John Piper on Male Headship

John Piper explains the implications of Ephesians 5:26-27 for husbands (and overseers):

Headship

The Roles of Men and Women in the Church and in the Bible

Recently, I have talked with some people about the role of men and women in the church in terms of leadership and teaching. Here is the biblical take on all of this:

Everyone is commanded to preach ("proclaim" or kerusso in Greek) the gospel. Preaching, in this sense, is testifying to the truthfulness of the gospel. On the other hand, not everyone is supposed to teach (didasko in Greek). Teaching, in this sense, is explaining biblical truths about doctrine and church tradition.

So who is not supposed to teach?
1. People who stumble in their faith (James 3:1-2).
2. People who are not mature in their faith (Hebrews 5:12-14).
3. People who want to teach for their own good (Titus 1:10-11).
4. People who cause trouble (2 Timothy 2:24).
5. People who are not qualified and not trustworthy (2 Timothy 2:2).

So, it's not that women can't teach. It's about God's choice in who teaches who.

Men are created to fill the role as overseers in the same way men are created to fill the role of a father in a family (1 Timothy 3:2). The only difference between overseers and fathers is that overseers are specific to the church and fathers are specific to the family. Both overseers and fathers are told to teach by (as described in 1 Timothy 4:11-16):
1. Being examples of people in Christ
2. Teaching what scriptures say
3. Loving people.

Women can't be men or fathers, so they can't be overseers (1 Timothy 2:12). But that does not mean that women can't teach or be mothers. Remember, It's about God's choice in who teaches who.

Titus 2:1-10 explains this better than I could ever:
2:1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

In sum, If older men are like those overseers that are mature in the faith, then they are generally called to teach sound doctrine to all. Women who are mature in the faith have no explicit titles, like overseer; nonetheless, their role is like that of the older Christian women as described in Titus. So who do women of mature faith teach? They teach sound doctrine to men and women who are immature in the faith, just as mothers would teach younger men and women in the family.

When you really think about it, church "fathers" (or overseers) and church "mothers" both teach sound doctrine to the whole congregation.

Church "fathers", however, are the primary teachers who have final authority in the general assembly (Hebrews 13:17). Authority, in this sense, is about order (Ephesians 5:23-24), not value (Galatians 3:28)! This authority is not a to be proudly declared as if one has God's favour (Titus 1:10-11). It is more of a grave responsibility for leaders to:
1. Learn from Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1)
2. Teach God's people (Titus 2:1).
3. Love their wives and their congregation (as Christ loved the church in Ephesians 5:25a); in this way, providing a way for mutual submission (Ephesians 5:21) and wives submission to husbands (Ephesians 5:22-24) .
4. Serve their wives and their congregation (as Christ did in Ephesians 5:25b and Matthew 20:28); in this way, providing a way for mutual submission (Ephesians 5:21) and wives submission to husbands (Ephesians 5:22-24) .

So, church "mothers", are to teach under the authority of church "fathers".

What about those female pastors that plant churches? Are they in the wrong?

It is pretty clear that it is sinful for women to feministically take on the role that God designated for men. Eve did that when she took it upon herself to make the choice in eating the forbidden fruit and impose the fruit on Adam. Like I said, mothers can't be fathers; women can't be husbands; and yes, this is similar to the reason that homosexuality is sinful. If a woman's desire is to have sex with a woman over and above her desire to glorify God, then she sins. If a female pastor desires to fill the role of a "church father" over and above her desire to glorify God as a "church mother", then she sins.

That being said, it seems to me biblically that women who teach or plant churches are not necessarily "in the wrong". In fact, I think they are truly glorifying God by planting churches and pastoring congregations when God has made no men available that are qualified as a "church father". But, they must do these things as "church mothers", without seeking to replace "church fathers". This by no means undermines their leadership. They are to still teach those that are not mature in the faith, and pastor younger men and women. If these "church mothers" are genuinely faithful, then they would submit to a qualified "church father" if God makes such a man available. Otherwise, God calls whom He wills for His glory, be that a man or woman.

Just to add: Adam also had two sins that are revealed in Genesis 3. The sin that is relevant is the one where Adam emasculates himself and takes on the role of the "church mother". He does this by not being a man by taking responsibility for his wife's actions (Genesis 3:12). And instead of loving his wife by substituting himself for God's wrath, he blames her. I say this just to clarify that men do not escape the sinful nature that we inherit from Adam, just as women inherit the sinful nature of Eve.

This is why we need Jesus!

Lastly, concerning submission, I have often heard that Ephesians 5:21 is a sort of cancellation of Ephesians 5:22-24. In other words, God wants men and women to submit to one another (5:21), so there is no real need to think that women should specifically submit to men (5:22-24). But this is a blatant misinterpretation of the biblical text. Ephesians 5:21 doesn't just say: "submit to one another." It says, "submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." Submission here is talking about worship, not order of leadership (or headship). We know this for sure because Ephesians 5:15-20 talks explicitly about worship practices. Therefore, Ephesians 5:22-24 must stand on it's own as a different, though related, command to Ephesians 5:21.

There is obviously way more that needs to be explained. I've tried my best to explain to you what I believe God wants us to do to spread His gospel and glorify Him in the church. I personally think that God wants the church to be like a family because He wants the church to have relationships that resemble the Trinity (more on this some other time!). In any case, familial relationships are more conducive to intimate relationships.

I hope that you are blessed by this biblical account, rather than discouraged. If we get past our worldview, there is shalom, or peace, in God's purposes for the church. Remember, it's about the cross and the supremacy of Christ... not us.

Why was God on a Tree? – Expiation

Romans 6:14-23 and Various
(Message given at Faith Church on March 25, 2007, 1:30pm)

We have been asking the question, “Why was God on a Tree? And to answer we have been defining and explaining some very important theological words.

First, we looked at Redemption – Son of God was on a tree to legally free slaves from sin by Christ’s payment of price. Second, we looked at Justification – Son of God was on a tree to declare the unrighteous to be righteous by our unrighteousness imputed to Christ and Christ’s righteousness imputed to us. Third, we looked at Propitiation – Son of God was on a tree to divert the wrath of God onto Himself that was supposed to be for us.

In other words, Christ’s sacrifice is propitiatory, in that it has to do with regards to God’s wrath. And so we talked about the wrath of God, our number one favorite topic. But those of you who were here, you will remember that the wrath of God does not just exist for no reason. It is not as if God is like an angry guy taking out his frustration on anyone he comes across. No, the wrath of God is wrath against sin. Please keep that in mind; God is wrathful against sin.

Now, listen to this good news. When we say that Jesus is our propitiation (that He diverts the wrath of God onto Himself), the only way this can happen is if Jesus took our sins onto Himself.

That is why we are going to look at today, Expiation. Expiation literally means to make pious or holy by the removal of sin. You could say our sins, our wrongdoings are expiated; that it is taken away.

In other words, Christ’s sacrifice is expiatory, in that it has to do with regards to man’s sin. That it is taken away. And if you ask, where is it taken? A lot of people like to quote Psalm 103.

As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalms 103:12 (ESV)

And people quote it to say that sin is just removed and thrown far away from God. That interpretation is out of biblical context and with wrong emphasis. The emphasis is that sins (our transgressions) are removed far from US. Not that does not mean, however God just makes it disappear into thin air. Taken away far from us and put on Jesus.

This is what 2 Corinthians 5 means, when it says … “For our sake he made him (Jesus) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

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. Isaiah 53:11 (ESV)

This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” Matthew 8:17 (ESV)

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)

All this to say, our sin is expiated (or removed) and put on His body on the tree. Why was God on a Tree? The Son of God was on a tree to take away our sins and put onto Him. So when the wrath of God in on Jesus, it is because sin was imputed to him.

To have our sin “imputed” to Jesus on the tree is to deem the sin to His account. One teacher explains, “When unbelievers sin, the guilt of their sin is reckoned to their own account. That is, they bear the blame for their own sin. They own it. The actual corruption of the sin also remains with them. However, when believers sin, the actual corruption of the sin also remains with them, but the guilt is imputed to Christ. When sin is imputed to Jesus, it becomes “his sin” insofar as he owns the guilt and takes the blame for it.”

Think about this friend, on the cross, Jesus “became sin” for us by receiving our guilt. Jesus did not actually become corrupted by our sin and He start to commit sin. But He did take out sin so that the Father blamed Him for our sin. God considered Jesus guilty of our sins.

What a friend we have in Jesus. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. John 15:13 (ESV)

South Australian government has this thing called “expiation notice.” If you pay the notice, your wrongdoing is cancelled or taken away. Therefore there is no more guilt on you.

But let’s say don’t have the money to pay for it because you are bankrupt. And let’s also say that your friend found out and told you he will pay your notice. So in good faith, you give the expiation notice to him. When you do this, you are trusting him about two things.

First, you trust that he has the ability to pay for it. Second, you trust that he will pay for it. Otherwise, the police will come and put you in jail (at least something will happen to you).

Your friend would be a good friend because he is able; he does pay your expiation notice.

Let me change it up a little bit and use the story in another way. You and I have been served with an expiation notice. We have to pay the notice or we are going to die.

And we realize in our spiritual bankruptcy, we cannot pay for it. But Jesus comes along and says to us these incredible words. “I am your friend. I love you. Through faith in me, trusting that I have the ability to pay for it and I have paid for it, give me your expiation notice. I will take your sin. I will take your debt. And I will pay for it.”

And once Jesus was “guilty” of sin through expiation, God justly punished Him for that sin. This is the biblical understanding of expiation.

Now, let’s consider some important applications. There are so many but let’s consider three. Because of Expiation …

1. We are no longer slaves to sin.

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14 (ESV)

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2 (ESV)

We are now free from the slavery of sin.

2. We are slaves to righteousness.

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. Romans 6:15-19 (ESV)

a) Living passionately for the will of God.

So as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:2 (ESV)

b) Living passionately for the work of God.

Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:14 (ESV)

c) Living passionately for the glory of God.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (ESV)

And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 2 Corinthians 5:15 (ESV)

3. We are ultimately saved to eternal life.

When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:20-23 (ESV)

I have nothing against George Clooney but in a recent interview article he is quoted to have said that he would be okay to die tomorrow, because he is content with everything he has achieved in his life. Clooney said, “If I get hit by a bus tomorrow, I’ve had a pretty good run.”

Again, nothing against George and I do not even know if he is a Christian or not. But “George, have you dealt with the most important thing that you need to deal with in this life. Have you dealt with your sin and the fact that you are a sinner? If you have not by way of faith in the ONE who has and can expiate your sin so that you would stand righteous before God, you will stand before God as a sinner, period.”

Have you dealt with your sin?
Put your faith in Jesus Christ who can expiate your sin so that you would stand righteous before God.

Book Review: Chosen for Life, by Sam Storms

I recently read this book by Sam Storms on the case for divine election. Divine Election is a controversial topic for a lot of people. The most common concern for people is the conflict between free will and God's will. Ironically, when you put it that way, it's hard to imagine who's will is more powerful! Another controversy is: How can a just God unfairly choose one person over another?

To put it simply, Sam Storms goes through the biblical truth of God's election. He proves without a doubt that the bible teaches that God sovereignly elects people to be saved by His grace. He does this by systematically going through each passage in the bible that concerns election. This view, that God is sovereign and therefore is in complete control of saving people, is called Calvinism.

He even gives a thorough account of the view that is against the complete election of God, otherwise called Arminianism. In this way, he doesn't just give a one-sided explanation of the whole issue. However, he does do a very convincing job defending Calvinism through biblical analysis, thoughtful analogy and compassionate explanation. At the same time, he is sympathetic towards all the people who struggle with God's sovereignty without compromising the biblical truths.

I think everyone should read this book. Though, at times, it gets a little scholarly, I think that Storms has written a thorough summary of these issues. In any case, there is no doubt that this doctrine should not to be ignored.

All Christians grapple with his sovereignty in one way or another. But when his sovereignty is realized, it can be a beautiful and freeing thing.

God Still Speaks Today

I was very encouraged by Dr. John Piper's recent Taste and See article. It is about how he heard the voice of God. Warning! When you read or listen to the article at the beginning, he sounds like he is kind of losing it. But by the end of the article, you realize what he is getting at and can't help but to agree wholeheartedly. May you read or listen and be encouraged that God Still Speaks Today.

To read: LINK
To listen: LINK

Still listening

Why was God on a Tree? – Propitiation

Romans 3:23-26 and Various
(Message given at Faith Church on March 18, 2007, 1:30pm)

INTRODUCTION

We are in a series called “Why was God on a Tree?” And we are asking this question because it is perplexing to most people why Jesus who is fully God became also fully Man, lived 33 years, and died on a tree? People still ask this question because He was not an ordinary man.

If He was just an ordinary man, some may still ask but most people would not care. In fact, history would not take so long to investigate or study an ordinary man’s death. But Jesus was not an ordinary man He was God.

So even after 2000 years, Jesus, the Son of God on a tree is still the most talked about death in the world. To anyone, believer or not, no one can deny His popularity even to this day. Recently, the movie, “The Lost Tomb of Jesus” is a perfect example of humanity’s fascination with Jesus Christ’s death.

So we are spending March and April, up to Easter, 6 big words that describe why God was on a tree. Let’s do a quick review of last couple of weeks before we dive into today’s topic.

Two weeks ago, Will Lee opened the series with Redemption. If I could summarize, Will told us that – Son of God was on a tree to legally free slaves from sin by Christ’s payment of price.

Then last week I talked about Justification. Summary – Son of God was on a tree to declare the unrighteous to be righteous by our unrighteousness imputed to Christ and Christ’s righteousness imputed to us.

So today, we move onto propitiation. Propitiation literally means to make favorable and specifically includes the idea of dealing with God’s wrath against sinners. You could say God’s wrath is propitiated; that it is diverted.

Now, we are still talking about propitiation but need to take what might seem to be a slight detour to look at everyone’s favorite topic, The Wrath of God. When you see your family and friends this week and if they ask, “Hey what did you guys talk about your church?” You can say, “The wrath of God.” Talking about the wrath of God against sin is very important because to truly understand “propitiation” we have to understand God’s wrath. For it is the wrath of God that Jesus Christ propitiates.

And there are other good reasons why we should really enjoy “wrath of God” against sin. Let me give you three quick ones.

First, wrath of God against sin is part of who our God is and so when the Bible talks about the wrath of God, it is part of God’s revelation. “In the Old Testament, more than twenty words are used of the wrath of God. The total number of references to God’s wrath exceeds 580, so that it cannot be said to be an occasional topic.” Leon Morris

Second, if you flip the coin, the other side of the wrath of God against sin, we see God being strongly for holiness and beauty. God is strongly against sin because He is strongly for holiness and beauty.

Third, wrath of God against sin is only part of the story. Because the second part of today’s message is propitiation. Christ diverts God’s wrath for those who trust and love Him. I was thinking about it this way. It would be wrong if we talked about the wrath of God against sin today and then next Sunday talk about propitiation. What a bummer that would be.

1. Wrath of God

Okay, so here is the fundamental fact about the wrath of God against sin. God is Holy, and that He punishes all sin.

a. In the Old Testament

The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. Nahum 1:2 (ESV)

When you read the Bible, you will see that God is not wishy-washy with sin.

You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless. Exodus 22:22-24 (ESV)

And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.” Exodus 32:9-10 (ESV)

And I will judge you as women who commit adultery and shed blood are judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy. Ezekiel 16:38 (ESV)

Those are some strong words.

Some may say, that is the OT God. As if God changed from OT to NT. Like He had a change of heart because there was inspiration or illumination.

Tendency is that God is seen in the OT as a bad God holding up the law without love and compassion. And NT as a good God of grace who just overlooks sin.

b. In the New Testament

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Romans 1:18 (ESV)

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Ephesians 5:6 (ESV)

On account of these the wrath of God is coming. Colossians 3:6 (ESV)

… He also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. Revelation 14:10 (ESV)

Bottom line is this. God is Holy and hates, angry and wrathful against sin. And as we say so much in our church, because we are totally depraved sinners, we are in trouble. But here is the good news, the gospel, the grace.

2. Grace of God

1. In the Old Testament

The OT grace is that God is slow to anger.

They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. Nehemiah 9:17 (ESV)

Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath. Psalm 78:38 (ESV)

However, slow or restraining His anger did not mean He overlooked sin.

‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty …’ Numbers 14:18a (ESV)

God in His grace restrains His anger but only for a time. But does pour His wrath eventually on Jesus. This is what Romans 3:25-26 means.

Before Jesus was put forward as propitiation, God passed over former sins, planning in His righteousness to have His wrath diverted to Jesus on the cross.

2. In the New Testament

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 (ESV)

This is where we see the full grace of God expressed in His love.

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10 (ESV).

This is why God was on a tree. To be our propitiation. This is good news.

Let's end with three questions.

3. Three questions

1) Is this good news to you?

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; … John 3:36a (ESV)

2) Who do you know that needs to hear this good news?

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. John 3:36 (ESV)

3) Will you contend for the full gospel message?

Against waves and waves of bible teachers who ignore or change this doctrine of propitiation, will you hold onto this message?

If we as Christians are to be faithful to the biblical account, we must see that the death of Jesus Christ was no ordinary death. For the biblical writers are crystal clear about both God’s wrath on sin and his grace in offering up his own Son to satisfy his own righteous anger for sins that we have committed. Christianity is not a religion of ethics, morality, or politics. Its central message is the proclamation of the death of God’s Son, under God’s curse, dying in unspeakable anguish to turn aside God’s holy hatred of sin, so that all who trust in him and in him alone can be saved from God’s wrath and be assured of God’s favor toward them. If we lose that message we have lost Christianity itself. – Kim Riddlebarger

Free Seminary

There is now a new link for those of you who would like to study theology at a seminary level. Plus it's free!

Some well-known and well-respected evangelical scholars teach at this online seminary: John Piper, Tomas Schreiner, Bill Mounce and Bruce Ware.


See the sidebar, or follow this link: Link.

Movie Review: 300

When I first wanted to go watch the movie "300", I wrote an email to the guys:

"I thought it would be good for us guys to go watch a manly movie... none of that sensitive crap! Anyone up for watching 300 today?"

Well, no manly men was up for the challenge that day. Instead, I got to watch it with my beautiful fiance, who happens to be more of a man than most men... yet still is a woman!

Joking aside, the movie was great! I do have to mention for those that get queasy over arms getting lobbed off that there is a lot of gore in this movie. Nonetheless, there is enough drama to keep all the action and violence together.

300 is based on the comic series by Frank Miller, which in turn is loosely based on historical events. Supposedly, it's true that a small contingent of Spartan Warriors, numbering about 300, took on the Persian Army. In the movie, the Persian Army is described as being one million strong. This, from what I've read, is an over exaggeration. Still, historians believe that the Persian Army still vastly outnumbered the Spartans, most likely being in the thousands. It is said that the advanced military techniques and equipment of the Spartans gave them the strength to keep the Persian soldiers at bay. One of these techniques is called the Phalanx Formation.

The movie itself was entertaining. The protagonist was King Leonides. He was a man of war and integrity, never shying away from danger and always did what was honorable. There were other mentionable "good guys", such as the storyteller and the captain. The "bad guys" were obviously the Persians, but there were also some other dudes that were less than honourable. I'll leave the details out for those who haven't seen it yet.

One thing that caught the attention of Melissa and I was when King Leonides said, "Prepare for Glory!" Actually, the word glory is used a lot in the movie. But as Christians, we couldn't help but think: Does King Leonides really know what is glorious? What is glory, and to whom does it belong?

Revelation 19:1
After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God."

It's funny how we give honour to things like human victory or human success and call it "glory" or "glorious". God gave us words like that to honour Him.

With this caveat on the movie's portrayal of "glory", 300 was a great movie.

Justification

Why was God on a tree?

For our justification

1. The meaning of justification.

Justification is a legal term, not typically used in our court system today. This word is to be distinguished from "pardon". Pardon is the release of a a person from punishment. Justification is more than that. Justification not only releases a person from punishment, it also absolves that person of all guilt, or pronounces that person not guilty. That means that this person is found to have done no wrong.

Now if a person is, without a doubt, found to have done wrong, he cannot be justified. This is true of all humans (Romans 3:9-10). This means that the justification of the guilty is paradoxical.

Nonetheless, the bible tells us that the guilty can be tried as not guilty (Romans 3:23)!

2. The need for justification.

We are guilty!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

3. The grounds of justification.

We are justified!

We are justified by Jesus, as paradoxical as it sounds. But God is sovereign: only God commands the winds and the waves; only God could make a paradox not a paradox. That's why God (as Jesus) hung on a tree.

And we are justified by faith alone.

Romans 3:28
For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.

Romans 3:30
since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.

4. The means of justification.

a. To have peace with God. Romans 5:1

b. To have humility in God. Romans 3:27; 4:2

c. To have works for God. James 2:17-18, 24

Redemption

What is redemption?

Redemption is defined as:

1. To legally free [a slave] from the bondage to the law and from its condemnation.
2. To purchase [a slave] in a marketplace.
3. To obtain release by the payment of a price.

What are we being redeemed from?

We are being redeemed from sin.

“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience [to God], which leads to righteousness?” Romans 6:16

Who are we being redeemed by?

Jesus Christ redeems us from sin.

In 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul says: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

Who are we being redeemed for?

We are being redeemed for God's glory

“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:36