One Man's Plea for Understanding: Justification by Faith Alone

Here is Dr. C. Matthew McMahon's (from www.apuritansmind.com) exhortation for the church to call attention to the cornerstone of the Christian faith: Justification by Faith Alone!

Justification by Faith Alone: A Plea for Understanding
by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon

Most of the 21st century church despises doctrine. They simply hate to learn. They would much rather “feel” their way through a church service than listen to sound preaching. It may not necessarily be that they hate to learn, as if everyone hated such a thing (something they engage in every moment of every day) but surely their disability to think properly lends to their incapability to sit through a preaching service of two hours. (And such a length of time was not uncommon in the puritan era – as a matter of fact, many were just getting started at that point.) I suppose that it would be politically correct to say they are “mentally challenged.” We often use this phrase as a joke, but when it concerns the everlasting abode of the never dying soul and the theology they believe, then it is no laughing matter. This is not something profound or new. Far be it for a modern congregation to heartily cling to sound doctrine and teaching in this day and age of relative thought and its strategy towards the dissolution of absolute truth. If you are among the remnant of God who has been so blessed to find a biblically sound church, peace be unto to, and happiness be granted to your soul by the Lord Jesus! But for the rest of the church, they are steeped in false doctrine taught by false “prophets.” Ignorance is not bliss here. Most of the time the church has lent itself to this rejection of truth because they have not learned how to think. People simply do not have the skills to think rightly. Ask them what the law of non-contradiction is and they could not tell you, though they follow it all day long. But their long settled ignorance affords no excuse to beginning anew even now. The saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is not true for the Christian walk. The Christian should be learning about the Lord Jesus and the doctrines of the Bible every day.

In this plethora of sound doctrine to learn throughout the Bible, there are some doctrines which are certainly more important than others. For instance, the teachings concerning the genealogical lines of the Old Testament are not as important as the New Testament doctrine of adoption. I hope you agree with me that the genealogies are very important, and should be studied and read (yet most skip them in their daily Bible reading!). There are jewels to be found there in the book of Numbers, and Chronicles, and the like. But I think you would also agree that genealogies are not as important as the doctrine of Adoption. I would certainly teach the doctrine of Adoption much earlier before I would engage the church to listen to a sermon on the genealogies listed in Numbers or Chronicles.

However, in the sea of doctrine which we are all to be familiar with throughout the Word of God, there may be a doctrine which is more important than any other; one which is the most important of all. Some may vouchsafe for the atonement. I must admit, the atonement is crucial, critical and the crux of saving grace for the believer. But, the importance of a doctrine does not simply fall on the kind of doctrine or the content of the doctrine, but also on the need of the doctrine as well. Eschatology is very important, but not as important as the need to understand the atonement. Today, I believe, as it was in the sixteenth century, the need to regain lost ground in understanding the doctrine of Justification by faith alone has come to the forefront. Most people, even those in Reformed circles, those who claim Luther as a hero, have little to say about justification. I have been a member of solid reformed churches for quite a long time. Yet, I have heard very little about justification by faith alone. I cannot remember a sermon dedicated to the subject. It has been neglected in the school setting, in the home study groups, and in the pulpit. It is a vital doctrine that we cannot do without. Its urgency dictates the difference between one going to heaven and one going to hell. It is of crucial significance and should be rightly understood by those who claim Christ as their banner. If justification is misunderstood, being the pillar upon which the church stands or falls, then what will the rest of our doctrine look like? Will it be a nominal Christianity? Would it be works righteousness? I think it would. To understand that we must be clothed in the righteousness of Christ for safety in the Day of Judgment is of vital import.

As I believe the doctrine of seeking is all but lost in our day, I also believe the doctrine of justification is slowly being forgotten. Friends, without it we are lost. Without understanding it we will not truly perceive the great wonder of the grace of God in Christ. It is my hope that in this section of the website such a glorious truth may be exalted beyond measure, that it may bring a great amount of glory to the one true and living God of the Ages. Let us think rightly about one of the most, if not the most important doctrine in the entire bible, the Doctrine of Justification by Faith alone.

C. Matthew McMahon

May 1, 2002