Paul: Justified by Faith, Justified by His Blood
(Part 5 of 12)

Part 5 of 12 · Salvation in Jesus Christ: The New Testament Witness to Grace, Faith, and the Blood

Paul explains justification more fully than any other New Testament writer.

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28, KJV)

A few verses later he says that for the one who “believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5). Then he declares, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

In that same chapter Paul writes, “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Romans 5:9).

Paul says we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ, and he says we are justified by the blood of Jesus Christ. The two statements fit together perfectly. Faith in Jesus Christ is the means. It is how the sinner receives justification. The blood of Jesus Christ is the basis. It is the payment that made justification possible.

Paul teaches this in letter after letter. A man is “not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16). We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, “Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Paul wanted to be found in Jesus Christ, having “the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:9).

Nowhere does Paul present baptismal water as the sacrifice that satisfies the justice of God. Paul says peace was made “through the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:20).

That is why Paul defined the gospel by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Baptism beautifully pictures our union with that saving work. Baptism never becomes the saving work itself.

Search these Scriptures for yourself: Romans 3:26–28; Romans 4:3–5; Romans 5:1; Romans 3:24–25; Romans 5:8–9; Ephesians 1:7; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8–9; Philippians 3:8–9; 1 Corinthians 15:1–4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Colossians 1:19–22.

Next in this series: Part 6, Acts 2:38 in Peter’s Full Witness.

Go Deeper

• Sin, Forgiveness, Cleansing, and Redemption
• Children of Abraham: Sons of God by Faith

Old Testament foundation: Types and Shadows Fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Part 4 of 7)

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“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (KJV)