JUSTIFICATION #4 THE NATURE OF GOD Justification Before acceptance

"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) The nature of God requires justification before acceptance. In sharp contrast with the misrepresentations too often sounding from the pulpits of the land, God cannot simply embrace us because He wants to. He is holy, and His character will not allow Him to walk with those contaminated with sin. They must be washed from their sins before they can enjoy divine fellowship.

Extensive preparation

The extensive preparation for and provision of our salvation tells us much about the nature of God. His remarkable longsuffering with our wayward race, for 2,500 years prior to the giving of the Law, testifies to His anticipation of the His coming Savior. The 1,500 year tutelage of the Law, during which men were prepared for Christ is one of the great epochs of history. During this time elaborate types and shadows prefigured the details of our redemption, as prophets spoke of a coming Deliverer, an age of liberation, and a time of divine fellowship. The coming of Jesus into the world can only be accounted for by Divine purpose. His life of humility, and His suffering and death, tell us of God's aggressive posture in our salvation. He was more intent upon saving our race than condemning it, and therefore found "means whereby His banished be not expelled from Him" (2 Sam 14:14). The nature of God required 4,000 years of purposeful involvements with His "offspring"!

God cannot acquit the guilty

On one occasion, Moses asked God to reveal Himself. "And he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory" (Exo 33:18). Moses was not content with displayals of divine power; he wanted to understand God Himself. O, that this attitude were more common among professed believers! The Lord's reply disclosed His inclination to make Himself known to His "offspring." "And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy" (Exo 33:19). He does repsond to Moses with a refusal, but with "I WILL." Glory to God for His disposition to reveal Himself! The disclosure was to be a private and powerful one. The nature of fallen man did not allow a full revelation of God, which would be consuming. Nevertheless, God so desired that Moses comprehend Him that He provided protection during the limited revelation of Himself. Following the revelation, the Lord wrote the ten commandments the second time on tables of stone Moses "hewed" from stone before the meeting. In the disclosure of Himself, God revealed aspects of His nature not previously known. "Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty . . . " (Exo 34:7). Nahum adds His word: "The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked . . . " (Nahum 1:3). These are not trite sayings. God's nature will not permit Him to overlook human transgression. This is an aspect of God that is hardly known in our day. Too often God is presented as loving us so much He simply looks past our moral infirmities. This is a wicked representation of God, leading men to think lightly of sin. Now, God is both "Just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus". No one can contest what He has accomplished. It is not possible to "lay anything to the charge of God's elect. It is God [Himself] that justifieth" (Rom 3:24-26). A salvation that is not righteous does not glorify God, vindicate the Lord Jesus Christ, or bring eternal hope to individuals. Settle this once and for all in your heart: it is RIGHT for God to pronounce "not guilty" every individual in His Son. It would also be WRONG for God to reject anyone that comes to Him through His Son! Salvation involves more than the mercy of God. It also entails His justice. This is an aspect of our justification that is seldom considered. However, without the needful element of Divine justice, salvation could not withstand the day of judgment! God will not acquit the guilty! In Christ, He provides for the thorough removal of our guilt. Without any equivocation, "everyone who believes is justified from everything" (Acts 13:39, NIV). That is the solemn declaration of Scripture! Let every person bring their thinking into alignment with this reality!

-- TOMORROW: ABRAHAM COUNTED RIGHTEOUS --