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)!
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.
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.
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.
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
b. To have humility in God. Romans 3:27; 4:2
c. To have works for God. James 2:17-18, 24
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