“Therefore, having been JUSTIFIED by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have
access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the
glory of God” (Rom 5:1-2)
God will justify any man, woman or child
who will come to Him through faith. Faith in Christ is to believe what God
declares in His Word regarding the person and work of Jesus. Faith in Christ
means
believing that Jesus is the eternal Son of
God come in the flesh (not the false teaching of the JWs). It is to believe that He died on the cross
ONCE for sin (not the false teaching of the RCC that He is crucified
“spiritually” at every mass, or that there is a purgatory). It is to
acknowledge that I am a sinner (what the Bible calls repentance). It is to come
to God through Christ ALONE (not the false teaching of religion that “good
works” can merit salvation). And, God WILL justify all who come to Him through
faith in Christ. There will be no judgment, no condemnation and no purgatory.
Why is this so? It is because Christ
becomes the believer’s substitute. It is not that God overlooks sin. He can’t!
As our substitute, our sin was placed upon Christ and the just penalty for sin
was paid in full by Him at the cross. Salvation is offered as a gift but the
cost was so very great. The Father gave His beloved Son to die for us, unworthy
sinners. Jesus paid a price we could never pay. Only a perfect sacrifice could
satisfy a perfectly holy God.
But to return to our question from last
week .. How can God accept Christ’s payment for sin on behalf of the one who comes
to God by faith in Christ? It is because God identifies the believer with
Christ. God places the believer into Christ. Now, instead of being condemned
“in Adam” the believer is now justified “in Christ.”
Because of the believer’s union with
Christ, Christ’s death becomes the believer’s death. Christ’s resurrection
becomes the believer’s resurrection. The believer is “seated in the heavenly
places IN CHRIST” (Eph 2:6).
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