Falling Short: Overcoming The Gap Of Salvation Series

Title: Justification, Regeneration, Sanctification, Faith

Theme:

Text: Romans 3:23, 24

Romans 3:23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Introduction

As you can see we have a basketball goal in the sanctuary. I am a basketball fan and the Lord showed me an illustration through this. How do you score points in basketball? Do you get style points? Do you get miss points?

There is only one way and that is to get it through the hoop.

Over the last few weeks we have taking about Laying a Foundation. As we learned from Matthew 7:24,25 a foundation is important.

Declaration of Faith no. 5 “We believe that justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ

Last week we said that ,"All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Every man woman and child is full and infested with sin. No matter who their parents were or how much tithes they pay it is still there. We also know that Romans 6:23 reads , "For the wages of sin is death." So with this sin we all deserve death. Sin cannot be a part of the almighty God. Sin has to separate. Which also means that with sin in our lives we cannot be a part of God.

God understood this. But God also is a merciful and kind and loving so in this he found a way that we could come before him. Tonight let us look at that way. The answer to all the sin in this world. Let us also remember that it is not mans answer to God but God's answer to man.

I. Justification - Romans 3:24

So what is the answer.

It is a word that we used called justification. To justify means to "declare righteous". To make righteous. "Justification is being accounted righteousness before God; the sinner puts on the righteousness of Jesus Christ and God sees him perfect in the righteousness of Christ." It is the ,"judicial act of God where by those who put faith in Christ are declared righteous in His eyes, and free from guilt and punishment."

With this includes:

A. The forgiveness of sin and the removal of guilt and punishment.

Acts 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men [and] brethren, that

through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things,

from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

B. Christ righteousness is imparted into us and now we are heirs with him.

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of

Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is

no difference:

This all happens by faith in God(Romans 8:33) who is the means of our justification through his grace(Romans 3:24) and by the blood(Romans 5:9) and resurrection(Romans 4:25) of Christ.

How do we know we are justified?

James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had

offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Sees you how faith wrought

with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture

was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto

him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

When we are justified we become as Christ. We are no longer as our selves but we are new creatures.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new

creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The word we use is called regeneration.

II. Regeneration – Ezekiel 36:26, Romans 12:1,2

Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Regeneration is the creation by the Holy Spirit of a new life in man called the new birth

A. Who needs regeneration or rebirth

Everyone John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily,

verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the

kingdom of God.

How are we regenerated?

1. God's word

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of

incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for

ever.

2. The holy spirit

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,