Sola Fide - Pastor Miguel Núñez

This week, Pastor Miguel Núñez interrupted the series "To the Ends of the Earth" to preach about the gift of forgiveness of our sins and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, taking advantage of the fact that this year marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation initiated by Martin Luther. Today's message is based on verses that many scholars have called the central point of the Bible: chapter 3 of Romans, verses 20-31, entitled "Sola Fide." In these verses today, we observe that both Jews and Gentiles cannot be justified by their works, since justification is by the free grace of God, through faith in the righteousness of Christ. However, the law is not abolished; it simply shows us how sinful we are. Because we are sinners, God has opened a way for us to Himself; it is the righteousness of God; righteousness in ordination, provision, and acceptance. It is by that faith that Jesus Christ is its object; the anointed Savior, for that is what the name Jesus Christ means. Justifying faith respects Christ as Savior in His three anointed offices: Prophet, Priest, and King; that faith trusts Him, accepts Him, and clings to Him; in all of this, Jews and Gentiles are equally welcomed to God through Christ. There is no difference; His righteousness is upon all who believe; it is not only offered to them, but placed upon them as a crown, as a robe. It is free grace, pure mercy; there is nothing in us that deserves such favors. It comes to us freely, but Christ purchased it and paid the price. Faith has special regard for the blood of Christ, as the one that made the atonement. God declares His righteousness in all of this. It is clear that He hates sin, when nothing less than the blood of Christ makes satisfaction for sin. Collecting the debt from the sinner would not be in conformity with His righteousness, since the Surety paid it and He accepted that payment with complete satisfaction. God will accomplish the great work of justification and salvation of sinners from the first to the last, to silence our boasting, which is part of our works. But by faith, which in this matter is not an act of obedience or a good work, but the formation of a relationship between Christ and the sinner, which deems it fitting that the believer be forgiven and justified for the Savior's sake, and that the unbeliever, who is not united or related in this way to Him, remains subject to condemnation. The law is still useful to convince us of what is past and to direct us toward the future. Although we cannot be saved by it as a covenant, we nevertheless acknowledge it and submit to it as a rule in the hand of the Mediator. Five principles emerge from today's text, which are: 1. No human being will be justified by the works of the law. This is the limitation. None of us will be able to perfectly fulfill the demands of God's law, whether due to a lack of material or spiritual fulfillment. The law was made weak by the flesh. Therefore, God sent Christ to fulfill it for us and save us. 2. The role of the law. Through the law, we know sin, and it tells us what pleases God. It shows us our sin, prompting us to seek Christ, who alone fulfilled it. 3. The change brought about by Christ. We now have God's righteousness available through faith in Christ, who perfectly fulfilled God's law. He fulfilled it for us. 4. No one deserves God's glory. Sin touches all men, so we have no merit to earn God's glory. But justification through Christ is available to all who believe in Him. We are freely redeemed by God's grace through faith in Christ's righteousness. He paid for that redemption on the cross. This redemption ended the enmity that existed between man and God, and it was promoted by God Himself. The righteousness of God was fully fulfilled by Jesus Christ. For this reason, we do not deserve to attain this righteousness, and God grants it to us freely. 5. The extent of God's work. Whether Jew or Gentile, faith in Christ grants us justification. But the law cannot be repealed because it reveals our sins. —————————— A production of Integrity & Wisdom Ministries Reproduction of this resource, in whole or in part, by any means or procedure is prohibited without our prior, express, written authorization. Any unauthorized use will be prosecuted under international copyright laws. All rights reserved.