"Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, 'Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.' And Jesus said to him, 'I will come and heal him.' The centurion answered and said, 'Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word and my servant will be healed'" (Matt. 8:5-8).
Faith is depending on the word of God only, and expecting that word to do what the word says. Justification by faith, then, is justification by depending on the word of God only, and expecting that word to accomplish it. Justification by faith is righteousness by faith; for justification is being declared righteous.
Faith comes by the word of God. Justification by faith, then, comes by the word of God. Righteousness by faith is righteousness that comes by the word of God.
The word of God is self-fulfilling; for in creating all things, "He spoke, and it was done" (Psalm 33:9). And when He was on earth, He stilled the raging sea, cleansed the lepers, healed the sick, raised the dead, and forgave sins, all by His word; there too, "He spoke and it was done."
The same One who in creating "spoke and it was done" speaks the righteousness of God unto and upon all that believe. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth ... to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed" (Rom. 3:23-25).
It is this way precisely in our life. In man's life there is no righteousness which can appear in his life. But God set forth Christ to declare righteousness unto and upon man. Christ has spoken the word only, and in the darkened void of man's life there is righteousness to everyone who will receive it.
The word of God received by faith produces righteousness in the life where there never was any before. As in the original creation, the word of God produced worlds where there never were any worlds before." [1]
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