Christ the Way of Life
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James writes of Abraham and says, “Was not Abraham our father
justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith
made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham
believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he
was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is
justified, and not by faith only” (
James 2:21-24
). In order for man to
be justified by faith, faith must reach a point where it will control the
affections and impulses of the heart; and it is by obedience that faith
itself is made perfect.
Faith the Condition of Promise
Without the grace of Christ, the sinner is in a hopeless condition;
nothing can be done for him; but through divine grace, supernatural
power is imparted to the man, and works in mind and heart and char-
acter. It is through the impartation of the grace of Christ that sin is
discerned in its hateful nature, and finally driven from the soul temple.
It is through grace that we are brought into fellowship with Christ, to
be associated with Him in the work of salvation. Faith is the condition
upon which God has seen fit to promise pardon to sinners; not that
there is any virtue in faith whereby salvation is merited, but because
faith can lay hold of the merits of Christ, the remedy provided for sin.
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Faith can present Christ’s perfect obedience instead of the sinner’s
transgression and defection. When the sinner believes that Christ is
his personal Saviour, then, according to His unfailing promises, God
pardons his sin, and justifies him freely. The repentant soul realizes
that his justification comes because Christ, as his substitute and surety,
has died for him, is his atonement and righteousness.
“Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righ-
teousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of
grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him
that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (
Ro-
mans 4:3-5
). Righteousness is obedience to the law. The law demands
righteousness, and this the sinner owes to the law; but he is incapable
of rendering it. The only way in which he can attain to righteousness is
through faith. By faith he can bring to God the merits of Christ, and the
Lord places the obedience of His Son to the sinner’s account. Christ’s