JUSTIFICATION #2 WHAT IS JUSTIFICATION? A key word must be understood

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2)

Introduction

A religion than shuns the understanding of key Scriptural words is a spiritually debilitating one. You cannot structure an acceptable life without acceptable concepts. Valid spiritual concepts are founded upon key Scriptural words. "Atonement," "sanctification," "redemption," "salvation," "resurrection," "faith," and "justification" are a few of these words. These are rational "doors" that assist entrance into "spiritual understanding" (Col 1:9). Further, they are perceived through exposition rather than mere definition. Language experts yield minimal assistance here. The requirement for giving the "sense" of the Word (Neh 8:8) is a teacher in possession of "the mind of Christ" (1 Cor 2:16). To put it another way, "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words" (1 Cor 2:12-13).

Satan attempts to distort our understanding

It is important to understand that our "adversary the devil" (1 Pet 5:8) has extended himself to distort our understanding of spiritual words. He knows that a misunderstanding of them will drive one upon the rocks of futility. The soul is jeopardized by a misconception of words upon which great spiritual perceptions are founded, or based. The fact that man "lives by every word of God" (Luke 4:4) postulates perception on the part of the hearer. From this perspective, "the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms" (Lk 24:44) are God's dictionary and encyclopedia. In laws, types, and shadows, the Spirit took human language and attached spiritual significance to certain terms, thereby investing them with life for those that will believe. Examples of such words are sacrifice, altar, holy, sanctify, blood, lamb . . . etc.

The centrality of justification

Justification is a central word, being associated with Divine purpose. This is why Jesus was raised from the dead: "Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification" (Rom 4:25). The judicial results of the vicarious death of Christ is the "free gift" offered unto all men of "justification of life" (Rom 5:16,18). That is, those crushed beneath the load of guilt and condemnation are fully exonerated because of Another. Something of this magnitude must not be swept under a theological rug of mystery. It must not be supplanted by other supposed emphases that have little relation to eternal consequences. In fact, something unrelated to eternity cannot be given the priority by the people of God. if it is going to pass away, it defaults to a position of secondary importance.

The removal of guilt

Justification involves complete and unequivocal exoneration. In justification, sin is not simply overlooked, it is utterly removed. The individual that is justified is no longer associated with his sin. "And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:39). Believing that we are "justified from all things" is requisite to the possession of "full assurance." Observe that the "law of Moses" with its elaborate ceremonies and procedures was impotent to accomplish this requirement. In this matter Moses' law stood for the law principle. It was law at its best, and what is true of it is true of all law principles. This, after all, is why Jesus "appeared" "once in the end of the world" -- to "put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself" (Heb. 9:26). Because of fallen humanity, the law was "weak," rendered incapable of justifying mankind (Rom 8:3). If men were going to become clean, it would involve more than what they were themselves capable of doing. They would enter into the work, but only after the foundation had been put in place by the Lord! "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you ALL trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Col 2:13-14). With the bill of indebtedness removed, there is no longer a basis for condemnation! God has not simply ignored our transgressions, He has removed them through Christ Jesus. Justification removes the necessity and ministry of the CONDEMNING Law. As a mighty sentinel, it stood between the sinner and God, pointing accusingly and truthfully to the shroud of guilt that covered sinners. But, praise God, in Christ, this is no longer the case. Guilt itself is removed in justification. No wonder, "David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin" (Rom 4:6-8). The removal of guilt is nothing less than "the circumcision of Christ" (Col 2:11-12). It is the complete detachment of our transgressions from us; a clean separation between the sinner and his sin! More precisely, the totality of the sin nature is judicially separated from us, which is precisely what is said in Colossians 2:11. The prophets spoke of sins being "blotted out like a thick cloud" (Isa 44:22) They wrote of transgressions being removed from the guilty "as far as the East is from the West" (Psa 103:12). We read of sins being placed behind God's "back" (Isa 38:17) and being "remembered no more" Jer 31:34; Heb 8:12; 10:17). That is removal, and it is real! Justification is a condition in which there is "therefore now no condemnation" (Rom 8:1) -- and it is for all that are "in Christ Jesus." Those that apprehend this truth will realize its powerful effects in their lives. The soul that is justified and knows it has an abhorrence for iniquity. It only remains for the individual to see the association of personal deeds with the sin that was laid upon Christ for this abhorrence to be experienced. Praise God for justification! Experience it! Preach it!

-- TOMORROW: The Shield of St. Patrick -- -- MONDAY: THE IMPUTATION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS --