There is No Problem with Justification
There is No Problem with Justification
Text Romans 3:10-27
Reformation & Romans 1:17
October 31, 1517, that the Protestant Reformation began in Germany, when 31-year-old Martin Luther posted his 95 theses at Wittenberg Cathedral
Introduction: In the Old Testament there are some things that when looked at make you wonder how we can we ever be reconciled to God. If what the Bible says about man is true, and it is. The questions is not “How can man be just with God; but how can sinful man become just with God?
Justification in the bible is a declarative act, or forensic. Justification should not be confused with Regeneration, or Sanctification.
Justification in our world is a declaration or pronouncement respecting the relation of the person to the law, which he, the judge is required to administer. (repeat)
Justification does not mean to make holy or upright. When a Judge justifies a person he does not make that person an upright person. He simply declares that in his judgment the person is not guilty but is upright in terms of the law relevant to the case.
Question: What does the Old Testament have to say about Justification?
Deut. 25:1 “If there is a dispute between men and they come into court and the judges decide between them, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty,
Proverb 17:15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
Paraphrased: He who justifies the wicked is an abomination to the Lord.
Question: What does the Bible have to say about man’s condition after the fall in Gen. 3?
Gen. 6:5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (before the flood)
Gen. 8:20-21 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. (Nothing changed after the flood)
Jer. 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick who can understand it?
Rom. 3:10-18: Read
Eph. 2:1-3 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.— Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Rom. 3:23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Remember: The questions is not “How can man be just with God; but haw can sinful man become just with God?
Listen to the weight of this now that we have looked at what the Bible says about justification and mans natural condition.
Rom. 3:23-24 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.
Does this make you tremble? It should.
Question: What does God do to his enemies?
Ps. 97:1-3 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne
Question: How can a righteous God justify a wicked sinner, and remain Just?
Remember HIS WORD SAYS
Deut. 25:1 “If there is a dispute between men and they come into court and the judges decide between them, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty,
Proverb 17:15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
Paraphrased: He who justifies the wicked is an abomination to the Lord.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Application:>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>No Earthly Judge>>>>>
Rom. 3:23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Then who can be saved? With man it is impossible but not with God. For all things are possible.
Pray
Text Romans 3:10-27
I. All Men are born at enmity with God: Verses 10-18
Every man that is born is wicked and Totally depraved. No human judge will declare a known murder to be innocent, much less righteous.
Question: How can a Holy God declare any man righteous? How can God Justify any?
Read: Rom. 3:10-18
We are all born enemies of God.
Gen. 8:21b-for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. (Nothing has changed)
Application- Imagine if all of us were able some how to look into the intentions of your heart.
We are a vile people. How can any wicked man be Justified?
None seek God, No not one.
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 in their paths are ruin and misery,
Were it not for the Restrain Grace of God. We probably kill each other.
When events such as the Virginia Tech shooting happen we should not be surprised. We should be surprised that it is not going on all the time. This is a testimony to God’s Sovereign restraining Grace.
Application<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Med-evil view of Hell>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all understanding.
But to natural man: There is no fear of God before His eyes.
Application<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Do you fear God? I mean a healthy fear.
There is a great Joy in fearing God.
II. God Justifies the Ungodly (Verses 19-24)
Any man who justifies the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. Yet God Justifies the ungodly all the time, and remains Just, and Holy. (How is this?)
Verse 19 & 20 Show us that the Law was given to show us how sinful we are. Those who did not have the law are also with out excuse. The Law is also written on every mans heart.
Read Verses 21-24 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Explain>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— (This is talking about Christ)
-The Law and the Prophets bear witness to Christ. Do you remember when Christ opened the scripture and explained to the guys on the road to Emmaus starting with Moses and through the Prophets that the spoke of Him.
22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: (Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved) Jew or Gentile
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Jew and Gentile have all sinned. You have sinned me)
24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
We are Justified by His grace it is a gift. Through the redemption that is in Christ
Rom. 4:5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, (Rom. 1:17)
Romans 24b-27 through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.
God is just and the justifier
24b Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
- I do not care what Oprah says-Salvation is found in no other person than in Jesus Christ.
- Jesus declares John 14:6 I am the way the truth and the light no one comes to the Father except through me.
- The Universalist try to use this to say Jesus is just the way to the Father.
- The Father declares in Isa. 45:6 “I am the Lord and there is no other.”
Question: Whose idea was the Cross? It was the Fathers
Verse 25 “whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.
Propitiation: an atoning sacrifice that satisfies the wrath of God on behalf of those for whom it is made.
Ps. 97: 3 Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
Old Testament teaching on Propitiation
Question: Whose idea was the Cross?
Read Isa. 53:10-11 It says in verse 10 it was the will of the Lord to Crush Him.
Verse 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.
The wrath that we deserved He bore it. When Jesus said it is finished, it was done.
Back to Romans 3:25 “whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith (We are saved by faith alone by Christ alone. )
Question: Is it our Faith that Justifies?
We are Justified by Christ Faith.
Galatians 2:16 (KJV) 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.
We can not believe that we have been justified until we are first Justified.
Verse 25b This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
APPLICATION >>>>>>>>>>>>Explain David
Verse 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
It is God who is Just and Justifies the sinner who has faith in Jesus.
Our faith is a result of the work Christ has done at Calvary, and what He has done in us.
Verse 27. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. Then what becomes of our boasting
God does it in such a way no man can Boast.
Christ Righteousness has been imputed to us. His righteousness is an undefilable righteousness.
If it were our righteousness we would sin and it would be defiled, but Christ righteousness can never be defiled.
Appllication (Salvation Message sinner and Saint)
For the Christian ______Not only what with the Boasting but
Then what becomes of our guilt?
Because our sins are dealt with and sent away, we are no longer guilty! We stand uncondemned before God! Justified by faith, we now “have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
Because of Jesus, our sins have been dealt with fully and completely. As far as God is concerned, the issue is settled. Forgiveness is so complete that sins are no longer even remembered.
Romans 8:33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
Isaiah 54:17 no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
Heb 4:16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.
Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Beloved if He has declared you Righteous because of Christ rejoice, you will be Glorified, and sin no more.
Conclusion
-All Men are born at enmity with God
-God Justifies the Ungodly
-God is just and the justifier
-We are Justified by Christ Faith.
-Then what becomes of our boasting?
-Then what becomes of our guilt?
-There is No Problem with Justification