Justification By Faith

March 11, 2007

Mike Larsen

Adult Sunday School

Romans 4:5

Open your Bible to Romans 4:5.

Introduction: Last week we looked at You and Your Salvation and we found that your salvation was the most important thing, you can know if you have it for sure, we discussed why we need it, and we looked at what it was.  We ended as you may recall with how we can obtain it.  That is what we will look at today.  Now another way to state what salvation is would be the word Justified. I also mentioned last week that it is true that we must examine ourselves and see if we be in the faith, but after that, we need to rest in the Lord and not worry or doubt our status with God.  We will see today why and how that is possible.  You see if you are a believer, you have been fully justified!

People through the ages have realized that God is a Holy God and a God of judgment.  He will judge the earth and all in it of sin.  All unrighteous people will not enter into the kingdom of God the Bible says.  As a result of knowing this they attempt all sorts of things to make themselves “right with God”  They crawl on there knees for miles, they whip themselves to make themselves worthy, they do pennants to pay their way, they give money to ease their guilt, they deny themselves food and comfort in many ways, etc.  All these efforts are in vain as their guilt remains.  They never feel justified.  They never feel “right with God”. 

Maybe you feel that way at times.  You never feel justified.  Maybe you are confusing Justification with Sanctification.  Justification is being proclaimed righteous by God.   Sanctification is being made righteous over time.  Two totally different things, however if you get them confused you will doubt your salvation.

Let’s look at the Doctrine of Justification.

I.             Position or Process?– Justification is a legal term that means to pronounce or declare “Righteous”.  It is making one “right with God.”  Justification is being “just as if I never sinned.  It is a permanent change in our relation with God whereby we are absolved of the charge of guilty, and whereby God forgives all our sins on the basis of the finished work of Jesus.  Though we are guilty before the holy Judge of all, having violated his law and deserve His wrath, He has declared us righteous.  Our position before God is righteous or sinless.  How?  On the basis of what Christ accomplished on the Cross.  Only the cross can make us acceptable before God.  Nothing we can do makes us justified!

Position – Gen 15:6.  We see here early on that believing in God is what is counted for righteousness.  Rom 4:3 Paul quotes this verse.  Let’s look at the context. 

Rom 3:21- 30 Paul is making it painfully clear that Justification comes by Faith in God and not the works of the law.  You can add here even the works of your own self established laws or the laws and rules of your church.  Verse 30 says God shall justify the circumcision (Jews) by faith and the uncircumcision (Gentiles) through faith.

3:31 through 4:3 In verse 3 Paul is interpreting Gen 15:6 as the faith that “Justified” Abraham.  Made him righteous and accepted by God.  When I read Gen 12:1 onwards it is clear to me that Abraham was believer even before God says it in Gen 15:6.  He obeys God in Gen 12:4 and he builds an alter in Gen 12:7.  Yes, he was a believer!

4:3-4:11 Verse 5 Who justifies? God.  Who does He justify?  The ungodly!  Verse 9 Pauls asks the rhetorical question if this blessing of justification by faith only comes to the Jews.  Praise God the answer is NO!  God proclaimed Abraham righteous before he was circumcised!  Look at Gen 15:6 again.  He believed God and God counted it for him as righteousness.  Now look at Gen 17:10-11.  Circumcision was never related to their justification!  It was a sign of God’s promise or covenant.  God is a covenant making and covenant keeping God!  That is important to remember.  When God makes a promise you don’t have to worry about Him breaking it!

Now Paul did not say that Abraham became justified through a series of actions whereby he did enough of the right things for God to be pleased and grant him justification.  No he just believed God and he was proclaimed righteous!

Let’s look at Rom 5:1.  Being justified by faith we have Peace with God through Jesus!  No longer enemies but at Peace.  This transformation from being at war with God to being at peace with God is not a process, it is a decree from God.  It is immediate and permanent through faith.  You are not more justified at some times than others.  You will never be more justified than you are right now.  You are fully justified in Gods eyes and have been since the day you were saved.  You have the righteousness of Christ.  There is also nobody more justified than you and never has been.  Not even Paul.

Galatians 2:21  Paul reiterating that our justification is not based on us keeping the law.
Galatians 5:1  Paul warns us not to allow ourselves to be brought back under bondage of a works mentality for our justification.  Paul is warning the Church at Galatia in this letter not to follow another gospel or go back to living under the law. 1:6-7, 3:1-14, 4:4-5  Paul is explaining to them that Jesus came to redeem them that were under the law and set them free.  Some were desiring to be back under the law or at least some were being taught that.  Paul is reminding them of their position in Christ and telling them not to listen to them.  He is reasoning with them not to live under the curse.  If they attempt to live by the law they will be judged by it!  We are at Liberty.  We can have peace knowing that we are secure in our position (Justified).  We are not at liberty to sin for God is not mocked, you will reap what you sew, but we are not under the law in terms of our position before God.

Rom 4:23-25  Abraham’s faith was imputed to him for righteousness but not just his faith.  Our faith is also imputed to us for righteousness!  Jesus was raised for our justification!  We are fully justified.

II.          Legalism?  In our church?

1. In fundamental churches we can slowly creep into personal legalism.  We can confuse sanctification with Justification and begin to believe that if we do not do certain things we aren’t saved.  It happens like this; In our legitimate pursuit of obedience and maturity, legalism slowly and subtly overtakes us.  We begin to substitute our works for His finished work.  The result is either arrogance or condemnation.  Instead of growing in grace we abandon grace.  This always ends in failure and is futile.  We need to regularly assess our motives and review the truth of scripture on Justification by Faith.  Here is how you can tell if you are in jeopardy of legalism.  See if any of these are true for you:
1. You are more aware of past sin versus the finished work of Christ?
2. You live thinking, believing, and feeling that God is disappointed with you rather than delighted in you. 
3. You assume God’s acceptance depends on your obedience.
4. You lack joy.  This is often the first indication of legalism.  Condemnation is the result of pondering our deficiency; joy is the result of considering His sufficiency!
   
   Legalism involves seeking to earn God’s acceptance through our obedience.  Listen believer, God accepts you because of what Jesus did.  Nothing you can do will gain God’s acceptance more than that.
2. Only way to uproot legalism is through the constant meditation on the doctrine of Justification.  Review these doctrines until it sinks down deep.  It is not enough that you know what the doctrine of justification is, you must have experienced it in your own life.  I Love God because I realize what I was and that even though I do not deserve it Jesus paid for me!
3. Don’t argue with the judge!  Think of a time in your life when you did something wrong.  You knew you were guilty of it.  Whether it was a criminal offense, you were speeding, or your parents caught you in the act.  You were busted and you were getting ready to take your punishment that you knew you deserved.  After hearing and considering your actions the Police officer or your parents  or judge decided to let you go without punishment!  How did you feel?  Did you argue with them to reconsider?  Did you ask them why they were letting you off?  Did you say, “there must be some mistake you must not know what I did?  Of course not, you were overjoyed and said thank you and you got out of there!  God has forgiven your sins!  Don’t argue with the Judge!  Be grateful.  In order to stay grateful rehearse what the judge did for you regularly so you don’t forget and become complacent. 

Conclusion: So how do we obtain this great salvation or Justification?  Clearly we are justified by faith!  Justification is a position, being “declared” righteous before God and not a process.   What did this justification give us?

• Eternal life, Born spiritually, given the Holy Spirit, Placed us positionally in Heaven, Made us heirs, Made us children of God, Made us right with God, Gives us peace with God, Gives us a relationship with God, Gives us security, gives us Hope, Took away our guilt, took away our anxiety, Gives us blessings and the promise of Gods care as children, and the list goes on and on.
• Next week we will look at Repentance and see that repentance is part of this “justification by faith”