GREAT BIBLE WORDS
JUSTIFICATION
Romans 3:19-31
Introduction:
When the trial of a prisoner has been completed, the judge or jury, as the case may be, declares him to be either not guilty, that is, “justified,” or guilty, that is, “condemned.”
Justification may be defined as “a judicial act of God in the which He declares the sinner free from condemnation, and restores him to divine favor. It takes place when the sinner trusts in Christ and His merits for salvation.” —Dr. E. Y. Mullins.
In other words, “justification” is God’s verdict.
I. THE BASIS OF JUSTIFICATION
A. What justification IS NOT, v. 20.
1. By the deeds of the Law no man is justified, Galatians 3:10-12, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11- But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12- And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.”
2. Those that would live by the Law make Christ of no effect in their lives, Galatians 5:4, “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
3. The overwhelming numbers of professing Christians are trying to persuade God that they are righteous through their good works, Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23- And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
4. The purpose of the Law, Romans 7:7-9, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust , except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8- But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9- For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.”
B. What justification IS, vv. 24-25.
1. It is the Gospel way of justification, John 3:14-15, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15- That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
2. It is without the Law, Romans 3:28, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
3. The Law of God gives witness to justification by faith in Jesus Christ, Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
4. Justification is BY FAITH in Jesus Christ, v. 26;
a. Because His work is perfect, Deuteronomy 32:4. “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
b. Justification is by faith that it might be BY GRACE, Romans 4:16, “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,”
II. THE RESULTS OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
A. God DECLARES the sinner free from condemnation, John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
B. God RESTORES the sinner to RIGHT STANDING before Him, Romans 8:1-3, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2- For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3- For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:”
1. We stand in His Grace, Romans 5:2, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
2. We are no longer under His wrath, Romans 1:18, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”
3. We possess eternal life, Romans 5:17-18, 21, “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18- Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 21- That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
CONCLUSION