The Divine Acquittal

Text: Rom. 4:1-8

Romans 4:1–8 NLT

Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

Romans 3:24–26 NLT

Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

Introduction:

There is a hymn that we sing it goes like this:

Living by Faith

In Jesus above

Trusting confiding

In His great love,

From all harm safe

In His sheltering love,

I’m living by faith and feel no alarm.

I believe that most religious teaching has profoundly misinterpreted the meaning of “faith.” Faith is and should be the core of Christianity. In today’s popular Christian way of speaking, however, faith is frequently nothing more than a synonym for assent or belief. And believing is presented as easy.

In many churches, the bare minimum of belief is the conviction that because we know Jesus as our personal Savior, recognizing that he died for our sins, we are going to heaven when we die.  Once this “faith” is possessed, the “believer” is safe in the arms of Jesus, and cannot be lost.

This evening let’s take a look at what it means to live by faith.

What does it mean to “keep faith” in a marriage? It is about fidelity or faithfulness over the long haul.

Faith takes time in a way that simple belief does not.

Does a good wedding day insure a happy and successful marriage?

(From the money many spend on that one day, you might think some believe this is so). But the bride and groom may believe their wedding vows with all their hearts and speak them clearly with their lips, but their convictions on the wedding day are only the beginning—not the end—of the story of their marriage. The marriage depends on a faith that is exhibited day in, and day out, over a long period of time. The wedding day only asks that you believe; the marriage asks that you live by faith.

Illustration:

A man was interested in becoming a monk and started the journey in that calling. While on the way to Rome to do business with the Pope he was walking up the stairs as he climbed the stairs he kissed each step as was the custom. A scripture kept going over and over in his mind “The just shall live by faith”. After serious consideration and agonizing prayer Martin Luther renounced the his current church and began preaching the doctrine of justification.

“The just shall live by faith” he said, “not by works, not by penance, but by faith!”

This same doctrine had been preached many centuries earlier by the apostle Paul, but it had been lost in the maze of mystic ceremonial religion. Now the doctrine began to live again. Out of Luther’s experience came the reformation and Protestantism was born.

So this evening we are going to answer a few questions on justification and the first question is:

What is justification?

Justification is an act whereby God declares sinners “just” or “innocent” as if they had never sinned.

It is more than a pardon, for a pardon frees people merely from the penalty of the sin they have committed, not from its guilt. Justification takes away all guilt and blame entirely.

However, as a perfect God faced sinful man there was a problem.

In the OT the principle of justice had been laid down.

Deuteronomy 25:1 NIV

When people have a dispute, they are to take it to court and the judges will decide the case, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty.

So by this principle God Himself must administer justice. But how could God be just and at the same time acquit the ungodly?

Paul stated this problem in Rom. 3:23

Romans 3:23 NLT

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

The judgement is passed on the entire human race. When God, then, sits in judgement to dispense justice, he must pronounce all the world guilty.

How then could God save any person?

How could He receive sinners into His presence at all? Which brings us to another question this evening:

How are people justified?

A. We are not justified by good deeds. A person may live their best moral life in the world. He may sell all that he has and give his money to the poor. He may “do unto others as he would have them do unto him” and still fall short of what God requires.

This is what Paul meant when he wrote the Ephesians:

Eph. 2:8

“Because of God’s kindness you have been saved through FAITH (Trusting Christ). And even faith (trusting)is not of yourselves; it too is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take credit for it”.

B. We are not justified by performing religious duties. We may pray, join the church, be baptized, attend regularly, pay tithes, receive the Lord’s supper and still be lost! It’s not about religious acts! Although commendable this does not save you!

In a world where nothing is free it is hard to take in that something of such high value is totally free to us.

C. It is difficult for people to understand that salvation costs them nothing.When we say salvation is free, we are not saying costs nothing. It cost God his only begotten Son, and it cost Jesus His sinless life! Humans deserved death but Jesus took humanity’s place before God and took on Himself the penalty of a broken law.

That’s the kind of Savior I know and serve. Isn’t this someone you want in your life? This is someone you want in your corner because that is divine love!

How does Justification work?

It works Instantly! It is an instant act!

The moment we surrender our hearts to Jesus Christ we are justified, acquitted of the guilt of our sins.

Justification is not a progressive act. The work of the Holy Spirit in convicting us of our sin is often a process, sometimes involving a period of time and a chain of circumstances, depending on the individual. But not so with justification!

A judge in a court says to the defendant “I declare you innocent of the crime in which you are charged. You are hereby acquitted”.

What happens? Does the person stay in jail for another week or so?

No! He or she is immediately released!

The vilest sinner who repents shows faith in Jesus Christ and is immediately justified before God.

When you ask God for forgiveness He does immediately!!!

Justification also is an irreversible act.

The law today doesn’t hold a person in jeopardy the second time for the same crime. A woman kills someone in self defense. The jury acquits her of the crime and frees her from all guilt and never again is that woman in danger of prosecution for the same act. So it is when God justifies us - no one can reverse this great act of justification.

His forgiveness is real and immediate!

What are the blessings of Justification?

It brings full and free pardon from God.

It is a pardon that covers all sin. God does not save us on an installment plan. When we come to him through Christ we are his and we are justified eternally.

The consequences of sins we commit after we are born again are suffered in this life, but the penalty is covered by the blood of Jesus.

Justification produces a perfect standing with God.

Sin has marred our relationship with him, but through justification we can stand blameless before God. When God looked at people in the light of his law he saw the black sin that produced a hopeless condemnation. But when he looks at believers through the blood of Christ, he sees them cleansed of their sins and eternally righteous!

Justification brings peace with God.

Paul said:

Romans 5:1 NLT

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

Philippians 4:7 NLT

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion:

Venice is a city of waterways. I have never visited before but seen many videos and pictures. Over one canal is a bridge called “The bridge of Sighs”. This bridge leads from a courtroom to a dismal prison where guilty criminals are left to rot and die.

Written over the door of the prison are words “Abandon hope, all ye who enter” I can imagine a man being led across this bridge. He has kissed his loved ones goodbye and is looking into the sunlight for the last time. His heart is filled with grief and despair. But when he is halfway across the bridge a court attendant rushes up to him and cries out: Stop! I have here an acquittal for you! YOU ARE FREE!!!

Can you imagine the overwhelming joy this man would experience?

This is an illustration of what happens when, upon one’s repentance of sin and demonstration of in Jesus Christ, he or she is forgiven and justified and the stain is forever removed!

This evening are you sure of your place in eternity?

Have you received justification?

Are you living by faith?

If you are not now is the time to ask God for forgiveness and then let Him pour in immediate pardon, love and compassion in your life.

He had compassion on me

Touched my eyes that I might see

Washed my feet that I might walk in His way

Cleansed my heart from all sin

Gave me perfect peace within

What a wonderful savior is He