Justification
NOTES FROM PASTOR DAN - JUSTIFICATION
Thus far on our journey we have discussed man’s overwhelming need for salvation and God’s goodness to save. We have considered the simple and straightforward message of the gospel and the obligation of every man to respond to it in faith. This, however, is only the beginning of salvation, for God has promised to transform our lives, mold us into the image of His Son, and ultimately transfer us into the glory of His eternal kingdom in heaven. Although we will deal with these aspects of salvation separately, we must remember that salvation is a singular and unified work of the Holy Spirit within an individual’s life that will absolutely be brought to completion. So, let’s begin by thinking deeply about God’s justification of man.
All have sinned and none are righteous. If justice is to prevail, all must receive the punishment due for sin. To withhold that punishment arbitrarily is by definition unjust, so death and hell are necessary components of justice. Since God is neither arbitrary nor is He unjust, someone must pay for every sin that has been committed, and that someone must be one of two people. Obviously, the first person is the one who has committed the sin in the first place. You are guilty, and you must pay the price for your sin. The second option is to find someone who can stand in your place and take your punishment for you. Here is the problem. You have to pay for your sins, and I have to pay for my sins. No matter how much I might love you or want to pay for your sins, I can’t. My sins have left me bankrupt and, upon paying for my own sin, I have nothing left to pay for yours. You must find someone who is sinless who can satisfy God’s justice by offering His sinless life for yours. This is what Paul is saying when he says God is both just and the justifier (Romans 3:26). Therefore it seems that justification is a saving from something and a saving to something; justification is God’s loving act of redemption (saving from) and reconciliation (saving to).
A vile criminal was condemned to die. He fully deserved his punishment and his fate was sealed. When there was no escaping the grip of the executioner and he had absolutely nothing to offer in exchange for his life, he whimpered, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Such miniscule faith was exhibited. He only asked to be remembered; not to be rescued or given absolution. The criminal didn’t want to slip out of this life into oblivion, so he asked Jesus to think of him as though a thought might offer some consolation. So Jesus’ gift of redemption had to be startling. “Today you will be with me in paradise” meant the criminal’s cursed, worthless existence (in the eyes of the world) would be exchanged for eternal bliss. A criminal was redeemed and made into a saint all because of the smallest request made in faith (Luke 23:32-43).
In love God has redeemed those who believe, rescuing them from the punishment of sin. God has graciously forgiven our sin because of the shed blood of Jesus. God has taken the righteousness of Christ and placed it on all who have faith in Jesus. Only because of Jesus' sacrifice will God pass over and thus forgive our sin (Romans 3:21-26). Again, forgiveness is not arbitrary. Forgiveness is only available through the willing and appropriate sacrifice of One who is worthy and sinless. The blood of bulls and goats cannot eternally redeem a sinner. Only the blood of the perfect Lamb of God can redeem us from death and hell, and in Christ alone we have eternal and complete forgiveness (Hebrews 10).
Isn’t the feeling of forgiveness wonderful? You might imagine a season of anger, resentment, disagreement, and discord in your family. You found yourself at odds with a loved one, and there was an emotional wall between you. She was angry with you… You were angry with her, and that was the end of it. And then one of you apologized for the wrong that was committed. Forgiveness was given and the relationship was restored. This is a picture of reconciliation.
Not only are we saved from the penalty of sin, but we are also saved to a restored relationship with God and, unlike the illustration above, only we have wrongly broken fellowship with God. God has always been faithful to His covenant with His people and has never violated His relationship with man. Mankind decided to enter a war of sin against God; we were enemies of God, and only the death of His son could restore our relationship with Him (Romans 5:9-11). We have been saved from our sin and saved to His marvelous love and light. We have been saved to the joy and hope of a life that is abundant and free from the consequences of sin. This is the crux of justification. In Jesus the curse of sin is pardoned, and we live as though we never sinned in the first place.
Thus far on our journey we have discussed man’s overwhelming need for salvation and God’s goodness to save. We have considered the simple and straightforward message of the gospel and the obligation of every man to respond to it in faith. This, however, is only the beginning of salvation, for God has promised to transform our lives, mold us into the image of His Son, and ultimately transfer us into the glory of His eternal kingdom in heaven. Although we will deal with these aspects of salvation separately, we must remember that salvation is a singular and unified work of the Holy Spirit within an individual’s life that will absolutely be brought to completion. So, let’s begin by thinking deeply about God’s justification of man.
All have sinned and none are righteous. If justice is to prevail, all must receive the punishment due for sin. To withhold that punishment arbitrarily is by definition unjust, so death and hell are necessary components of justice. Since God is neither arbitrary nor is He unjust, someone must pay for every sin that has been committed, and that someone must be one of two people. Obviously, the first person is the one who has committed the sin in the first place. You are guilty, and you must pay the price for your sin. The second option is to find someone who can stand in your place and take your punishment for you. Here is the problem. You have to pay for your sins, and I have to pay for my sins. No matter how much I might love you or want to pay for your sins, I can’t. My sins have left me bankrupt and, upon paying for my own sin, I have nothing left to pay for yours. You must find someone who is sinless who can satisfy God’s justice by offering His sinless life for yours. This is what Paul is saying when he says God is both just and the justifier (Romans 3:26). Therefore it seems that justification is a saving from something and a saving to something; justification is God’s loving act of redemption (saving from) and reconciliation (saving to).
A vile criminal was condemned to die. He fully deserved his punishment and his fate was sealed. When there was no escaping the grip of the executioner and he had absolutely nothing to offer in exchange for his life, he whimpered, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Such miniscule faith was exhibited. He only asked to be remembered; not to be rescued or given absolution. The criminal didn’t want to slip out of this life into oblivion, so he asked Jesus to think of him as though a thought might offer some consolation. So Jesus’ gift of redemption had to be startling. “Today you will be with me in paradise” meant the criminal’s cursed, worthless existence (in the eyes of the world) would be exchanged for eternal bliss. A criminal was redeemed and made into a saint all because of the smallest request made in faith (Luke 23:32-43).
In love God has redeemed those who believe, rescuing them from the punishment of sin. God has graciously forgiven our sin because of the shed blood of Jesus. God has taken the righteousness of Christ and placed it on all who have faith in Jesus. Only because of Jesus' sacrifice will God pass over and thus forgive our sin (Romans 3:21-26). Again, forgiveness is not arbitrary. Forgiveness is only available through the willing and appropriate sacrifice of One who is worthy and sinless. The blood of bulls and goats cannot eternally redeem a sinner. Only the blood of the perfect Lamb of God can redeem us from death and hell, and in Christ alone we have eternal and complete forgiveness (Hebrews 10).
Isn’t the feeling of forgiveness wonderful? You might imagine a season of anger, resentment, disagreement, and discord in your family. You found yourself at odds with a loved one, and there was an emotional wall between you. She was angry with you… You were angry with her, and that was the end of it. And then one of you apologized for the wrong that was committed. Forgiveness was given and the relationship was restored. This is a picture of reconciliation.
Not only are we saved from the penalty of sin, but we are also saved to a restored relationship with God and, unlike the illustration above, only we have wrongly broken fellowship with God. God has always been faithful to His covenant with His people and has never violated His relationship with man. Mankind decided to enter a war of sin against God; we were enemies of God, and only the death of His son could restore our relationship with Him (Romans 5:9-11). We have been saved from our sin and saved to His marvelous love and light. We have been saved to the joy and hope of a life that is abundant and free from the consequences of sin. This is the crux of justification. In Jesus the curse of sin is pardoned, and we live as though we never sinned in the first place.