Justification By Faith

Title: The Doctrine of Justification Script: Romans 3:21-26

Type: Doctrinal Series Where: GNBC 5-15-22

Intro: In Greek Mythology, Atlas was a Titan who was responsible for bearing the weight of the heavens on his shoulders, a punishment bestowed on him by Zeus. He was given this task in retribution for him leading the Titans into battle against the Olympian gods for control of the heavens. Sometimes you will see artists fictional renditions of this with the world upon Atlas’ shoulders. Today we continue in our series on doctrine. If I were to compare any one Biblical doctrine to the mythical account of Atlas, it would be the doctrine of Justification by Faith, for it bears the entire evangelical knowledge of God the Savior upon its shoulders. Everything in the Christian life is understood through justification- election, effectual calling, regeneration, repentance, adoption, prayer, the Church, the ministry, sacraments- all are interpreted in light of the doctrine of justification.

Prop: Exam Rom. 3:21-26, we’ll attempt to understand 3 elements of the Doctrine of Justification.

BG: 1. Romans was written by Apostle Paul in about 56-57 AD.

2. Arguably the greatest treaty ever written on sin and salvation. Great theme is Justification.

Prop: Follow w/me in Rom. 3:21-26, as we attempt to understand 3 elements of the Doct. Of Justification.

I. What is Justification? (A Definition)

A. What do I mean when I say: “The Doctrine of Justification by Faith”?

1. This is a Crucial Theological Term every Christ should strive to understand.

a. Justification relates to the idea of “righteousness”. Righteousness means being rightly related to God and His Law. Both Justification and Righteousness are legal terms. Illust: In the UK trials are conducted to determine how a person is related to the law and ultimately to the authority of the monarch. So, a trial may be described as “Regina (the Queen) vs. Arch (The accused). Thus, when the court pronounces its verdict it declares how the accused stand in relation to the law and the monarch. (Ferguson, p. 76)

b. Scripturally speaking, “to justify” does not mean to make righteous, in sense of changing one’s character, rather it means to “constitute righteousness” by declaration. Think of it, as Romans 3 tells us here., at the moment of faith, a judicial statement is made on your and my behalf that declares us right with the Moral Law of God as well as the Sovereign of the Universe.

2. Why do I need the Doctrine of Justification?

a. There are two undeniable realities in life that should cause each one of us to crave the Doctrine of Justification: 1. Human sin. 2. Divine Judgment. All of us are guilt of sin v.23. None of us can outrun the Long Arm of God’s Law. Illust- Many followed Alabama prison break of Vicky and Casey White. She was a guard and he a prisoner. Not related. Ran on for a long time. But how did it end for them..captured in Evansville, IN with her death and him back in prison. Without Christ’s Justification we are a shackled prisoner of sin that will drop you at death’s door.

b. Justification, friend, is the opposite of condemnation. (I Tim. 3:16). God pardons! God forgives! God instates us as sons and daughters! It is a decisive decision for all eternity! It does not change! Why? Because it is effectually the judgment of the last days brought forward to you and me in the present.

B. What is the Power of Justification?

1. It is essential that we know and understand the Power of Justification on the Believer’s Behalf.

a. This is the glory of the Gospel! (Read v. 23). Let that sit in a moment. We are sinners. We are thieves, braggarts, gossips, lustful, arrogant, gluttons, greedy, idolaters (And that’s on our good days!). Peter was a denier. Paul was an oppressor & persecutor. David was an adulterer and murderer. Adam was a transgressor in Paradise. The thief on the cross. Law condemns us all as sinners. Yet, when Christ hung on that cross He took the punishment for every sin every committed or would be committed.

b. There are therefore no degrees of justification. There are degrees of sanctification but not justification. We see some Christians appear more mature than others. More holy. This relates to our yielding to the Spirit and obedience to the WOG. However, it is impossible for any one Christian to be more or less justified than another Christian. Paul was not more than you. Billy Graham not more than you.

2. Justification Operates Contrary to our Nature.

a. Illust: Probably the oldest book in the Bible, Job, poses this important question: “But how can a man be in the right before God?” (Job 9:2), and yet in the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, Jesus made it clear that it was possible for God to justify sinful people (Luke 18:9-14). But how can sinful humanity ever be justified by the God who judges justly?