JUSTIFICATION
(Scripture Portions: Luke 18: 9-14; Romans 5: 1-11)
The question asked in Job 25:4 is still being asked today, and the glorious message of the gospel is that God has provided a perfect and an entirely satisfactory way of justifying the ungodly (Romans 3:26; 4:5).
1. WHAT IS THE MEANING OF JUSTIFICATION?
Look up Acts 13:38-39, and notice that through believing we receive "forgiveness of sins" (verse 38), and we are "justified" (verse 39). Justification is more than forgiveness; it is to be cleared of all blame and to be free from every charge. In an earthly court, a judge cannot both forgive a man and justify him at the same time, for if he forgives him then the man must be guilty and therefore he cannot be justified; on the other hand, if he justifies him, he does not need forgiveness. God, however, undertakes both to forgive the sin and to justify the sinner; that is, to forgive the guilty and condemned sinner and to place him in a new position where there is no charge against him at all (Romans 8:1).
2. HOW ARE WE JUSTIFIED?
The Word of God makes it clear that no one is justified by his own effort or works – look up Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16 and 3:11. This was the fatal error made by the Pharisee in our Lord's parable – Luke 18:11-12. No works of ours, no good resolutions or reformation can justify us or contribute one little bit to our justification. It is as though a murderer, feeling sorry for his crime, would do all the good deeds possible and would imagine that by thus doing he would be justified in the eyes of the law and saved from the executioner. All the good deeds in the world could do nothing to justify him. Likewise, all the good deeds of a sinner can do nothing towards his justification. In the New Testament, justification is presented to us in seven aspects.
We are justified by GOD: the AUTHOR of Justification. Look up Romans 3:26; 4:5 and 8:33, where we are told that God is the giver of justification.
We are justified by GRACE; the PRINCIPLE of Justification. This means that we are justified without any merit on our part – look up Titus 3:7 and Romans 3:24. The word "freely" denotes that there is nothing in us to deserve it, and no means whereby we can earn it.
We are justified by BLOOD: the GROUND of Justification. A holy God must have a righteous basis on which to justify ungodly sinners, and this is found in the blood of the cross. Man, as a condemned sinner, can only atone for his sin by paying the death penalty (Romans 6:23). As "all have sinned" (Romans 3:23), God's law demands that all must die. God so loves us, however, that through the death of His Son, who took our place upon the cross, all the righteous demands of the law against the sinner have been fully met, and all the claims of God's holiness have been satisfied.
We are justified by FAITH: the CONDITION of Justification. The one human condition for being justified is believing on the Lord Jesus Christ – look up Romans 3:22-28, and compare Romans 5:1; 4:5 and Galatians 2:16.
We are justified by RESURRECTION: the GUARANTEE of Justification. In Romans 4:25 we are told that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus was the visible proof that God was satisfied with His finished work, that justification is available for all men, and that all believers are justified.
We are justified by WORKS: the EVIDENCE of Justification. If we compare Romans 3:20 and James 2:24, we are faced with what appears to be a contradiction, but there is no contradiction – see what James 2:20 says. Works are the evidence of faith. Wherever there is real faith it will be followed by works – see James 2:18.
We are justified by EXPERIENCE: the RESULTS of Justification. In other words, certain wonderful things take place as the result of our justification. What are these?
3. WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF JUSTIFICATION?
There are seven of them enumerated in Romans 5:1-11. The chapter begins, "Therefore since we have been justified (having been counted righteous)"… what?
"We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (verse 1). "We were God's enemies" (verse 10), but at Calvary our Lord Jesus Christ reconciled us to God (Romans 5:10), and made peace (Colossians 1:20).
"We have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand" (verse 2). This means that being justified we have an entrance, or a welcome, into the presence of God -compare John 10:9 and Hebrews 10:19.
"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God" (verse 2). The word "hope" does not imply uncertainty; it refers to the assurance which we have that God will consummate His purpose in and for all whom He justifies. It means – Colossians 3:4 and
Titus 3:7!
"We rejoice in our sufferings" (verse 3). Four reasons are given in verses 4 and 5. This means that when trials and testings come we are able to say – 2 Corinthians 4:17! Look up Acts 14:22; 2 Corinthians 4:8-10; 6:4-10 and 1 Thessalonians 3:3.
"God has poured out his love into our hearts" (verse 5). This is His love in four dimensions – Ephesians 3:17-18; and with His love in our hearts, we love each other (1 John 3:14).
"The Holy Spirit… whom he has given us" (verse 5). The moment God justifies us we become indwelt by the Holy Spirit – compare John 14:16-17; Romans 8:9 and 1 Corinthians 6:19.
"We also rejoice in God" (verse 11). Literally, "we exult in God." How wonderful this is! We, who were condemned, lost sinners, now by His grace, being justified.
FAITH
(Scripture Portion: Mark 5: 25-34)
The human race is divided into two classes of people – believers and unbelievers. God's people are believers; they are characterised by faith and they live by faith (Romans 1:17); faith is the operative principle of the new life, the Christian life. There are many aspects of faith, as Hebrews 11 so wonderfully illustrates, but in this study we shall confine ourselves to what is called saving faith – the faith which brings us into the experience and enjoyment of God's salvation.
1. WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? (Acts 16:30)
This is the question of questions, and it asks: What is the human responsibility in the matter of salvation? At infinite cost, salvation has been provided for every sinner (1 John 2:2). God's only-begotten Son came down from Heaven and procured salvation by dying for us upon the cross (Isaiah 53:5-6; John 1:29; 2 Corinthians 5:21). God the Father accepted His finished work and raised Him up from the dead and exalted Him to His right hand in Heaven (Acts 2:32-33). Salvation is now offered to all men (Isaiah 45:22). On what terms? Acts 16:31 gives us the answer. "Salvation in all its limitless magnitude is secured, so far as human responsibility is concerned, by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour." In the New Testament there are at least 150 different passages which condition salvation on believing and faith, (the one word here is the exact synonym of the other): e.g. John 3:16; Acts 13:38-39; Romans 1:16; 3:26; 4:5; 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8; 1 John 5:1.
2. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?
It means to place my whole confidence and trust in Him as my own personal Saviour.
3. FAITH IN CHRIST AS PERSONAL SAVIOUR INVOLVES THREE STEPS:-
The first step is to HEAR. Look up Romans 10:17. Before I can believe the gospel I must hear it. Before I can believe that Christ is able and willing to save me, I must hear that He is able and willing to do so – look up John 5:24.
The second step is to BELIEVE. Having heard who He is and what He is able to do for me, I believe what I hear – I assent. I believe about Him – that He died for me (Isaiah 53:5); that He is able to save me (Hebrews 7:25); and that He wants to save me (John 5:40). Notice that this intellectual assent is not saving faith, though it is an essential step towards saving faith.
The third step is to TRUST. I hear…I believe…but now I must trust! That is, I place confidence in Him to do for me what I have heard and believe He can do. I commit myself to Him and trust Him to save me. Trusting excludes all effort and relies wholly upon the One being trusted.
4. NOW LOOK UP THREE INCIDENTS WHICH ILLUSTRATE SAVING FAITH:-
Mark 5:25-34. Notice that the Woman heard (verse 27), and she came because she believed what she had heard (verse 28), and she touched (trusted) Him (verses 27 and 29).
Acts 8:29-37. Notice that the Eunuch heard about Christ (verses 30-35), he believed on Him (verse 36), and he trusted Him as his own Saviour (verse 37).
Acts 16:30-31. Notice that the Jailer took these three steps. He must have heard, in order to ask – verse 30; then he believed, and his immediate confession by baptism and his changed life proved that he trusted Christ to save him.
5. NOW CONSIDER TWO SIMPLE ILLUSTRATIONS OF SAVING FAITH.
Faith in the BANK. Suppose you are left a fortune and you do not know where to place it for safety. Then a friend tells you about the "Absolutely Safe Bank". You hear what he says, you believe his testimony, and you commit your fortune to the Bank.
Faith in the DOCTOR. Suppose you suddenly collapse with appendicitis. Your friend tells you of a good surgeon who operated on her for appendicitis, relieved her of pain and made her perfectly well. You hear what your friend says, you believe her testimony, and you commit yourself to the surgeon and trust him completely to bring you through the operation.
6. CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PROMISES OF CHRIST, ALL OF WHICH SHOW, UNDER DIFFERENT FIGURES, WHAT IT MEANS TO BELIEVE ON HIM, AND NOTICE THAT IN EACH CASE THE SAME THREE STEPS – HEARING, BELIEVING AND TRUSTING – ARE INVOLVED.
To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is to ACCEPT Him as God's Gift. Look up John 3:16; 1:12 (where to "believe" = to "receive"), and compare Acts 16:14 and Revelation 3:20.
To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is to COME TO HIM. Look up Matthew 11:28, and compare John 5:40 and 6:37.
To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is to ENTER into the fold by Him. Look up John 10:9 and compare Luke 13:24-27.
To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is to come to Him and DRINK. Look up John 4:13-14 and 7:37.
To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is to CALL upon Him for salvation. Look up Romans 10:13. Then see how the Thief did it (Luke 23:42-43); how Peter did it (Matthew 14:30-31); how the Publican did it (Luke 18:13-14); how the Leper did it (Luke 5:12-13), and how the Gentile Woman did it (Matthew 15:22 and 28). Have you done it?
Thus, to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is to rely only upon Him for salvation. Do you believe like that? Are you saved?