Justification

The gospel brings justification. We have been focused on what the gospel does. The sin of Adam brought condemnation. The gospel brings justification. 

Romans 4:23-25 But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

What is justification? Justification is the forensic declaration of God that a sinner by virtue of the finished work of redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ is declared to have right standing in the very presence of God. It does not make the sinner righteous. That is sanctification. But the forgiven sinner is viewed by God the Father as having right standing in his presence. When the father looks upon a forgiven sinner he sees not the persons sin and guilt. HE sees the sinner standing in his presence wearing the robe of total and complete righteousness purchased by the redemptive work of Christ.

Romans 5:1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

I believe that Romans 3.21-26 stands as one of the most important passages in the entire Bible. Leon Morris calls this passage “possibly the single most important paragraph ever written.” Its shortness is hardly an indication of its value, any more than the brevity of the resurrection accounts in the Gospels truncate the importance of that truth!

In 1.18 through 3.20, Paul got us lost. He first showed that the gentiles were lost. Then he showed that the Jews were lost. “No one does good, not even one.” “No one seeks God, not even one.” All of us are dead because of sin. That is the devastating reality of our spiritual condition before God. Now Paul tells us the good news!

But before he can, he must wrestle with a dilemma: because we are utterly sinful and because God is utterly holy, how is it possible for us to get saved, for us to ever stand in God’s presence without being condemned? The answer to this question is the heart of Romans and is found in 3.21-26.

Thank God for justification by faith. Apart from this we all stand condemned.

Why I Love The Church!

In spite of all the flaws, the decline, and the struggles and frustrations I face in working with the church, I love the church. Here are some of the reasons.

1) The church is just plain messy. The church is messy because the church is people. All people are broken by sin. This is why I love the church. The church doesn’t ask for perfection. The church doesn’t claim we must get it together before we are accepted. The church, instead, acknowledges there is only one who is perfect…Jesus. He is the head of the church, and the church clings in repentance and faith to him.

2) The church is God’s instrument to repel darkness in the world. The church is the light of the world. Followers of Jesus have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. The church is not some weird club with secret handshakes. The church has a clear mission. Those who become Christians are called out of the world, and they join a cause greater than themselves.

3) My Savior, Jesus, died to establish the church. I love Jesus. I am not perfect. Far from it. But every piece of who I am belongs to him. And my Savior, the one who gave his life for me, also gave his life for the church. Again, not the church as an institution, but the church as His elect. We are a group of Spirit-filled people.

4) The church has often led the way in meeting the needs of the world. From the earliest days of the church, people have been the recipient of God’s grace and justice. The church, unlike any other collection of people, has released the oppressed, brought healing, and restored hope, to millions. This is because the church is led by the Spirit. And where the Spirit is present, justice is a priority and there is true peace.

So, in the roughly 2000 years of the church’s existence, game changing ideas like hospitals, public education, and orphanages have been birthed by the church.

There are many more reasons to love the church. God’s people will endure for all eternity. Jesus is coming again. He will make all things new. Are you ready for his return?

Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!