What happens to the sinner who places faith in Jesus Christ? He is justified. The word justified is a legal term denoting right standing or vindication in the eyes of the law. In the context of this verse, the verb “to justify” means “to count as righteous, to declare righteous.” God declares the believer to be righteous and therefore entitled to all privileges of that status, including eternal salvation.
God removes the guilt and condemnation of sin. He removes sin’s stain both from His records and from man’s conscience. “
A man who has faith is now freely acquitted in the eyes of God by his generous dealing in the Redemptive Act of Jesus Christ” pg. 89-90 (the last sentance is a quote from Phillips that Bernard uses)
Justification comes freely. It comes through faith, not works or legal obedience. Justification is not merited, earned, or deserved. The source of justification is the grace of God. pg.89
If we believe in Christ and what He did for us, then His work becomes effective in our lives.pg 92
In other words, the propitiation is effective because of two things: blood and faith. The propitiation itself came by the blood of Christ. We apply the propitiation to our lives through faith. The basis of justification, then, is the blood of Christ. pg.92
In summary,
Romans 3:21-26 is one of the key passages of the Book of Romans and indeed of the entire Bible. It explains the fundamental principles of salvation for all mankind and enunciates the doctrine of justification by faith: on the basis of Christ’s death, God freely declares sinners to be righteous through their faith in Jesus Christ. pg. 94
God counts us righteous because of our faith in Him, not because of good works or strict adherence to law. We are justified “apart from the deeds of the law.” We cannot earn salvation in any way. God does not reward our good works or our holiness by granting salvation. We do not live holy in order to be saved; we live holy because we are saved. We do not work to salvation; we work from salvation. pg.95-96
“As Paul elsewhere shows, faith will result in obedience, and justification will issue in holy living, but the truth that justification is by faith alone is the very heart of Christianity.” pg. 96 (Bernard quotes Erdman)
Justification by faith does not mean mental acceptance instead of obedience, nor does it mean believing instead of doing. Rather it means pleading the merits of Christ instead of our own merits. p.100
Theres alot more. I have recently read William Barlcay's commentary on Romans and Warren Wieserbe's commentary on Romans. DKB's is almost verbatim, with the exception of the insertion of the "note of saving faith" which appears beginning on page .99, in which note he equates saving faith with obedience to
Acts 2:38 (as interpreted by the three stepper crowd). My point being, lets just allow the word to speak to us, and not redefine what it says, or say "well it says this, BUT it really means this." IOW, let me change the definition of faith, then I can say the same things all the mainstream guys do. Basically what it boils down to, because even though Bernards comments basically mirror what I have read from others, His meaning is completely different.
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