Celebrating Our Justification
Posted by Pastor Pat on December 11, 2008
“A man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus.” Gal. 2:16
If Galatians is the first of Paul’s letters (which is the assumption we are making), then he is using the word “justified” for the first time in Galatians 2:16. What does it mean when the Scripture speaks of one being justified? “Justification is a legal term meaning to remove the guilt (liability to punishment) of the sinner. It does not involve making one inwardly holy, but merely declares that the demands of justice have been satisfied. Hence, there is no ground for condemnation (Rom. 8:1).” ”Justification is a judicial act of God by which He declares the sinner righteous and treats him as such.” Justification includes the forgiveness of sin as well as the imputation of righteousness. Justification is one of those theological words that many are familiar with but few actually understand and fewer still enjoy.
We are embarking on a journey of discovery. We wish to understand all that He is for us in Christ in order that we might find in Him our complete satisfaction. This can only happen as we systematically study the Word of God. We are equally convinced that such a discovery will move us to share this message with every tongue, tribe, people and nation. This is our vision, our cause. Such truths grips us and squeezes from us every ounce of our devotion. To embrace this truth moves us from just “playing the game” to actually “praising our God.”
I would like us to consider four Scriptural ramifications of having been justified by faith.
First, our justification results in having peace with God. We are no longer in a state of fear (Romans 5:1, 2, 5, 9; :30-34). We no longer tremble at our inability to measure up to God’s unattainable standard. As Christians our depravity might want to control others and “lord” it over others. We might wish for others to feel guilty and inadequate, but God who stands in our corner as our advocate (1 John 2:1,2) asks this penetrating question, “who shall lay anything to the charge of my elect whom I have declared righteous? Who is there among you that can condemn those whom I have freed?” The answer? NO ONE! We are free! Gloriously free! Jesus paid it all and now all to HIM we owe!
Second, justification results in His righteousness being credited to us resulting in true happiness (Romans 4:6). We as Christians are truly happy. Why, because we do not have to measure up to an impossible standard. We are free to love and serve and give without restraint or fear of failure’s inevitability. Because of His righteousness our lives are patterned by one victory after another. Our circumstances no longer hold us in bondage. We fly free of this world’s crushing burdens.
Third, justification results in having our iniquities forgiven and our sins covered (Romans 4:7). We are so used to living in the temporal and material that we fail to appreciate what it means to have our sins forgiven. Our sin debt, however, is not simply covered, but cancelled. How pitiful to bear a burden that no longer has to be bourn.
Fourth, justification results in a man on whom the Lord will not impute sin (Romans 4:8). Paul uses the double negative (ou mh [“no never”) to stress the absolute negation of any potential for sin to be imputed to the justified person’s account. When we stand before God we will never be judged for our sin. Ask God to let that simply but profound truth seep through your mind. Let is saturate all that you are and do.
Justification is a tangible truth to be lived in the life of the justified. You and I stand justified in the blood of His Beloved Son. It is His resurrection from the grave and placement at the Father’s right hand that assure me that I shall never stand in a place of disfavor again. This is good news to the poor, it is the proclamation of liberty to the captive, it is the recovering of sight to the blind and it is setting free those who are oppressed (Luke 4:18). We have lived so long in bondage that we have to learn how to live as free men. We sin so naturally that now we must learn how to live in righteousness just as we have lived in sin. May grace reign!
By Pastor Patrick J. Griffiths. For more information see the Waukesha Bible Church series on Galatians.
