"Man Is Justified by Faith"

Romans 3:21-31; Many Protestants attach greater importance to Paul's statements about being justified by faith alone than they do to almost any other single thing in the Bible. They so interpret these pronouncements as to "justify" themselves in breaking from the Catholic fold; and they erroneously conclude that men are saved by grace alone without doing the works of righteousness.

Romans 3:21-31; What is lacking in the sectarian world is a true knowledge of the law of justification. Simply stated that law is this: "'All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations' (D&C 132:7), in which men must abide to be saved and exalted, must be entered into and performed in righteousness so that the Holy Spirit can justify the candidate for salvation in what has been done. (1 Nephi 16:2; Jacob 2:13-14; Alma 41:15; D&C 98; 132:1, 62.) An act that is justified by the Spirit is one that is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, or in other words, ratified and approved by the Holy Ghost. This law of justification is the provision the Lord has placed in the gospel to assure that no unrighteous performance will be binding on earth and in heaven, and that no person will add to his position or glory in the hereafter by gaining an unearned blessing.

Romans 3:21-31; "As with all other doctrines of salvation, justification is available because of the atoning sacrifice of Christ, but it becomes operative in the life of an individual only on conditions of personal righteousness. As Paul taught, men are not justified by the works of the Mosaic law alone any more than men are saved by those works alone. The grace of God, manifest through the infinite and eternal atonement wrought by his Son, makes justification a living reality for those who seek righteousness. (Isaiah 53: 11; Mosiah 14: 11.)" (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed., p. 408.)

Romans 3:21-28; 21-28. Paul reasons and announces: All men have sinned; none, accordingly, are eligible to receive the glory of God, or in other words, to be saved. How, then, can sinners be saved? What will free them from their burden of sin and leave them clean and spotless? Or, as he expresses it, how can they be justified, meaning how can they be accounted and adjudged to be righteous?

Romans 3:21-28; He has already shown there was no power in the law of Moses to do this, for those who had the law, as his quotations proved, were still in their sins. But, he proclaims, by the grace of God redemption from sin is available through Christ. Through his blood all men, Jew and Gentile alike, can gain a remission of their sins.

Romans 3:21-28; What price must men pay for this precious gift? Not conformity to Mosaic standards, not compliance with the ordinances and performances of a dead law, but the price of faith, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, faith that includes within itself enduring works of righteousness, which faith cannot so much as exist unless and until men conform their lives to gospel standards.

Romans 3:21-28; Does salvation come, then, by works? No, not by the works of the law of Moses, and for that matter, not even by the more perfect works of the gospel itself. Salvation comes through Christ's atonement, through the ransom he paid, the propitiation he made; without this no good works on the part of men could redeem them from temporal death, which redemption is resurrection, or redeem them from spiritual death, which redemption is eternal life.

Romans 3:21-28; Apparently there were some Roman converts from Judaism who believed the false concept that salvation came through the law of Moses alone, and hence the need for Paul to take the approach and make the explanations here given. That there had been, two hundred years before on the American continent, those who had this false view of the law of Moses, we do know from the Book of Mormon account. To them, Abinadi, discussing these matters said:

Romans 3:21-28; "And now ye have said that salvation cometh by the law of Moses. I say unto you that it is expedient that ye should keep the law of Moses as yet; but I say unto you, that the time shall come when it shall no more be expedient to keep the law of Moses. And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses." (Mosiah 13:27-28.)

Romans 3:21; 21. The prophets and teachers in the days of the law of Moses taught that salvation would be offered to the Gentiles who did not have the law.

Romans 3:22; 22. This salvation would come to all through faith in Christ.

Romans 3:24; 24. His grace] See Ephesians 2:1-10. Redemption] See Revelation 5:1-14.

Romans 3:25; 25. Propitiation] See 1 John 1:8-10; 2:1-2. His blood] See Hebrews 10:1-18.

Romans 3:26; 26. Paul here says that God is just, in that he punishes the sinner, and at the same time that he is a justifier of those who believe in Christ, in that such receive mercy and are not punished. This same principle is taught by Alma in these words: "According to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God. And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence. And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also." (Alma 42:13-15.)

Romans 3:27; 27. The law of faith] Faith operates by law. To obtain faith men must abide the law upon which its receipt is predicated. To exercise the power that is faith men must obey the laws governing such usage. "Three things are necessary in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation," the Prophet Joseph Smith taught. These he named as: 1. "'The idea that he actually exists'; 2. 'A correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes'; and 3. 'An actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing is according to his will.' " (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed., p. 262.) See Hebrews 11: 1-3.

Romans 3:27; Those who exercise faith, always and invaringly work miracles, and possess the gifts and signs promised the faithful. Thus when Paul says a man is justified by faith, he means he is justified only if he is keeping the commandments and so living that he has power to work miracles and display the fruits of faith.

Romans 3:30; 30. The circumcision] Jews. Uncircumcision] Gentiles.

Romans 3:31; 31. By turning to Christ, those who had the law of Moses fulfil and do honor to that very law, for Christ himself gave the law, and the law was designed to point Israel's attention forward to the coming of Christ and the higher law which he would bring. (Mosiah 13:29-32.)