DAVID DECLARES IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS Devotion 12 of 28 "And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:39). – Tomorrow:
"But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 'Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin." (Romans 4:5-8, NKJV)
I have shown that justification is appropriated by faith, and that those who believe ARE justified. Our last devotion also confirmed the priority of believing throughout Apostolic doctrine.
One might object to this line of reasoning, saying that the demons believe. Indeed, the Scriptures do say this. "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe; and tremble!" (James 2:19). However, as is evident, this is not the believing that saves the soul. Demons are never said to believe on Christ, or to have faith. They believe "there is one God," because they have dealings with Him. They have been personally confronted and cursed by God. Their believing is not driven by testimony, but by experience.
Those who believe only because they see, do not receive the blessing. This is confirmed by at least two notable texts. The first refers to the occasion when Thomas confronted the risen Christ. He had refused to believe until he saw. "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe" (John 20:25). He had to have tangible evidence. The next time the disciples met together, Jesus appeared to them. He personally challenged Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing." Thomas simply answered, "My Lord and my God." The response of Jesus is most significant. "Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (John 20:25-29). Notice, He did NOT bless Thomas, but pronounced the blessing on those who believed without seeing.
The second event that confirms believing on the basis of seeing is not blessed, is the day of judgment itself. Just as the demons have confronted God, so all men will eventually encounter the Living God. There will be no question about His reality. There will be no resistance of His power. No charges will be leveled against Him by His creation. At that time "saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God" (Rom 14:11). In that day sinners will believe there is one God in the same sense that demons do, and it will do them no more good than it has the demons!
Men will also confront the reigning Son. At that time, there also will be no question about His reality or power. God will unveil the Son to all, showing Him to be "the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords" (1 Tim 6:15). When He does, the word will be fulfilled, "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil 2:10-11). When Jesus was upon earth, the demons knew who He was, and bowed before Him, confessing Him to be "the Son of God" (Matt 8:29) and the "Holy One of God" (Mk 1:24). They saw and believed, but it did not save them. Sinners will see and believe on the day of judgment, but it will NOT save them!
All things will not continue as they are now. Eventually, everyone will be convinced that God is precisely who He declared Himself to be. All men will be fully persuaded that Jesus Christ is exactly who the Gospel affirmed Him to be. No one will doubt the existence of God in that day. No one will question the authority of Christ Jesus in that day. But that kind of persuasion will not save the soul! It is not the believing that is "to the saving of the soul" (Heb 10:39).
Thus, the demons, who do believe, are not an example of the believing that saves the soul. They have been faced with incontrovertible evidence, and tremble in the wake of it. James does not compare demons who "believe" with those who believe on Christ, or have faith in God – and neither should we. They are compared those who "believe there is one God." Believing there is one God is never associated with justification, forgiveness, or being made righteous.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name I thank You for the Gospel, and the faith it enables – the faith that empowers me to believe "unto the saving of the soul."