Justification

Intro

Amen! I asked Pastor Steve to do the opening prayer for the message, for I feared I would only be able to utter the words, “God Help Me!” But I know that in that utterance, there is more than enough words.

Intro

Good morning. Hopefully you all are staying cool during this nice warm weather we are having. This is my favorite type of weather and am very glad for it. My name is Daniel Carter, and I have the great honor and privilege to be able to give the communion devotion this morning. I would like to thank you, the church, for allowing me to be here this morning; and I would like to thank you, Pastor Steve, for granting me this gracious opportunity to share what’s on my heart; and I want to thank my wife, Fernanda. Without your steadfast love and support, I would not be able to devote myself to the reading and studying of the Word. The Lord has blessed me more than I could ever have deserved for giving me a wife as lovely and strong as you are.

A couple things I learned from my time in service about speaking in front of people is that you should always introduce yourself and not to think that those you are speaking to know who you are. A second thing was that one shouldn’t just get right down to the business at hand, but to allow your audience and yourself adjust by giving a short antidote. Well I don’t really have one, but I will try.

While preparing for this study we have this morning, which will be on the topic of Justification, I began to think about qualifications. We put qualifications on almost everything, thinking that it will make something more desirable to have. We have qualifications with banks, need to have a certain type of credit score to be able to purchase a house, for jobs, you need to have a certain type of resume and background to qualify for a certain type of job. Even amusement parks, such as Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm has a certain height requirement for certain rides.

What did this random trial of thought lead me to? I am very glad that God does not put a height requirement on Justification.

What will be doing this morning:

What we will be looking at this morning will be partly expository and mainly topical on Justification. I am very aware that before me is a well trained well educated church and I am sure that what will be said many if not all of you are well informed. So what I will be doing is just simply trying to convey to you what I have learned in my studies. Please be gracious towards me in my attempt.

Since we will be looking at what Justification is, I think it would be very important to look at the cross. And in looking at the cross we first look to who was on the cross. Then we will end with what was purchased on that cross. We will begin with the famous Christological Hymn found in then the rest of our time will be spend looking at the book of Galatians.

Please turn with me to

Since I know you are all very familiar with this passage we will briefly go through it making some points of note. We see here a very beautiful hymn, whether it was penned by the Apostle Paul or already established makes no difference. We have here in beautiful language a picture set for us of Christ. And no I will not attempt to sing this passage, trust me that is best for everyone.

We read in God’s Word:

Starting at chapter 2 verse 1

Philippians 2:1–11 ESV

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Christ’s Example of Humility

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Notice in verse 6 who Jesus is: It says He was in the form of God, and and equal with God. This means Jesus is God. And although He is God and equal with God, Christ Jesus, does count His equality with God, which is rightfully His to be grasped. That being said, to mean He did not see His status a thing to be used for His selfish pleasure but rather selflessly gives that up we see in verse 7, The first Adam sought for a higher honor than was was bestowed on him, and Christ the Second Adam willingly gives up His greater Honor for us.

Now we know that when it says Christ emptied Himself, we know that He did not give up any of His Deity or attributes, but what He does do is take on human flesh and human nature, taking the form of a servant or slave by being born in the likeness of men.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

This is Christ, The very Son of God, Who is God and equal with God the Father, He is the Second Person in the trinity. And what does Christ do, Christ Humbles Himself by becoming man, fully man fully God, and He was obedient to the point of death, but not just death but death on a cross. And this was not a one time obedience, but by being born of a virgin, He was born under the law and as man and as God, He was subjected to the very law He purposed for us. Why? we see in verse 10 and 11. It was by His active perfect obedience through His daily life under the law, and by His perfect passive obedience of the death on the cross that He has secured Salvation for us, which we receive by Faith.

Now let us turn to and see what Christ on the Cross reveals to us:

Here we will see that this passage reveal 4 things about the cross:

We read in God’s Word starting in verse 3:

English Standard Version Chapter 1

3 gGrace to you and peace hfrom God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 iwho gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present jevil age, according to the will of kour God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Galatians 1:3–5 ESV

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Point Number 1: Who gave Himself

This shows the WILLINGNESS of Jesus to go to the Cross:

It was a voluntary self sacrifice:

says: He gave Himself up

says: He gave Himself for us

We see that no one takes His life away from Him; but He freely gave it away

Point Number 2: For our Sins

This shows the PURPOSE of the Cross. It was for our sins that He gave Himself up:

There was a legal transaction that took place on the cross.

We, the guilty party, standing before God in His Court Room, deserve the death penalty. We deserve the death on the cross that Christ died on. This is because we owe God an infinite debt, for our sins, that we can never repay.

But what we see here, is Christ, the Mediator, coming forth as our substitute, taking our place, taking God’s full wrath.

This is not a mere example of supreme sacrifice, but an actual atonement for sin.

What we learn from the substitutionary atonement is how impossible it is for us to pay this legal price. For the price cost nothing less than the blood of our precious Saviour Jesus Christ. And from this we find our confident hope rests.

A quote that I love from Martin Luther regarding this confident hope says:

“When the devil accuses us and says: You are a sinner; therefore you are damned. Then we can answer him and say: Because you say I am a sinner, therefore I shall be righteous and be saved. No says the devil, you will be damned. No I say, for I take refuge in Christ, who has given Himself for my sins.”

Point Number 3: To deliver us from the present evil age

This shows the EFFECT of the Cross:

Christ was crucified to deliver us from the present evil age.

Christ here is rescuing us and setting us free from the bond of Satin, from the enslavement to sin.

says: For Freedom, Christ has set us Free. Stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

This present evil age, simply means, “the totality of human life dominated and opposed to God”

We see here not only the terms of our own personal Salvation, but also God’s redemptive purpose for our lives.

Philip Ryken in his commentary on Galatians states:

“Galatians is the epistle of the soul set free. It proclaims that Jesus died on the cross to deliver us from evil. Deliverance is the keynote of this epistle.”

Lastly, Point Number 4: According to the will of our God and Father

This shows the ORIGIN of the Cross:

Christ died, according to the will of our God and Father:

This was not an unforeseen tragedy.

It was a part of God’s plan before the foundation of the world.

says: This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God...

In fact, this pleased God to offer up His Son. It was His will to crush Him.

(ESV)

10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;

he has put him to grief;

when his soul makes an offering for guilt,

he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;

the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;

by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,

make many to be accounted righteous,

and he shall bear their iniquities.

We see here: that the cross was on the mind of God from all eternity. This demonstrates for us the love God has for us and the love Christ has for us.

Philip Ryken again states in his commentary:

“The Father does not love us because the Son died for us; Rather the Son died for us because the Father loved us. The Cross had its origin in our Father’s heart.”

Now let us move on to what was accomplished on the Cross. And what was accomplished on the Cross was Justification:

Please turn with me to

Galatians 2:15–16 ESV

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

We will also read

Galatians 3:5–14 ESV

Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

I am not going to expound upon these verses. Rather what I would like to do is give 7 descriptive words that help describe Justification. I got these 7 descriptive words from Steve Lawson and I will at the end add one more that I think is helpful:

First Let Us Look at 3 metaphors that are used in the New Testament that describe the Meaning of Justification.

1st Metaphor is a Clothing Metaphor:

We the guilty sinners, much like that of the prodigal son, are clothed in filthy rags covered in the waste of the pigs.

We are standing before before the Holy Judge covered with the filth and stains of our sins.

We have no good works that would commend us to God.

We stand before God, condemned and when we believe in Christ and put our faith in Him, God clothes us, from head to toe with the perfect righteousness of Christ

2nd Metaphor is a Banking Metaphor:

When we stand before God, the Holy Judge of Heaven and Earth, He audits our spiritual account.

We are not only found to be spiritually bankrupt, but in grave debt.

We have no spiritual capital, in which we can commend to God

We have a debt to God to pay, by which we can NEVER repay.

But because of our faith in Christ, God the Father graciously bestows the riches of Christ, and they are immediately deposited into our account.

3rd Metaphor we see, and that in which we see here in Galatians, is a Court Room Metaphor:

We stand before God, the Holy Judge, and the books are laid open.

All of our unrighteousness and sins are presented as evidence against us.

We stand condemned before an Almighty God

But because of our faith in Christ Jesus, and because of His righteousness that He has secured on our behalf, for those who put their faith in Him

By virtue now of our faith in Jesus Christ, God the Father declares us to be the perfect righteousness of Christ!

So now, Let us look at 7 descriptive words that help define this act of Justification that God declares us to be Righteous:

1st: in Justification, it is first of all a DIVINE ACT:

That is to say, that only God can declare someone righteous

Only God, who is our judge, can justify us.

This is a Divine Act!

2nd: Justification is an IMMEDIATE ACT:

This is not a process. It does not take place over a length of time like.

It happens in an instant, faster than you can snap your fingers.

A man can come into Church this morning, under the wrath of God, here and respond to the Gospel and put his faith in Christ Jesus, and when he leaves this morning, he leaves justified, and right with God.

3rd: Justification is a LEGAL ACT:

This does not describe a moral or inner change, that is sanctification

What changes is our LEGAL standing before a Righteous and Holy God

God, the Almighty Judge, slams His gavel and pronounces us to be Righteous! Not Guilty!

4th: Justification is a JUST ACT:

This Justification is only on the basis of the perfect righteousness of another in our place, which is Jesus Christ.

This is why we see in that Jesus was born under the law. The reason was that He must obey and keep the very law that you and I have broken time and again.

He not only died in our place, but also lived the life we were suppose to live.

And by His Perfect Active Obedience to the law of God, Christ secured for us, perfect righteousness.

His righteousness is then credited to us, as if we have lived the life that Jesus lived.

5th: Justification is an IRREVOCABLE ACT:

That simply stated means once Justified always Justified

Never to be reversed or taken away.

6th: Justification is a COMPREHENSIVE ACT:

This means that everyone here, who believes upon the Lord Jesus Christ, is equally Justified

No one here is more justified than another and no one here is less justified than another.

All who believe upon Christ is equally Justified because we have a comprehensive Justification.

7th: and this is important: Justification is an ACCOMPANIED ACT:

What I mean by that is that everyone is Justified, will INEVITABLY be Sanctified.

Lawson explains:

“The Narrow gate always leads down the narrow path. You cannot go through the narrow gate and walk the broad path. Narrow Gate, Narrow Path / Broad Gate, Broad Path. You cannot mix and choose.”

Everyone who is Justified is also immediately Sanctified and set apart from a life pursuit of sin and set to a new pursuit of living for the Glory of God.

It is not a dead and lifeless Faith. It is a Faith in which we live by.

Paul says in

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Now before I add my own personal word, Let us first look at the means of which Justification is received:

As we see in and

Let’s look at those again right now: Starting in verse 15

Galatians 2:15–16 ESV

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Galatians 3:6 ESV

just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

The means by which this Divine Act occurs in our life is exclusively BY FAITH!

Not by faith and anything else: Not by faith and works, Not by faith and baptism, Not by faith and believing in Reformed theology, Not by faith and Church Membership,

NOT BY FAITH AND ANYTHING!!! Except faith alone in Christ alone!!

says: “Know then that it those of FAITH who are sons of Abraham.”

says: “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by FAITH”

says: “So then, those who are of FAITH are blessed along with Abraham, the man of FAITH.”

says: “The righteous shall live by FAITH”

7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

says: “But the law is not of FAITH”

7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

says: “So that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through FAITH.”

Lawson states:

“You can’t mix the systems and try to beat the odds. One of law and one of faith. One to try to keep the law and one try to exercise faith. You can’t play both ends into the middle and try to pursue both approaches to God. It is either or.”

Martin Luther, as he was lecturing on Galatians writes this about Faith:

“Paul places the emphasis upon the two words, ‘Abraham Believed’. Faith in God, he writes, constitutes the highest worship, the prime duty, the first obedience, and the foremost sacrifice. Without faith, God forfeits His glory. The first duty of man, Luther writes, is to believe in God and honor Him with His faith. Luther says, to believe in God is to be right with God. Later he says, faith cannot be inherited or gained by being baptized into a church. Faith is a matter between the individual and God. Faith unites the soul with Christ as a bride is united with her bridegroom.”

So in Closing, let me add an 8th description of Justification:

Justification is an act that gives us HOPE:

This is the greatest thing the Lord has taught me regarding this.

When the pain of this world becomes more than I can bare

When troubles and worries come rushing over me in an instant and without warning

And I begin to feel so burdened and unworthy and a failure to God

And when I am at the point where I am despairing of life itself and am ready to give in

The Lord brings me back to the Cross, where my hope is found, and He says “Peace be still” for I am Justified in Christ and I am clothed in His Perfect Righteousness, No one can take that away. I am firmly in His grasp and there I am restored to a peace that surpasses all understanding!

Conclusion:

Brothers and sisters in Christ, does your hope rest upon Jesus Christ and do you go back to that wonderful beautiful Cross? Do you rely on your works to gain favor with God? Or do you renounce your own efforts and trust upon Him?

If you have not put your faith in Christ today, I say trust in Him. Recognize our utter inability to secure salvation any other way but in Christ. The time will come when we face God as the Almighty Judge, we are on our way there now, so go quickly before the journey ends and make peace with God by trusting in Christ our Savior. The Son of God who died for us to pay the price we will never be able to pay.

Amen!