But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
1 Corinthians 1:30
JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
An Old Quarterly Bible Study on Sin and Righteousness (1895)
Table of Contents
LESSON 1 - SIN AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
- What is sin? 1 John 3:4
- Of what law is sin the transgression? Romans 7:7
- What law says, “Thou shalt not covet”? Read Exodus 20:3-17
- How much that is not right is sin, or transgression of the law? 1 John 5:17
- With how much of a man’s life does the law have to do? Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14
- How many have sinned? Romans 3:9-12, 23
- Whence comes the evil that appears in the lives of men? Mark 7:21-23; James 1:14
- What is the inevitable result of sin? James 1:15; Romans 6:23
- Is it natural for a man to obey the law? Romans 8:7
- Can a man, then, justify himself? Romans 3:20
- What kind of righteousness is that which springs from ourselves? Isaiah 64:6
- With all the efforts of the natural man, what is it impossible to do? Romans 8:8
- What is necessary in order to please God? Hebrews 11:6
- In what must we have faith? Romans 3:23-26
- Why must we have faith in the blood of Jesus? 1 John 1:7; Acts 4:12
LESSON 2 - JUSTIFICATION
- What is the meaning of the word “justification”?
Answer – “A showing to be just, or conformable to law;” making or declaring righteous.
- Who are the just before God? Romans 2:13
- Then how shall we understand Romans 3:20?
Answer – Thus: No flesh can be justified by the deeds of the law, because all have violated it (Romans 3:19), and it is impossible for any flesh to keep the law. Romans 8:7, 8
- How, then, can we be made righteous? Romans 3:25
- In what condition are men before they are justified by grace? Ephesians 2:1
- How does God regard sin? Habakkuk 1:13
- Yet how does He regard men even while they are sinners? Ephesians 2:4, 5; John 3:16
- By what is it, then, that we are justified? Titus 3:5-7
- Since there is no good thing in man by nature, what may be said of one who trusts in himself? Proverbs 28:26
- For whose benefit did Christ once speak a parable? Luke 18:9
- What two men went into the temple to pray? Luke 18:10
- How did the Pharisee pray? Luke 18:11-12
- What was the prayer of the publican? Luke 18:13
- What were the two features of his prayer?
Answer – Confession of sin, and asking for mercy.
- Which of the two went home justified? Luke 18:14
- If one asks mercy from God, what will he receive? Matthew 7: 7-11
- What is mercy?
Answer – “Disposition [tendency] to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves.”
- How great is God’s mercy? Psalms 36:5; Psalms 108:4; Psalms 103:11
- For whose sake does the Lord pardon sin? Isaiah 43:25
LESSON 3 - POWER OF FAITH
- As Jesus was going to the house of a ruler, who came behind Him? Matthew 9:20
- How firm a hold had the disease upon her? Luke 8:43
- What did she now do? Matthew 9:20
- Why did she do this? Matthew 9:21
- What took place as soon as she touched His garment? Luke 8:44
- What question did Jesus immediately ask? Luke 8:45
- Why did this question astonish the disciples? Luke 8:45
- What shows that the woman’s touch was different from the accidental touch of persons in the crowd? Luke 8:46
- What did the woman then do? Luke 8:47
- What did Jesus say to her? Luke 8:48
- What does this miracle show?
Answer – The power of faith.
- For what purpose were Christ’s miracles recorded? John 20:30-31
- What miracle shows plainly that the miracles of healing were to manifest Christ’s power to cleanse from sin, in answer to faith? Matthew 9:2-7
- When Jesus healed the blind man near Jericho, what did He say to him? Luke 18:42
- What did He also say to the sinful woman who showed great love for Him? Luke 7:48, 50
- Could the afflicted woman mentioned in Luke 8:43-48 have healed herself?
- Could the sinful woman mentioned in Luke 7:37-50 any more have cleansed herself from sin?
- What does Christ say to all who are burdened with sin? Matthew 11:28, 30
- Then how should we respond?
“Just as I am, without one plea
But that thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bidst me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
“Just as I am; and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot;
To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”
LESSON 4 - DELIVERANCE FROM BONDAGE
- Who was present as Jesus was talking in a synagogue one Sabbath? Luke 13:10-11
- What did he say to the afflicted one? Luke 13:12
- As soon as He laid His hands on her, what resulted? Luke 13:13
- Who accosted [spoke to] Peter and John on a certain occasion, as they were entering the temple? Acts 3:1-3
- How long had the man been unable to walk? Acts 3:2; Acts 4:22
- When the man looked on the disciples, expecting alms, what did Peter say? Acts 3:6
- What was the result? Acts 3:7-8
- How were the people who knew the man affected by this miracle? Acts 3:9-11
- Whom did Peter then begin to preach to the people? Acts 3:12-15
- Speaking of Christ, how did he say the lame man had been healed? Acts 3:16
- How are sinners like the woman who was bound so that she could not lift herself up? Psalms 40:12
- What binds them? Proverbs 5:22
- In what respect are all men in the condition of the man who was impotent [disabled] from birth? Romans 7:18; Galatians 5:17; Psalms 51:5
- In what condition are all sinners? John 8:34; Hebrews 2:15; 2 Peter 2:19
- How was the crooked woman made straight? Luke 13:12, 13
- How was the impotent man made strong? Acts 3:16
- For what purpose were these miracles recorded? John 20:30, 31
- What is the special work of Christ? Isaiah 61:1
- What power does He exert over sin? Micah 7:18, 19
- What is necessary in order to gain the blessing of the Spirit? Luke 11:9-13
- What can one say who, having asked in simple faith, has received? Psalms 40:1-3
LESSON 5 - THE VICTORY OF FAITH
- Who came against Israel in the days of Jehoshaphat? 2 Chronicles 20:1, 2
- What did the king and the people do? 2 Chronicles 20:3, 4
- With what recognition of God’s power and goodness did Jehoshaphat begin his prayer? 2 Chronicles 20:6, 7
- What evidence have we that only by such prayers can we please God? Hebrews 11: 6
- After recounting God’s power and goodness, and the evil designs of the enemy, what acknowledgment and request did Jehoshaphat make? 2 Chronicles 20:12
- Upon whom did he say the eyes of Israel were fixed? 2 Chronicles 20:12 [last clause.]
- What does God say to all? Isaiah 45:22
- How did the Lord answer Jehoshaphat’s prayer? 2 Chronicles 20:14, 15, 17
- As the Israelites went forth early in the morning, what did Jehoshaphat say to them? 2 Chronicles 20:20
- After consulting with the people, what did he do? 2 Chronicles 20:21
- What took place as soon as they began to sing and praise? 2 Chronicles 20:22
- What did the Israelites show by their singing and praising as they went out to meet the enemy?
Answer – That they believed the promise of the Lord that he would fight for them.
- Of what scripture, then, was this event an illustration? 1 John 5:4
- Have we similar promises that God will fight for us in our battles with sin? Psalms 34:7; Psalms 37:4-6; Psalms 50:15
- What does the divine power of Christ bring to us? 2 Peter 1:3
- What do these precious promises do for us? 2 Peter 1:4
- But in order for these promises to be of any profit to us, what must we do? 2 Chronicles 20:20
- And if we believe God’s promises, with what will our prayers be accompanied? Philippians 4:6
- Who are they who glorify God? Psalms 50:23
- What two exhortations, then, should we keep if we would always do the will of God? Ephesians 6:10; Philippians 4:4
- If we thus rejoice in the Lord, what will be the result? Philippians 4:6, 7
LESSON 6 - THE LOVE OF GOD
- In what does the Lord delight? Micah 7:18
- How is His mercy continually manifested? Lamentations 3:22, 23
- Is His mercy limited to any special class? Acts 17:25; Matthew 5:44, 45
- How has mankind repaid him for His love? Romans 3:23; Isaiah 1:4-6
- While all men were in this condition, how did God still further show His love for them? John 3:16; Romans 5:8
- Is there any difference between the, love of the Father and that of the Son? John 10:30; John 14:11
- Of what was Christ’s earthly ministry a manifestation? 2 Corinthians 5:19
- Into what relationship to God does His love bring us, if we accept it? 1 John 3:1
- What is given us to show that we are sons? Romans 8:14-16
- What is the witness of the Spirit that God accepts us as His children?
Answer – His word, which His Spirit inspired.
- What does the Holy Spirit beget in the hearts of those who receive it? Romans 5:5
- If the love of God is shed abroad in the heart, what effect will it have? 1 John 3:16; 1 John 4:11.
- How much should Christians love one another? John 15:12; 1 John 3:16
- What exhortation is based on Christ’s love for us? Ephesians 5:2
- If we have the love of God, will we love only those who love us? 1 John 4:10; Matthew 5:43-46
- Why do we love God? 1 John 4:19
- Did He first love us because of our goodness? Titus 3:3-6; Ephesians 2:1-6
- Why does God thus send His blessing upon us? Acts 3:26
- What may we expect if we are children of God? Hebrews 12:6-8; Revelation 3:19
- From what God has done for us, of what may we be sure? Romans 8:32
- What is God’s love able to do when enemies curse? Deuteronomy 23:5
- How enduring is God’s love? Jeremiah 31:3
- Can anything turn this love aside? Romans 8:38, 39
- Then, trusting in His love, how confident may we be of victory? Romans 8:37