ROMANS 5:1; 8:1, 33-34; PHILIPPIANS 3:5
SUBJECT: SALVATION/
JUSTIFICATION
THEME: You can know by
the work of the Spirit of God and the statements of the Word of God that you
are viewed as righteous before God. Peace, assurance, acceptance, freedom from
condemnation, and a lifestyle of fruitful activities that honor God and help
others are proofs of justification.
INTRODUCTION:
We know that God on the
basis of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection declares believing sinners
justified in His sight. Therefore, we are no longer obligated to sin’s penalty,
and we are set free from its guilt to live for God’s glory. But, how can we
know we are justified? How can we hear the Judge’s verdict and final
declaration concerning our case? Is there real proof in the Bible…is there a
standard by which I can examine my own heart to discover whether I am indeed
justified before God? Can I truly know God views me as righteous? What about
those times when I feel guilty for past sins that God has forgiven? Is it
possible for God to declare us as un-justified because we failed morally?
These are great
questions and yes, God has anticipated such inquiries and provided answers in
his word to help us with this. Let us look together at his answers....
LESSON:
I. What is The Proof of
Justified Sinners?
When a person is fully
accepted by the Lord based on the work of Jesus Christ, they should have some
evidence or indication in their lives that they are indeed justified. The
following is a list of what God stated specifically about the characteristics of
justification with regards to the Believer’s experience.
A. BECAUSE WE ARE JUSTIFIED
WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD.
Romans 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ:
Clearly,
the great apostle links justification by faith in the finished work of Jesus
Christ to a consequent spiritual and internal “peace” for the new convert. This
is not relational in its nature nor is it horizontal referring to other people.
No, it is entirely vertical pointing directly to the state of affairs between
the Lord God and the repentant-believing new convert. I love what W.A. Elwell
says regarding this peace,
The nature
of this gift of peace brought by Jesus may be easier to explain by stating what
it is not. It is not an end to tension, an absence of warfare, domestic
tranquility, nor anything like the worldly estimation of peace (Lk 12:51–53; Jn
14:27; 16:32, 33). Its presence may, on the contrary, actually disturb existing
relations, being a dividing “sword” in familial relations (Mt 10:34–37). Jesus’
gift of peace is, in reality, the character and mood of the new covenant of his
blood which reconciles God to man (Rom 5:1; Col 1:20) and forms the basis of
subsequent reconciliation between men under Christ (Eph 2:14–22).[1]
I can
clearly recall the turbulence and fantastic disturbance in my own soul prior to
my conversion while under the preaching of the gospel. I was anxious,
concerned, fearful, ashamed, and desperately in need of God to deal graciously
with me. I had lived in sin for years…real sin occupied my heart, thoughts,
motives, dreams, and life. I was guilty in the presence of perfect holiness,
righteousness and justice…. I was entirely without excuse and there was nothing
I could leverage to secure a plea bargain or win the righteous judge’s favor.
I am so
thankful that the preaching that night I was saved pointed to Jesus as the
payment for all my sins! Yes, even my darkest sins…Jesus paid for it and that
night I acknowledged my guilt and embraced the complete payment of Jesus Christ
on my behalf…for my sins…all of my sins. When God forgave me that night…when he
released me from the eternal responsibility for my sinfulness…when God declared
me righteous through faith in Jesus…I knew it! The joy and peace and the sense
that I was forgiven flooded my soul like the noon day sun fills the sky! I was
no longer under conviction to be saved; I was now being assured that I was
saved by the same Spirit of God. Peace with God was the new reality for me.
Peace…wonderful sweet eternal peace with the righteous Judge!
The first
great benefit enjoyed by those of us who have been justified by faith is
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The war is over.
Hostilities have ceased. Through the work of Christ all causes of enmity
between our souls and God have been removed. We have been changed from foes to
friends by a miracle of grace.[2]
Why Indian Found Peace At Once
An Indian and a white man were
brought under deep conviction of sin by the same sermon. The Indian was immediately
led to rejoice in pardoning mercy. The white man was for a long time in
distress, almost to despair. But he was at last brought to a sweet sense of his
sins forgiven. Some time after, meeting his red brother, he said to him: “How
is it that I should be so long under conviction, when you found peace at once?”
“O brother,” replied the Indian, “me
tell you! There comes along a rich prince. He proposes to give you a new coat;
you look pretty good, it will do a little longer. He then offers me a new coat.
I look at my old blanket; I say, this good-for-nothing, and brother, you try to
keep your own righteousness, you won’t give it up; but I, poor Indian, had
none, so I glad at once to receive the righteousness of God—the Lord Jesus
Christ.”—Scattered Seed[3]
This gift of peace or reconciliation
with God, made available through Christ, places an ethical demand on the
Christian; it calls for the exercises of “peace” (as reconciliation between
persons) within the church. Peace, as a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22), is to
be the goal of the Christian’s dealings with others (Rom 12:18; 14:19; Heb
12:14, etc.), that which marks one’s identity as a “child of God” (Mt 5:9).[4]
B. BECAUSE WE ARE JUSTIFIED
WE ARE NO LONGER CONDEMNED.
Romans 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Having trusted Jesus Christ as
Savior, we are shielded from official and legal condemnation from a divine
direction. Yes, our hearts may still condemn us at times, and the devil will
point a finger of accusation, but zero condemnation will come from God—the God
who declared us as righteous. Note the insightful observations of J.A. Witmer,
But first Paul reminded his readers
that therefore—since deliverance is
“through Jesus Christ our Lord” (7:25)—no
condemnation (katakrima,
“punishment”) awaits those who are in
Christ Jesus, as a result of their faith and identification with Him (cf.
6:13; John 5:24). They are justified, declared righteous, and therefore stand
in His grace (Rom. 5:2) and not under His wrath (1:18), and possess eternal
life (5:17–18, 21). Christ is the sphere of safety for all who are identified
with Him by faith.[5]
God has declared us as righteous in
Christ Jesus and his word is final. He will not change his mind if we fail in
some area or sin. Our justification before God is not based on our performance
or the lack thereof; it is entirely based on God’s work in Christ Jesus. God is
not so confused that he will eventually condemn people who have believed the
Gospel. There is zero condemnation from the divine direction; instead there is
full acceptance and security in Jesus Christ for such believers. Dr. Wiersbe’s
thoughts on this cannot be improved upon saying,
The verse does not say “no mistakes”
or “no failures,” or even “no sins.” Christians do fail and make mistakes, and they do sin. Abraham lied about his
wife; David committed adultery; Peter tried to kill a man with his sword. To be
sure, they suffered consequences because of their sins, but they did not suffer
condemnation. The Law condemns; but the believer has a new relationship to the
Law, and therefore he cannot be condemned.[6]
So, again because we are justified
by God because of faith in Jesus Christ we are no longer in threat of eternal
condemnation in the Lake of Fire forever. We should experience peace and
deepening assurance based on these first two points alone. The Spirit of God is
working to bring these spiritual realities to the conscious and experiential
level for real believers. Peace and assurance are yours due to the Spirit of
God’s work deep within as we embrace these statements of Scripture. None of
this negates the Lord’s work of chastening and correcting believers when we
live in a disobedient manner, but remember God chastens his children (Heb. 12).
That is correct, chastening by God for disobedience in believers is a
legitimate indicator of real spiritual sonship to God. In contrast, real
believers will never be condemned to hell by their heavenly Father…we have been
declare as righteous and are viewed as no longer guilty before God. Jesus paid
it all!
C. BECAUSE WE ARE JUSTIFIED
WE ARE NO LONGER CHARGED WITH SIN.
Romans 8:33-34, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that
justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather,
that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also
maketh intercession for us.
The Apostle Paul aptly poses the question, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?" That is who can effectively bring a charge or accusation of guilt against believers? Who can place responsibility for our sins, the moral failures of God's chosen people, upon us? Certainly, no mere human being can play this role! Who is left to make such a charge then? God?.... Wait...God is responsible for justifying real believers, so why would he then charge them with sin? "It is God that justifieth." With this being the case, it is reasonable to conclude that absolutely no one can make a charge of sin stick against a real child of God! Because we are justified by the God-Judge we are no longer subject to any charges of sin before the divine court.
Furthermore, the
believer cannot be charged with sin because our sins were tried, condemned and
judged completely on the Cross of Calvary. Our past sins, present sins, and
future sins were all already paid for. When we sin we do break fellowship with
God, but we can never break relationship to God. This is why we can never be
charged with sins or condemned to hell for them. It is Christ who died and it
is Christ who rose again; we are entirely identified with the Lord Jesus who
conquered sin, death, the grave, and hell through his resurrection. We share
the credit for achieving all of this also! We are with Christ and victorious
over death, sin, hell, and the grave! This is our position in Christ and the
Bible challenges us to live out this victorious reality in every facet of our
lives and experiences. Finally, to further assure us of our security in the work
of Christ…God tells us that Jesus is at his right hand presently praying for
you and me and all believers! Remember, the place at God’s right hand is the
place of power and authority after Christ’s triumph at Calvary and the resurrection.
He ascended back to heaven to represent and minister on the behalf of every
real believer. He is there to preserve us until we are changed in the Rapture—when
redemption is completely and fully realized.
Webster And John Colby
The oldest sister of Daniel Webster
was married to John Colby—the wickedest man in the neighborhood in respect to
swearing and impiety. Then news came to Webster of a change, and he went to
visit him.
On entering the house, he saw a
large-print Bible opened which Colby had just been reading. The first question
Colby asked Webster was, “Are you a Christian?” and then suggested that both
kneel and pray!
When the visit was done, Webster
told a friend: “I would like to hear what enemies of religion say of Colby’s
conversion. Here was a man as unlikely to be a Christian as any I ever saw; and
he had gone his godless way until now with old age and habits hard to change!
Yet see him—a penitent, trusting, humble believer! Nothing short of the grace
of Almighty God.”[7]
D. BECAUSE WE ARE JUSTIFIED
WE ARE COUNTED AS RIGHTEOUS.
Philippians 3:9, And be found
in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but
that which is through the faith of Christ,
the righteousness which is of God by faith:
This is the focus of this entire
study—through faith in Jesus Christ alone we are justified before God. This is
a present reality—we are counted as righteous before God and by God. Our
spiritual account has been credited with the marvelous righteousness of God
himself. The righteousness graciously given to repentant believers is identical
in quality, duration, value, and perfection as that of the Triune God-head! You
and I as believers in Christ Jesus are regarded by God himself as righteous!
Just like himself!
Paul upon exposure to Christ the
Savior yearned to truly be found in Christ fully relinquishing any scrap of
self-righteousness or works righteousness from the Law and trusting Christ
alone for God-righteousness! The justified ones possess God-righteousness
alone and are rightly counted as righteous by God.
E. BECAUSE WE ARE JUSTIFIED
WE PERFORM GOOD WORKS.
James 2:20-26, But wilt
thou know, O vain man, that faith
without works is dead? 21, Was not Abraham our father justified by works,
when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22, Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23, And the scripture was fulfilled which
saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and
he was called the Friend of God. 24, Ye see then how that by works a man is
justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works,
when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For
as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith
without works is dead also.
I only wanted to mention
this fact to state that this form of justification is before people and not
before God. People can make judgments about the legitimacy of our claims to be
Christian. What demonstrates that our claims are genuine is the fact that we live
and serve like real believers. Again this is not justification in the court of
God by God. No, this is vindication before fellow human beings regarding the
reality of our claims to be Christians. Justification before people is the
idea. There is only one way to be declare righteous before God and it is by
faith in Jesus Christ alone. However, the way we justify ourselves before other
professing believers is by living out our faith—involving ourselves in
wholesome activities that glorify God and help our fellow man. Our faith takes
on street credibility when it positively impacts our world. While anyone can
claim to be a believer in Jesus Christ, only those who live out the
implications of their faith through service should be taken seriously. It is
true we cannot see the true hearts condition of another person, but it is
equally true that we can discern the fruit of a tree to detect its true nature.
George Muller’s
Turnabout
At the age of sixteen
George Muller of Bristol, England, was imprisoned for theft; and later at the
university he lived a drinking, profligate life, acting dishonestly even toward
his friends. At twenty years of age he came under the influence of the Bible,
and the miracle of regeneration was wrought. He who had been a thief was now so
utterly a new creature that in the course of the years he gave away, of the
money sent to him for his personal use, no less a sum than $135,000, and when
he died his personal possessions were valued at less than $1,000.—Christian Digest[8]
CONCLUSION:
God on the basis of
Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection declares believing sinners justified
in His sight. Therefore, we are no longer obligated to sin’s penalty, and we
are set free from its guilt to live for God. The Perfect Judge declares
believing sinners as righteous! Beloved, He has the final Word in this matter. In
addition, justification can be experienced. You can know by the work of the
Spirit of God and the statements of the Word of God that you are viewed as righteous
by God. Peace, assurance, acceptance, freedom from condemnation, and a
lifestyle of fruitful activities that honor God and help others are certifiable
proofs of real conversion. We are not justified by these efforts, but these
realities are sensed deeply in our own spirits and the Spirit of God shows us
we are just before God.
Once again an anatomy
affords us a structure and some organization of this giant topic in the Bible.
Hopefully this article with the other two on this topic enables conversation on
the topic of justification; my aim has been to expose the constituent parts and
their relationship to each other. Much like a human anatomy diagram will
demonstrate the various internal organs and their approximate relationship to
each other. In this anatomy of justification series we showed the relationship
of other grand theological concepts to each other. In this article we
demonstrated some ways justification is experienced by the genuine child of God, and this provides proof of
our standing before God.
Before I close this
article I would like to ask one last question. Have you been saved God’s way or
have you been deceived by false notions associated with Christianity? I realize the question is a bit intrusive, but you are important to God. There is
but one way to God and his name is Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the
Life (Jn. 14:6). Absolutely no one can come to God for salvation and
relationship without the Lord Jesus Christ. There is only one divine liaison between
humanity and God and he is our Lord Jesus Christ. No one else in the entire universe qualifies for this job.
Yes, there is such a
thing as self-righteousness where people hold themselves up as a standard of
acceptable lifestyles and behaviors. The problem is they judge others by their
actions and give themselves a pass by judging themselves based on their
intentions. Condemnation, pride, and estrangement are the natural out workings
of this poor system. It does not even slightly approach the righteousness of
God (Rom. 3).
Another misconception is
works-righteousness which consists in our personal performance and obedience to
God’s Law and requirements. In this model we fain to keep the Ten Commandments,
to obey the Golden Rule always, to treat others right, and to generally be good
people (Phil 3). The problem with this approach is that we cannot do only right
and we cannot stop all sinning. Even one sin by any person is a violation of
the entire standard requirements of God! No matter how hard we try to do well
and right—to live good lives—we still cannot change our very nature. We are
sinners. That is correct…we sin because we are deeply sinful within our hearts,
minds, spirits, and desires (Rom. 3).
We need a miracle from
God to change us. We need God to graciously save us. That is why Jesus died
willingly at Calvary…to do for us what we could only do for ourselves if we
were condemned to hell forever. Instead Jesus took our place and suffered and
died in our stead for our sins and evil. Jesus rose again the third day exactly
as he repeatedly said he would. This signified that he is indeed the Savior and
that he did pay for sin completely and that God the Father was utterly pleased
with Christ’s sacrifice (1Cor. 15). Beloved, Jesus is the only means of real
salvation and obtaining God-righteousness (2Tim. 1:9-10). I ask again…have you
been saved God’s way? If not…discard your self-righteousness and your works
righteousness and choose instead God-righteousness through faith in Jesus
Christ. There is no need to delay. Trust Jesus Christ today for the forgiveness
of sins. Then God will graciously declare you as righteous. He did this for me
and he will do the same for you. Trust Jesus Christ for God-righteousness.
[1]
Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Peace. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 2, p. 1635). Grand Rapids,
MI: Baker Book House.
[4]
Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Peace. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 2, p. 1635). Grand Rapids,
MI: Baker Book House.
[5]
Witmer, J. A. (1985). Romans. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B.
Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge
Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 469). Wheaton, IL:
Victor Books.
