (easy gate) and a broad (all grace–no Law) way leading to a false salvation.  Jesus tells us that few will enter His gate and walk His way while many will enter Satan’s gate and walk his way (Mat. 7:13,14).  Why?  Because it is so much easier to believe Satan’s siren call to join the church of your choice, believe in Jesus and repent following your inevitable, Adam-caused sins.  Satan remembers Matthew 7:13,14 and  smiles.  L.J.