#20 - Joby Martin // Justification through Faith Alone

Summary

Summary of Podcast Episode #20: "Justification through Faith Alone" with Joby Martin

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson
• Hosts: Pastor Joby Martin (Church of Eleven22) & Kyle Thompson (Undaunted.Life)
• Episode: #20 - Joby Martin // Justification through Faith Alone
• Release Date: January 28, 2025

Overview: In Episode #20 of The Daily Blade, Pastor Joby Martin delves deep into the theological concept of justification by faith alone, dissecting key passages from Romans Chapter 3. This comprehensive discussion challenges prevailing misconceptions within the Christian community regarding salvation and righteousness, emphasizing that faith in Jesus Christ is the sole basis for being justified before God.

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1. Introduction to Romans Chapter 3

Timestamp [00:20]

Joby Martin opens the episode by revisiting Romans Chapter 3, building on the foundation that "no one is righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10). He highlights Apostle Paul's assertion that "by works of the law, no human being will be justified in his sight. Since through the law comes knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:19).

Joby Martin [00:20]: "For by works of the law, no human being will be justified in his sight. This has historically been called works based righteousness."

2. Defining Righteousness: Identity Over Activity

Timestamp [00:35]

Joby emphasizes that in Romans, "righteousness" refers to a right identity or standing before God, not merely right actions. He argues that Paul aims to correct the belief that personal improvement through good works can achieve righteousness.

Joby Martin [00:35]: "Righteousness in the book of Romans does not mean right activity. It means a right identity. It means a right standing before God."

3. The Misconception of Works-Based Righteousness

Timestamp [01:30]

Addressing a common belief, Joby references a Gallup poll revealing that over 60% of Americans think good works influence one's entry into heaven. He clarifies that while good works are vital, they serve as evidence of salvation rather than a means to obtain it.

Joby Martin [01:30]: "People believe that your good works impact whether you get into heaven or not. Now, are works important? They're very important, but they are evidence that you have been saved. They are not a precursor or a prerequisite to your salvation."

4. Justification Defined: A Legal Declaration

Timestamp [02:15]

Joby explains the term "justified" using a legal analogy. Justification is likened to being declared not guilty in a court of law, despite actual guilt. This status is granted through faith in Jesus Christ, who bears the penalty for sin.

Joby Martin [02:15]: "Justified is a legal term. To be justified means that, like in a court of law, then you are presumed or you are declared not guilty, when in actuality you are guilty."

5. Faith Versus Works: The Core of Salvation

Timestamp [02:50]

Reiterating the central theme, Joby asserts that salvation is solely through faith in Jesus Christ, not through any human effort or religious activity. Good works demonstrate the transformation brought by faith but do not contribute to justification.

Joby Martin [02:50]: "There is no good thing that you can do to justify yourself before the Lord. This is called a work-based righteousness and it will not save you."

6. Addressing 'Beach Ball Theology': The Illusion of Self-Salvation

Timestamp [03:30]

Using the metaphor of "beach ball theology," Joby critiques the notion that Christians can manage sin through sheer willpower. He illustrates the futility of trying to suppress sin without divine assistance, emphasizing the necessity of surrendering to Jesus for true freedom.

Joby Martin [03:30]: "If you can just grab onto your sin and you could by your own strength hold it down and hold it under, then that's what it means to walk with Christ. That is not being a Christian. Being a Christian is not sin management."

7. The Power of Submission and Surrender to Christ

Timestamp [04:10]

Joby encourages listeners to fully submit and surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. He describes how Christ empowers believers to overcome the struggle with sin by taking away its power, rather than relying on their own efforts.

Joby Martin [04:10]: "When you submit and surrender to him and you ask for his help, he pulls out his pocket knife and jabs your beach ball and he sucks all the power out of it."

8. Concluding the Message: Faith as the Sole Means of Salvation

Timestamp [04:40]

In his concluding remarks, Joby reinforces that salvation is achieved through faith in Jesus Christ alone. He underscores that external factors like church attendance, good deeds, or listener engagement do not contribute to one's salvation.

Joby Martin [04:40]: "It is not your good works that save you. It's not your church attendance. It's not the fact that you listen to the Daily Blade. ... What saves you is your faith in Jesus Christ. Know that. Peace."

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Key Takeaways:

• Justification by Faith: True righteousness and justification before God are granted through faith in Jesus Christ, not by human works or efforts.
• Misunderstanding of Works: While good works are important, they are evidence of salvation rather than the means to achieve it.
• Rejection of Sin Management: Christianity is not about managing sin through personal strength but about relying on Christ's power to overcome it.
• Essence of Faith: Faith in Jesus Christ is the sole factor in salvation, transcending any external religious activities or personal deeds.

Notable Quotes:

• "For by works of the law, no human being will be justified in his sight." (00:20)
• "There is no good thing that you can do to justify yourself before the Lord." (02:50)
• "What saves you is your faith in Jesus Christ." (04:40)

Conclusion: Pastor Joby Martin's episode on "Justification through Faith Alone" offers a profound exploration of Pauline theology, challenging listeners to reassess their understanding of salvation. By emphasizing faith over works, Joby calls Christians to embrace their identity in Christ, relying solely on Him for justification and transformation.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to the Daily Blade. The word of God is described as the sword of the spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.

[B]

Welcome back to the book of Romans, chapter three. Yesterday we just established this simple reality that the Bible says that no one is righteous, not even one. We're going to pick it up in verse 19 where the apostle Paul says to the church in Rome. Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped and the whole world may be held accountable to God. And here's the verse I want to hang out on. For by works of the law, no human being will be justified in his sight. Since through the law comes knowledge of sin. Let me say that again. For by works of the law, no human being will be justified in his sight. This has historically been called works based righteousness. We'll find out tomorrow that the word righteousness in the book of Romans does not mean right activity. It means a right identity. It means a right standing before God. And Paul wants us to know that we're not just bad people, we're dead people, we're sinners. And then he wants us to know that the answer is not found in us making ourselves better. The overwhelming majority of church people in America do not believe this. There was a Gallup poll where, where people were asked what it takes to get into heaven. And over 60% of the people said that your good works impact on whether you get into heaven or not. Let me say it again. People believe that your good works impact whether you get into heaven or not. Now, are works important? They're very important, but they are evidence that you have been saved. They are not a precursor or a prerequisite to your salvation. I don't know how people miss this when Paul just says, for by works of the law no human will be justified. Justified is a legal term. To be justified means that, like in a court of law, then you are presumed or you are declared not guilty, when in actuality you are guilty. Now, this is not a complete definition, but it will help you remember it, that if you put your faith in Jesus Christ from God's perspective, it's just as if I'd never sinned. In other words, that you and I don't pay the penalty for our sin because Christ has paid the full penalty at the cross. Now do we do good works. Of course we do. The whole book of James is about this. That once you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then not only are we saved by grace, but we are saved to do good works. But do not get this confused. There is no good thing that you can do to justify yourself before the Lord. This is called a workspace righteousness and it will not save you. There's no amount of religious activity you can do. There's no amount of justice efforts that you could undergo that would make you right before God. What does it take? It takes you submitting and surrendering your life to the lordship of Jesus Christ. You see, identity precedes activity around here. Where I live in Jacksonville, we call this beach ball theology. And there's a lot of people that think what it means to be a good Christian, even though there's no such thing as a good Christian, there's just alive or dead. Is that you grab ahold of your sin. Like you would take a beach ball and try to hold it under the water. Have you ever tried to hold a beach ball under the water? Well, how long can you do it? Well, it depends. Some of you yoked up guys could probably do it for a little while, but eventually, eventually your arms get tired or the waves are too big or, or the sunscreen's too slippery and you lose a hold of the beach ball. And the beach ball does not lightly float back up to the top. It explodes in your face. This is how many people treat their salvation. They think if they can just grab onto their sin and they could by their own strength hold it down and hold it under, then that's what it means to walk with Christ. That is not Being a Christian is not sin management. The good news of the Gospel of Jesus is that he walks along. He sees you in your struggle with your sin. And when you submit and surrender to him and you ask for his help, he pulls out his pocket knife and jabs your beach ball and he sucks all the power out of it. So here's what I need you to know. It is not your good works that save you. It's not your church attendance. It's not the fact that you listen to the Daily Blade. It's not the way you treat other people. That is not what saves you. What saves you is your faith in Jesus Christ. Know that. Peace.

[A]

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