JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH: OLD TESTAMENT DOCTRINE

INDUCTIVE BIBLE TOPIC STUDY

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH: OLD TESTAMENT DOCTRINE

WHAT GOD REQUIRED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT FOR A RELATIONSHIP

By Dennis Schmidt 11/2006

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This paper discusses the Old Testament saints and what God required of them for a relationship. The paper shows that they were born again. They were saved the same way we are, by faith in God. Justification by faith is an Old Testament principle. All scriptures are from the King James' version Bible.

INDUCTIVE COMMENTS:

THEME: There are many Old Testament individuals who lived their faith. God imputed righteous to them and they received the promise with us as heirs and co-heirs with Christ. The same Holy Spirit in us was also in them. Their faith was shown through their works of faith.

Galatians 3:6-9 "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. {7} Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. {8} And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, <saying>, In thee shall all nations be blessed. {9} So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham."

PURPOSE: Not by law, or works, but faith

Romans 4:22 "And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness." Romans the book of faith & God's redemption plan.

Galatians 3:6 "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Galatians the book of faith over works.

James 2:23 "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." James the book of works with faith.

KEY VERSE:

Romans 4:2-3 "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath <whereof> to glory; but not before God. {3} For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." Works can not purify. Scriptures = Genesis 15:6.

Genesis 15:6 "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." 1st he = Abraham & 2nd he = God.

WHO: God written mostly by Bible authors Moses and Paul.

TO WHOM: Elected men and women

WHAT: Like Abraham believed or had faith in God, so we must believe and it will be accounted, imputed, and reckoned for our righteousness.

Galatians 3:6 "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."

WHY: Children of Abraham by faith.

Romans 4:12 "And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which <he had> being uncircumcised." From Abraham comes three nations: Jews, Arabs & Christians.

Romans 4:16 "Therefore <it is> of faith, that <it might be> by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all," Our father Abraham.

WAY: Through Abraham through Christ to us by faith.

Galatians 3:14 "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Faith is an Old Testament doctrine.

Galatians 3:16 "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." Through Abraham through Christ to us.

WHEREAS: Abraham's faith saved him before he was circumcised which is a sign of law.

Psalms 106:31 "And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore."

Romans 4:11 "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which <he had yet> being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:"

WHERE: Earth

WHEN: When the person believes like Abraham.

WHILE: Some did not receive the promise as they decided to go on to perfection.

Hebrews 11:13 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of <them>, and embraced <them>, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

Hebrews 11:39-40 "And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: {40} God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." They received the promise after Christ redeemed mankind.

PAPER OUTLINE:

I) DEFINITIONS:

A) JUSTIFIED:

B) RIGHTEOUS:

C) IMPUTED:

II) ABRAHAM:

A) ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD. IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS:

B) WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM WHO IS OUR FATHER:

C) ALSO CHILDREN OF GOD:

D) ALL NATIONS (FAMILIES) OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED:

E) THEY WHICH BE OF FAITH ARE BLESSED WITH FAITHFUL ABRAHAM:

III) SCRIPTURES ON THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITH:

IV) SCRIPTURES ON COUNTED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS:

V) FAITH:

VI) WHAT GOD INSTRUCTS US ABOUT THE LAW:

VII) WHAT GOD INSTRUCTS US ABOUT WORKS:

VIII) FURTHER SCRIPTURE ABOUT OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS BEING SAVED BY FAITH:

IX) CONCLUSION:

I) DEFINITIONS:

A) JUSTIFIED: How can a righteous, holy God forgive sinners and accept them as if they never sinned? God performed a legal and formal acquittal from guilt to the believer. He declared us to be righteous by imputation.

See my paper: "Justification" for more information on this subject.

B) RIGHTEOUS: Character of being right, just, holy, clean & pure. God conforms to a moral proper standard or norm. To miss the norm is to sin. Jesus alone was perfect. He is the rock.

See my paper: "True Gospel for Salvation by the Inputed Righteousness of Jesus" for more information on this subject.

C) IMPUTED: God reckon to us, account us, & attribute us His righteous. It does not imply a transfer of moral qualities but credits us with Jesus righteous as our innocent substitute. Jesus fulfilled the law & His payment of our debt was reckoned to us.

See my paper: "Imputed/Reckoned/Counted Righteousness of Jesus" for more information on this subject.

II) ABRAHAM: Our - Example, Father, Nation & Blessings

A) ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD. IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS:

See my paper: "What is a Born-Again & How to Become One?" for more information on this subject.

Genesis 15:6 "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." 1st he = Abraham & 2nd he = God.

Romans 4:22 "And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness." Romans the book of faith & God's redemption plan.

Galatians 3:6 "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Galatians the book of faith over works.

B) WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM WHO IS OUR FATHER:

See my paper: "Gospel in the Genealogy of Adam" for more information on this subject.

C) ALSO CHILDREN OF GOD:

See my paper: "Disciples & Others of Jesus Family" for more information on this subject.

Galatians 3:26 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Faith in Jesus brings us into God's family.

Galatians 3:29 "And if ye <be> Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Faith makes us Abraham's

D) ALL NATIONS (FAMILIES) OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED:

Genesis 12:3 "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." God's promises are to Abraham & us for our faith.

Genesis 22:16-18 "And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only <son>: {17} That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which <is> upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; {18} And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." We are included in the seed of faith through Abraham.

E) THEY WHICH BE OF FAITH ARE BLESSED WITH FAITHFUL ABRAHAM:

III) SCRIPTURES ON THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITH: Both scriptures.

Habakkuk 2:4 "Behold, his soul <which> is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."

Romans 1:17 "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." Written in Genesis. God's plan to justify mankind.

Galatians 3:11 "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, <it is> evident: for, The just shall live by faith."

Hebrews 10:38 "Now the just shall live by faith: but if <any man> draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."

Romans 3:27-28 "Where <is> boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. {28} Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." The law shows sin. The faithful man is imputed righteous.

IV) SCRIPTURES ON COUNTED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS:

Psalms 106:31 "And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore."

2 Corinthians 5:19 "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."

V) FAITH:

Faith is not the same as hope. Hope is wishing for something. Faith is having it in a faith dimension. When God reveals (manifests) it to this dimension is up to Him. We are to believe, when we pray, that the answer has already occurred. Future prayers are thanksgiving & praise for God's gift we already have in faith.

See my paper: "Faith" for more information on this subject.

Hebrews 11:6 "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."

Romans 14:23 "And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because <he eateth> not of faith: for whatsoever <is> not of faith is sin."

VI) WHAT GOD INSTRUCTS US ABOUT THE LAW:

See my paper: "Questions & Answers on Law, Fatih, & Liberty" for more information on this subject.

Romans 4:11 above, shows faith justification came before the law.

Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law <is> the knowledge of sin." The law shows us to be sinners who need a savior Jesus.

Galatians 3:21 "<Is> the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law."

Galatians 3:24 "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster <to bring us> unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. {25} But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."

Galatians 3:10 "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed <is> every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." To follow the law, means to follow it perfectly.

Romans 4:4-8 "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. {5} But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. {6} Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, {7} <Saying>, Blessed <are> they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. {8} Blessed <is> the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." David failed to follow the law when he committed both adultery and murder. His statement in Ps. 32:1 about imputation shows his belief in faith for righteous.

Colossians 2:14 "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross"Jesus said it is finish. law fulfilled

Romans 10:4 "For Christ <is> the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." This shows God's righteousness plan.

VII) WHAT GOD INSTRUCTS US ABOUT WORKS:

See my paper: "What Doe God Really Want?" for more information on this subject.

Ephesians 2:8-10 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: <it is> the gift of God: {9} Not of works, lest any man should boast. {10} For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."God has set up the works we are to do.

Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Romans 13:10 "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love <is> the fulfilling of the law." Our work is to love others.

Colossians 1:10 "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;" A Christian should do good works from his love.

1 Timothy 6:18 "That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;"

James 2:17-18 "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. {18} Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works." Faith will have works to show it's real.

VIII) FURTHER SCRIPTURE ABOUT OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS BEING SAVED BY FAITH:

Following are many Old Testament individuals who lived their faith. God imputed righteous to them and they received the promise with us as heirs and co-heirs with Christ. The same Holy Spirit in us was also in them. Their faith was shown through their works of faith.

See my paper: "Jesus in the Old Testament" for more information on this subject.

See my paper: "Messianic Prophecies that Jesus Fulfilled" for more information on this subject.

Hebrews 11:4-5 "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. {5} By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God."

Hebrews 11:7 "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." Noah's faith prior to Moses law.

Hebrews 11:11 "Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised."

Hebrews 11:21-23 "By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, <leaning> upon the top of his staff. {22} By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. {23} By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw <he was> a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment."

Hebrews 11:31-32 "By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. {32} And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and <of> Barak, and <of> Samson, and <of> Jephthae; <of> David also, and Samuel, and <of> the prophets:"

1 Peter 1:10-11 "Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace <that should come> unto you: {11} Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." The Holy Spirit of Christ which was in them.

IX) CONCLUSION:

Jesus in Eph. 4:8 ascended with the Old Testament saints to heaven.

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This page is maintained by Dennis Schmidt. Please send your questions or comments to (dennisschmidt@att.net).