Romans Chapter Three Lesson 41

Review:

Some observations: What Justification is not!!

1. It is not forgiveness; it is so much more!

2. Justification is not a pardon; its much more;

3. Justification is not a change in character! But it is a change in position!

4. Justification is not a return to innocence.

What Justification is!

1. Justification is almost always used judicially. [legal term]

2. Since the judge is just and the one standing before him is guilty, condemned, under the wrath of God and since he is guilty, the full weight of the penalty of the law must fall on him.

Enter the scene, an advocate; Jesus Christ the righteous, on whom the full weight of our sins was placed at the cross.

And Jesus Christ, our advocate says Your Honor!

I paid the his debt in full and he has believed on Me!! I stand here in his place!

And the judge says, Righteous!! Case dismissed!

That is the essence of justification!

So what should we know??

It is not an infusion of a quality! It is the verdict of righteousness based on what someone else has done for you!

Question is this: How does anything that we can do deal with our sins??

DOCTRINE: JUSTIFICATION

Intro:

The doctrine of justification rests on a fundamental principle of justice:

No judge has the right to clear the guilty or condemn the innocent, God Himself is author of this principle and thus always acts in perfect harmony with it.

"How can God as judge impose the penalty that the offense requires and at the same time let the guilty one go free?"

A. The Source of Justification: God the Father

The source of justification is stated in the clearest terms in Romans 8:33 where we read, "God is the one who justifies...."

First, the word justify is directly linked to the word righteous

Second, justify is in a verb form whose ending has a declarative force.

Justification deals with our standing before God; while sanctification deals with our conduct of our lives before God after salvation.

B. The Grounds of Justification: The Blood of Christ

On what grounds can God declare the sinner righteous?

Christ's death meets the demands of God's righteousness and thus frees God to justify those who believe in Him.

The accomplishments of the death of Christ form the sole grounds on which God can extend forgiveness and salvation to any person.

C. The Instrument of Justification: Faith

Romans 3:28 refers to the fact that "a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law."

Faith views the cross as God the Father views the cross.

He views it as a complete and adequate solution to the problem of sin, and we must do likewise.

When we believe, we come to see that the death of Christ completely solved our sin problem; and we rest in that for our personal salvation.

D. The Principle of Justification: Grace

Again, from Romans 3:24 we learn that we are "justified as a gift by His grace...."

The word gift helps us understand the words "by His grace." We do not merit justification, and we cannot merit justification, it is a gift, it is by grace. This is God's principle in relating to the believer.

E. The Agent of Justification: The Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 6:11 reminds the Corinthians that they "...were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God."

Stated briefly, it is the Father who initiates justification, the Son who executes justification, and the Holy Spirit who applies justification to the one who believes.

F. The Position of Justification: Union With Christ

Speaking of justification, 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "He (God the Father) made Him (God the Son) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf (doctrine of substitution) that we might become the righteousness of God (doctrine of justification) in Him."

G. The Evidence of Justification: Works

James links Abraham's justification to two chapters in Genesis, each separated by a good number of years.

First, James 2:21 says, "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?"

Second, James 2:23 says, "...And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness...." This statement is a quote of Genesis 15:6.

Genesis 15 views his justification before God, while Genesis 22 views his justification before man.

#2. The 2nd key focus is "as a gift by His grace"

The believing one is being justified; declared righteous as a gift by His grace!

- this begins to explain what this great package of possessing God's +R; being justified, How it all comes to us!

It’s a gift one that is given by His grace!

What this verse is saying very strongly is that justification, being declared righteous is a "free grace gift" that comes by faith alone because it comes without cost and merit to the recipient through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.