“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” (Romans 3:20-22a)
These words from Saint Paul comprise one of the great passages of the Reformation. When Martin Luther read it the Lord revealed to him this great truth of salvation by faith alone. Luther realized that this truth was one which the Roman Catholic had ignored, hid, or misunderstood. He hoped by bringing it to the attention of the Church authorities, including the Pope, they would realize their error and repent thus freeing all believers from the bondage of the Law. The church authorities did not agree. They continued to proclaim and enforce a gospel of works. Their power and prestige was at stake, so they refused to budge.
Luther went on to proclaim the truth of the Gospel that we are saved by faith in Christ alone, not by our good deeds, works of charity, not even by our keeping of God’s Law. Today many people are blessed by Luther’s proclamation. But billions more think they can balance the scales of God’s justice (whatever form that may take) and atone for their sins by good works. The fact is, however, no one can. To think so is itself the sin of pride.
It is the Lord Jesus who makes make us right with God the Father. Because of what Jesus has done, Almighty God justifies us. He declares and makes us righteous. He fills us with His Holy Spirit who enables us to do good works. The Lord God does not excuse or ignore sin, nor does He merely forgive it for sin is a serious matter to Him. There really is nothing we can do to atone for our sins. So in love, Almighty God has taken the necessary steps to make us right with Him by offering up His Son Jesus as our propitiation, our sin offering.
This work of salvation is all God’s work. We human beings add nothing to it, for even the faith to believe and accept it comes from God. He enables us to see our sinful depravity and our hopeless state. He enables us to repent of sin, that is, agree that we have done wrong but are powerless to do right as God demands. And so, as we stand on the edge of the abyss of despair, He reaches out to us with His mercy obtained by the cross of Jesus alone and grants us the faith to believe and so be saved.