Justified Rather than the Other:

Review & Bible Reading

Title comes from v. 14 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other:..”

In the beginning of this chapter you read of the reason of the parable of the unjust judge and the poor widow; namely, to encourage men to pray and faint not.

We should not grow weary the Lord’s return is near. Psalm 12:5 “5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.”

Contrast between a merciless, uncaring judge and our loving, attentive heavenly Father.

As with that parable the lesson we have today is seen in the contrast.

In Luke 17:36 “36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” Two men could appear to be doing the same work but one is taken and the other left.

What will be the determining factor, what makes a man justified. God's mercy, demonstrated by the death and resurrection of Jesus, is the only basis on which we can be forgiven, accepted, and declared righteous.

Luke 18:9–14 (KJV 1900)

9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Sermon Introduction

Good news: The publican left different than he came.

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other:

Through justification there is relief of those that lie under the load and burden of a guilty conscience.

This is what we celebrate on what I am calling “Faith Alone Sunday”

Expression regarding churches “Come as your are” We have no issue with this, but would like to add a message of hope to it “Come as you are and leave as only Jesus can make you to be.”

Brief Summary of Martin Luther & Protestant Reformation

As mentioned last week, as Baptists we are neither catholic nor protestant.

Today is Reformation Sunday, for many protestant churches. It is a story worth knowing.

In the summer f 1505, while walking through the German countryside, a young Martin Luther was nearly struck by lightning.

He cried out in terror “Saint Anne, spare me and I will become a monk.” (Catholic response, not recommended)

He spent the next decade consumed by the fear of divine judgement.

He tried earning God’s favor through good works and acts of penance.

Penance is any act or a set of actions done out of repentance for sins committed. Based upon a true definition of repentance. / we will see today that it is declared not developed, forensic not formative, received not rewarded. immediate not gradual, provided not progressive.

The more he worked the more frustrated he became, recognizing he could never be goof enough to appease divine wrath or atone for sins.

He came to hate the expression “the righteousness of God” because in it he saw nothing but his own condemnation.

Through the study of Psalms, Romans, and Galatians, this monk came to understand that the righteousness of God revealed in the Gospel speaks not only of God’s perfect standard but also of id righteous provision - in which the righteousness of Christ is reckoned to those who embrace Him in saving faith. - Nathan Busenitz, The Substance of Sola Fide

He learned what we celebrated last week: God's mercy, demonstrated by the death and resurrection of Jesus, is the only basis on which we can be forgiven, accepted, and declared righteous.

History tells us that on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther approaches the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, and nails a piece of paper to it containing the 95 “revolutionary opinions” that would begin the Protestant Reformation.

He caused no small stir in the catholic church, around 1545 they organized an ecumenical council of Catholics and condemned this teaching as heresy. Do you know the name of this council? We have a picture of it. [Slide]

At a later date we will look at how these truths were not revolutionary being that they were held by believers sense the time of Christ.

Today I want to focus on the fact that “Faith Alone” is not the opinion of a former catholic monk but it is the eternal truth revealed to us by God from His Word.

Two walked in, only one walked out justified.

Luke 18:10 “10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.”

Luke 18:14 “14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

Justification by God: a declaration by God that you are righteous because of Christ.

Easy Definition: “Just-if-I-never sinned.”

More full definition: A declaration by God that you are righteous because of Christ.

There are are only two religions in this world.

grace and works

do and done

“something in my hand I bring” or “nothing in my hand I bring”

true and false

Fight began long before Luther

The message that the Apostle Paul preached to a congregation must be the message we share with everyone. Acts 13:38-39 “38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man (Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

As loud and as long as people have been preaching this message their has been a false message out there. Acts 15:1 “1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses (you can replace this whatever you want - baptised in the creek at the church you grandparents were baptized - the lie adapts), ye cannot be saved.”

Paul addresses this and says he is not putting up with this non-sense that brings us under bondage. Gal 2:4-5 “4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”

Is this really worth fighting over? 2 Peter 2:1 “1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

Where do we look to have this same confidence?

As you know Paul was a student of Scripture. But you would need to memorize the Torah or sit at Gamaliel, feet to see this truth in God’s Word. God has made it so accessible that I am going to be able to show you.

Use of the word, justified, in Scripture

Spelling bee. Can you use that word in a sentence? It wouldn’t help me in spelling but seeing the word in Bible will help us develop a robust understanding of the meaning.

Introduced as a judicial term.

Though every culture would not have the same understanding of a courtroom we would all have an understanding a declared verdict.

Deut 25:1 “1 If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.”

Seen in contrast to condemnation

To condemn is to pronounce guilty or worthy of punishment. To justify is to declare not guilty, or that justice does not demand punishment, or that the person concerned cannot justly be condemned.

We cannot condemn those that are just. Job 34:17 “17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? And wilt thou condemn him that is most just?”

Opposite of being justified is having charges layed at our feet. Romans 8:33 “33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.”

Argument from equivalent forms of expression

Because the equivalent phrases, by which our justification is described.

such as not to come into judgment, John 5:24

not to be condemned John 3:18

to remit sins, to impute righteousness Rom. 4

to be reconciled Rom. 5:10-11

How would Jesus be justified if it does not mean declared righteous?

What are you talking about? 1 Timothy 3:16 “16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

This will not work if you believe that justify means to progressively make righteous.

The spirit declares that Jesus is righteous.

Much of Paul’s life is given to defending this truth

The justice of God of God is revealed to man so that they cannot deny it. Romans 1:18 “18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”

Those living in rebellion to God and encourage others to do the same know that their sin must be paid for. Romans 1:32 “32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

The whole world is guilty before God. Romans 3:19 “19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

To pronounce guilty is to condemn. To pronounce righteous or not guilty, is to justify. Gal 2:16 “16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Transitional Statement: If a man denies the authority of Scripture, it is conceivable that he may deny that justification is a judicial act. But it seems impossible that any one should deny that it is so represented in the Bible.

Understanding of the Distinction between Justification and Sanctification

1 Cor 14:33 “33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

2 Cor 11:3 “3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty (craftiness), so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

This week, more than most, I read from people with an opposing to justification being a judicial act. Thanks to God I saw simplicity where they saw confusion. Not because I am very intelligent but because believing the simplicity of the gospel other matters fall into place.

Let have a brief debate.

Stephanie enjoys watching court cases. Recently she watched one where a man represented himself. Let’s let the Bible do that in a debate.

Opening statement: Romans 3:28 “28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

Rebuttal: But what are you going to do with James 2:24 “24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”

The main problem, in my opinion, is that the Protestant understanding of justification does not go beyond “forensic”. In other words, they don’t believe that they are changed inwardly. They claim to become new creatures, but they will deny with their last breath, that any real change occurs to the man. They simply believe they are covered over. - Catholic Commentary on James

Is this true about us?

Let’s answer by responding to what are you going to do with James 2:24?

Paul, is teaching how a man is accepted by God. He is dealing with the issue of how it can be that unrighteous people can be accepted by a righteous God.

James is talking about something else. He is dealing with hypocrisy in the church.

How do you tell the difference between somebody who claims to be a Christian but isn’t, and someone who claims to be a Christian and is? James 2:14 “14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?”

James answer is clear. “Faith brings forth the fruit of holiness.” So faith and obedience demonstrates a person to be a believer.

We can stay in this passage to demonstration a judicial understanding of justification.

Can just a publicly stated faith demonstrate a person to really be a Christian? A claimed faith that shows no reality. James is not talking about how a man is saved. James is talking about how you know a real Christian from a false one.

James is concerned with what he calls dead faith. James 2:26 “26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

Dead faith he is referring to a faith which is empty or hollow. It doesn’t have a living reality. There is a verbal profession, but there’s no reality of life in the heart of the believer.

Summarized with a story of Abraham

In Romans 4 Paul tells the story of Abraham in order to prove justification by faith alone.

If James was wanting to prove something other than justification by faith he would want to avoid this story.. Genesis 15:6 “6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

So what are we to make of James 2:21 “21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?”

Is James contradicting himself when he speaks of Abraham being made righteous years before Isaac was born? James 2:23 “23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”

No, James is talking about Abraham’s demonstration that he does belong to God

James and Paul are in agreement because they are writing what the Spirit wants us to know.

Paul speaks about obedience as a result of faith as well.

Paul teaches the same truth that James is emphasizing. Romans 3:31 “31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”

We will find these two truth together in Eph 2:8 “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” as we continue to Eph 2:10 “10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

So we disagree with the false claim that those of us who believe justification is judicial do not believe we are “changed inwardly”

We can agree with Martin Luther on this “Christians are not made righteous in doing righteous things, but being now made righteous by faith in Christ, they do righteous things.

We make a distinction between justification (which makes us righteous) and sanctification because the Bible does

1 Cor 1:30 “30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

The distinction is seen clearly in Romans 6.

Grace doesn’t give us a license to sin. 6:1-2

We now walk in newness of life. v.4

We are dead in sin so we are now free from bondage v.4,16

Our lives will not be marked by fruits of obedience. v.17-18

Sanctification is a result of being justified. Romans 6:22 “22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”

Let us walk back into the story of Luke 18

Pharisee demonstrates the formative view of justification

The belief that justification can be earned by our good behavior and avoiding wrong actions.

Stephanie loves a good court trail. This made is defending himself in court.

In negatives; I am no extortioner, no unjust man, no adulterer, nor yet as this Publican.

In positives; I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess

Justification is an act of God’s grace, wherein he pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.

1 Peter 5:5 “5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

The Pharisee did not humble himself before God and as a result will not be justified / declared righteous.

The publican leaves justified.

Luke 18:14 “14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

He did not have time to earn his salvation but he was able to declare righteous as the free gift of God.

His testimony will be that of the man on the cross with Christ. “The man on the middle cross said I could come.” God declared me righteous because of the death of His son in my place.

Imputation Romans 4:5 “5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

The 5 types are as follows (in order from accurate to least accurate):

Imputed Righteousness: God accredits all His righteousness to the believer up front.

Infused Righteousness: God gives His righteousness to His followers little by little as a reward for their obedience.

Joint Righteousness: The believer does his best and Christ makes up the rest.

Enabled Righteousness: Christ’s atonement enables or empowers believers to keep the commandments and obtain their own worthiness.

Self Righteousness: Righteousness can be obtained without Jesus.

A great transaction was made for the publican this day.

Romans 4:7-8 “7 Saying, Blessed are they (whose iniquities are forgiven) justified, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” (lay a charge to him)

Impute implies a transaction. / in this IT community it might help to think of it as import

SLIDE

ADAM TO MAN ROMANS 5:12 “12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

MAN TO JESUS 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 “21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

JESUS TO BELIEVERS 1 CORINTHIANS 1:30 “30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

Conclusion

Someday we will stand before God. We will enter declared righteous (justified) because the righteousness of Christ had been imputed to our account by our faith in Him

or

We will stand before him having justified our lives in our own eyes and experience the wrath of God for all eternity.

THIS IS THE MOMENT IMPORTANT DECESION YOU OR I WILL EVER MAKE

Bibliography

Nathan Busenitz, The Substance of Sola Fide: Justification Defended from Scripture in the Writings of the Reformers

John Bunyan, A Discourse Upon the Pharisee and Publican., vol. 2 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2006), 222.