What does it mean that we are “justified by faith, not because of faith”?

It is not the quality of our faith that saves us but the quality of the Redeemer in whom we have faith. From one of our Ask Ligonier events, Derek Thomas warns Christians not to measure their assurance of God’s grace by the intensity of their faith.

[newyorknight]

It is God's grace that saved a wretched person as I, and the gift of faith to express my gratitude, to a Holy Savior.

[bparrish]

Such understanding is what keeps me returning to Ligonier more than any other expositor of God’s revelation to us. Thank you all!

[DavidMontgomery]

Being a reformed Christian is like being a tightrope walker. But fortunately we have the Lord to catch us as we fall.

[johnjaso]

Grace and Faith are gifts from the Father.
We are justified by Christs shed blood.

[denonjoka]

Thanks Pst. Derek Thomas *4 This Powerful, Blessful Answer Where I Say That We Live By Faith & Not By Sight 4 Faith Comes By Hearing & By Hearing By The Word of God Written In 2nd Corinthians 5:7 & Romans 10:17 4 Our Faith Comes Thru The Word of Our Great Almighty God* & May Our Great Almighty God Bless Yu Pst. Derek Thomas & Ligonier Ministries So Very Much.🙏🕊️

[barbarafriedenberger]

In Christian theology, Justification is God's righteous act of removing the condemnation, guilt, and penalty of sin by grace, While at the sametime, declaring the unrighteous
to be righteous, through Faith in Christ's atoning sacrifice.

[dehsa]

It's a "two way street" as with everything else we characterize as a personal relationship with God. Feelings are the language of the soul. You intend to express your faith in earnest, and you get a return that tells you it has been received. It's a return, from outside yourself, in direct response to your intent. If you abandon your sincerity, you can imagine more 'return' than it really is.

[mbgrafix]

I am always careful to _not_ develop my understanding of _the_ truth through a single passage, but rather I compare the message of the full text of scripture. Case in point...the cults, such as the JWs, like to pull out passage quotes, ignoring the entirety of God's Word, and promote a doctrine from that one passage.
Whenever I encounter this strategy online, I respond by saying something like,
_"Well...if that passage was the entire Bible, then perhaps I would agree with your conclusion. However, there are many other passages throughout scripture which amplify this theology to a different conclusion."_
...and then I show them the other passages.

[apostolicapologetics]

@0:42 How is it not our free will in cooperation with God's sovereignty if it is God who gave us free will and the operative grace in order that our free will can cooperate freely? It begins with God's operative grace moving our free will freely that we may cooperate.

[terminat]

Salvation is based 100% on the mercy of God. One's personal faith doesn't make the difference. Faith is a work. The faith of salvation is the faith of Christ (Galatians 2:16, 20).

Nobody becomes saved by believing. God saves someone, and then they have saving faith. That is, they recognize that God is to receive all the credit for their salvation.

[lonniegibson]

Faith is faculty of the new man in regeneration, and the will is a faculty of the human soul, no man can choose salvation by his own will, but we are willing to follow Christ BECAUSE we believe, here in then is the law of causality.
1. Regeneration and gift of faith through His love and mercy
2. forgiveness and His blood cleansing through that faith
3. Willing to follow unto glorification because you believe

[fractalcabbage]

It isn't the measure of our faith and repentance that saves. Jesus saves. But... there is a need to be sure we have real repentance and faith. Jesus spoke a LOT about false converts and we do well to test ourselves to see if we show the broken heart of repentance before God and a trusting heart that leans only on Christ for salvation.

[TheBibleSays]

What we have is a problem with English. When people read "justified *_by_* faith" they usually assume it means "justified just because you _have_ faith."
But we see from James that just _having_ faith doesn't cut it. Abraham was justified because he acted on his faith and obeyed . . . *_"and not by faith only."_* (James 2:24).

*_"By"_* or *_by means of_* or *_through_* faith Abraham saw he had a choice to make. He chose to obey:
▬ "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." (Hebrews 11:8)

Ephesians 2:8 avoids the misinterpretation of "by." It says *_"through_** faith"* instead of "by faith":
▬ "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)

"Through" faith? Through faith that God is real, and rewards, we can see the need to "come to God" on His terms. We must take action on our faith and "come to God" in order to please Him. Without faith we wouldn't see the need, and it would be impossible to come to - and please - God:
▬ "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

It is *_coming to God_* on His terms that pleases Him . . . not "faith alone"! "By" or "by means of" or "through" faith we see we have a choice to make. Just seeing the choice - faith only - is not enough!

Faith is "the gift of God" (Eph 2:8) to call us. Question is, will we answer the call and "come to God"?

[destroyingtheworksofthedev]

Romans 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

[jamesfranksontettey]

As the Lord tells me always Christians will never never never have spiritual knowledge of God and his Salvation the Man Jesus Christ of Nazareth. They will never never never know the difference between Believing, Faith, Faith of God. These are the three dispensations in redemptive history.

[diananickel]

A little child could understand the simple Gospel. Why do calvinists turn it into something so impossibly convoluted? What a horrible doctrine that Augustine and Calvin bequeathed to the Christian world.