Therefor having been JUSTIFIED by faith - Part 3

“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). 

“Therefore, having been JUSTIFIED by faith" (Rom 5:12) How can God be just while acquitting the guilty? Part 2

“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)

Why does God acquit on the basis of faith? How can one be declared NOT GUILTY without receiving the just punishment for the crime. This certainly isn’t anything like the legal system!

This leads to an even more perplexing and troubling question. How can God be JUST if the guilty walk free?  Consider what would happen in your town if a judge allowed a murderer to walk free from his court? And .. what if the same judge descended from the bench and embraced the acquitted as a brother and friend!!!! How could this be right? and yet ... this is exactly what God does! He “justifies” the guilty and embraces him a beloved brother. The answer to this conundrum is one of the most important and amazing revelations in God’s Word.  It is one thing to know THAT God will acquit but, it’s another thing to appreciate why He CAN acquit and still be just! 

There is a reason why we are born with a sinful disposition. We “naturally” lie, steal, etc. Nobody teaches us. The Bible reveals that this condition is due to our “connection” with Adam, “the head” of mankind. God does not create us as independent and separate individuals. In a sense, there is no “new creation” when one is born. When God created Adam, He created all. We are all “connected” to Adam. There is a solidarity with the head of our race. We are all “in Adam” (1 Cor 15:22). This may sound strange but its importance cannot be understated. Our standing before God is not on the basis of who we are as individuals but on the basis of our solidarity. This is how God sees us.

The implications are truly profound. Just consider the following .. “as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Cor 15:22).   ... continued in the next issue.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith... " (Rom 5:1) Part 1

“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) 

“Justified,” is legal language. It’s courtroom talk. One comes before a judge and is found guilty or not guilty. Was the speed limit broken or not?  Was the money stolen or not? Was the man beaten or not? If the speed limit was broken or, the money stolen or, the man beaten etc., then the law is broken and, if the law was broken the defendant is guilty. Feelings play no part in the determination of guilt or innocence. Remorse on the part of the defendant or compassion and mercy on the part of the judge cannot influence the court. These may impact a consequent judgment but cannot determine the verdict. Remorse and compassion will likewise, have no place “God’s courtroom.” Guilt or innocence will be determined according to the law and nothing else. This is an insurmountable issue for man as God “will not will not at all acquit the guilty” (Nahum 1:3) and all are guilty before Him (Romans 3:19).  His compassion and mercy cannot alter the verdict. If He freed the guilty he would be an unrighteous judge! He cannot ignore justice and remain a Holy God. The gravity of this predicament is only truly appreciated when one fully grasps who God really is. His judgments are truly fearful! But, this is not the whole story. Those to whom Paul wrote were “Justified by Faith.” They are NOT GUILTY. They will never face JUDGEMENT!

 However, there are two important questions that must be answered. Why does God acquit on the basis of faith? And, how can He remain a “just judge” if the guilty go free? We will look at these next time.