for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness
Justification - I am saved
-Past Tense
-One of the grandest messages in Christianity
Definition
-To be cleared of guilt
-Declared innocent
-To be given the righteousness of Christ
Delineation
-Presupposition
There is a Judge.
He is God.
He is holy and righteous.
He has the right and might to determine what the criteria should be for judgment.
He has the right to not acquit to the guilty
-Missing element in modern Christianity
Man without exception are sinners (Totally Depraved)
-Rom. 1:18-32
-Sinfulness/Guilt of the Heathen
-Guilt of the Hebrews
-Guilt of the Hypocrites
-All are guilty
How will a guilty condemned sinner ever be cleared of guilt, and be justified in the sight of The Holy God?
7 Prerequisites
1. Justice must be propitiated
Propitiation-means placating or satisfying the wrath of God
-God has taken into account our guiltiness and sinfulness and His holiness and righteousness
-He sent His Son and sprinkled His blood on the mercy seat
-Crushing His Son
-Dying on the Cross
-The wrath of God was turned away and justice was satisfied!
2. God must be exonerated
Exoneration-To free from blame
-How could God be just in pardoning the sins of Old Testament saints when justice had not yet been satisfied?
-Through the forbearance of God
-In eternity past, God decreed He would send His Son to pay for those sins, He had forbearance.
-God is just!!
3. Sin must be expiated
Expiation- the act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing; atonement.
-To take our sin out of view as far as the East is to the West!
He took my sins out of view!!!!! Amen!!
4. Christ must be exalted
- It's not about the church, the building... it's all about Christ!
5. Boasting must be excluded
- We have nothing to boast of when we think of justification,
-It should bring us to the dust
-Humble us
-Joy in the Lord!
6. Faith must be exercised
-Faith must have an object
-Faith in the blood of Christ, in the Gospel!
-His person and His Work
-If you have faith in anything else... there is no hope.
7. The law must be established
-The law is spiritual, it reveals the holiness of God, makes the sinner see the depth of his or her sin. It convinces him or her that they can't meet the standards of this holy law. That's the ministry of the Law.
The law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold into sin. The law points us to Christ.
Run to Christ!
Repent and believe!
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