1. Romans, along with Hebrews are by far the most doctrinal letters in the New Testament.
a. They’re full of good, solid, and wonderful truths!
b. Remember, doctrine, isn’t a word to be afraid of.
c. It simply means ‘TEACHING’
d. And so when God is teaching us through His Word, we are learning ‘SOUND DOCTRINE’
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
NOW: Paul in a later letter, warned the young Pastor Timothy of a time where SOUND DOCTRINE will not be ‘endured’.
2 Timothy 4:3 (NKJV) 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; |
NOTE: I believe it’s safe to say the time HAS COME.
Today, there isn’t just a lack of endurance, but there is an outright resistance to SOUND DOCTRINE!
• There are churches today where so much is taught that simply appeals to the flesh of man, to man’s carnality.
• There’s a ‘dumbing’ down of theology for the sake of seeker.
• Churches are changing & transforming to reach the seeker.
• Churches are changing & transforming to make money!
1 Timothy 3:3 (NKJV) 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
1 Peter 5:2 (NKJV) 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
NOTE: It’s just so sad as a pastor to see…
#1 – So many false teachers out there fleecing the flock of God.
#2 – So few people really want to know God’s Word. Instead they heap up for themselves teachers… that will tickle their ears.
• But while their ears are tickled by men, God’s judgment awaits:
• Flip over to Jeremiah 19.3-6
BUT I want to commend you guys, this congregation because you want the Word, desire it, and live it out!
• It’s not to puff you up, but rather to encourage you!
• Your hunger for the word, your obedience to the Word is infectious making you powerful tools in the hand of God!
• You’re here with open ears ready & receptive.
• And you’re acting upon what you hear… living out your faith!
• Don’t stop now. Keep growing. Keep maturing…
• Notice v5, and be watchful. Don’t let your guards down.
• Endure afflictions! Fulfill your ministry!
SOMETIMES, NO MANY Times the word of God is going to challenge your thinking… it’s going to cut to the heart of a matter that you’re engaged with right now.
• But the beauty of learning God’s Word is that our lives are built upon a strong foundation. (FLIP OVER to Matthew 7.24-29)
NOTE: Jesus uses the illustration of building houses…
• Both men built a house. They both heard the gospel.
• They both built in about the same place, same materials…
• Both homes look real good on the outside.
• The problem was with the foundation.
SO it is with many people. They are good outwardly. They look strong, go to a good church, lot’s of good works…
• But there’s a difference.
• It’s their spiritual foundation. One on Jesus. Other is NOT.
It’s INTERESTING TO NOTE JUST HOW POWERFUL Storms reveal.
• A person is tested by the STORMS of life.
• If you want to see what a person is made of, watch them when the pressure is on, when their stuck.
• If the wrong foundation… ‘GREAT IS THE FALL’
APP: You see a great danger for us who love the Scriptures is to think hearing is the same as doing.
• Oh, great study: I shouldn’t judge, I need to show mercy…
• But then we leave here and begin to gossip, or judge, or give some constructive criticism… That’s FOOLISHNESS.
• It’s WISE to humble ourselves and pray for a clean heart, and powerful conviction to put these things into practice!
TODAY we look at the DOCTRINE of Justification. (Read thru)
Salvation from our sins really has 3 parts.
#1 – PAST: We can say we are saved from our past.
#2 – PRESENT: We are saved right now. We ARE born again.
#3 – FUTURE: I shall be saved. God will complete that work He has begun in my by the power of His Spirit.
Because you’re with Jesus, He’s got a firm grip on your life.
• Salvation is wonderful as God saves us, wholly & completely:
#1 – FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN. This is JUSTIFICATION.
• Before God, in Christ, U are justified. Just-As-If-I-Never-Sinned.
• This happens instantly, Christ’s perfect life is given to me.
#2 – FROM THE POWER OF SIN. This is SANCTIFICATION.
• The ongoing work of God making us more holy. Takes a lifetime!
• It doesn’t happen overnight, even though I wish it were so!
• But throughout lives we get more and more like our Lord.
• You learn you have a new nature and you realize that you don’t have to say yes to sin any longer!
#3 – FROM THE PRESENCE OF SIN. This is GLORIFICATION.
• One day you and I will be in the presence of Jesus.
1 John 3:1-2 (NKJV) 1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
• It could be at the rapture or upon death, but at the moment we will be made completely right, new bodies, new everything!
JUSTIFICATION is a legal term… it signifies how God sees a man, sees a woman who has placed their faith in His Son Jesus Christ.
• A great way to remember the word is to think:
• JUST-AS-IF-I-NEVER-SINNED.
• That’s declaration upon your life! God sees you not in your own righteousness but in that perfection of His Son!
• Warren Wiersbe shares a great picture of what this looks like:
There was a man in England who put his Rolls-Royce on a boat and went across to the continent to go on a holiday. While he was driving around Europe, something happened to the motor of his car. He cabled the Rolls-Royce people back in England and asked, “I’m having trouble with my car; what do you suggest I do?” Well, the Rolls-Royce people flew a mechanic over! The mechanic repaired the car and flew back to England and left the man to continue his holiday.
As you can imagine, the fellow was wondering, “How much is this going to cost me?” So when he got back to England, he wrote the people a letter and asked how much he owed them. He received a letter from the office that read: “Dear Sir: There is no record anywhere in our files that anything ever went wrong with a Rolls-Royce.” That is justification! Wiersbe, Key Words of the Christian Life, p. 16
http://net.bible.org/illustration.php?topic=851
IT WAS JUST AS IF IT NEVER BROKE DOWN! That’s it.
• God doesn’t say, Oh Ed you’re forgiven and I’ll overlook it all and we’ll just pretend it never happened.
• NO, it’s a righteousness that He gives. It’s a term that a judge would say, not only is he not guilty, but he never did the crime!
NOTE: Justification is God’s declaration that all the demands of the law are fulfilled on behalf of the believing sinner through the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
• It changes the judicial standing of the sinner before God.
• In justification, God imputes the perfect righteousness of Christ to the believer’s account, then declares the redeemed one fully righteous. -- It’s absolutely wonderful!
So, what does Paul say about justification in this section?
• If you’re taking notes we’ll see at least 5 things…
#1 – (v20, 28) APART FROM THE LAW
• The deeds of the law cannot justify you or me.
• It will never, ever happen if you are trying to keep a series of rules and regulations.
• If you’re trying to relate to The Father on the basis of your goodness, or your good deeds, or your devotions, or your do’s and don’t’s you’ll never be justified. It’s apart from the Law.
#2 – (v21-22, 27) BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.
• Justification comes by you and me being linked to Jesus.
• James tells us:
James 2:19 (NKJV) 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
• But they are not saved, they won’t be in heaven!
• It’s not enough for a person to say “I believe in God and go to church.” NO -- There must be faith in Jesus.
• That’s where justification finds its source…
• Believing, embracing the power & work of Jesus Christ!
John 14:6 (NKJV) 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV) 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
#3 – (v22, 29-30) IS FOR ALL, FOR EVERYBODY.
• Since everybody has sinned, God has made justification available to everyone who believes.
• It’s for everybody, regardless of whether you are a Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, male or female…
• Regardless of your background or upbringing.
• Justification by faith in Christ is to everyone who has sinned and since we have all sinned, then it’s for everyone!
#4 – (v24) BY GRACE COMPLETELY!
• Justification comes to the undeserving.
• It can’t be earned. IT can’t be bought. It can’t bargained for.
• GRACE – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense (jot that down)
• We get the riches of God because Jesus paid the price!
• God looks at me, looks at you as though I never sinned. WHY?
• Because of what Jesus has done.
• It’s not our works… it’s His finished work!
YOU NOTICE PAUL WRITES… ‘BEING JUSTIFIED’.
• It’s here in the original language in the present continual tense.
• It means it’s happening continually. It didn’t end the day after you got saved, but even now as we sit here.
Philippians 1:6 (NKJV) 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
So think with me… you’ve had a bad day. You stepped into the flesh. Didn’t want to. You look back & just feel all bummed out.
• So often we think we’ve given up our freedom in Jesus because of a bad thought, a bad day, a bad week…
• But listen… we’ve been justified by His grace!
• The same phrase is used in John, translated w/o a cause.
John 15:25 (NKJV) 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’
IN OTHER WORDS, we have been justified because of nothing we’ve done and nothing that we deserve.
• It’s not what I’ve done/earned. -- We are justified w/o a cause.
APP: That’s so encouraging. Jesus loves me, this I know because the Bible tells me so! It’s the truth.
• There is no cause in me. There is nothing in me but in Him!
#1 – (v20) APART FROM THE LAW #2 – (v21-22) BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.
#3 – (v22) IS FOR ALL, FOR EVERYBODY. #4 – (v24) BY GRACE EXCLUSIVELY.
#5 – (v24) CAME AT A VERY HIGH COST
By now some may say, “Wait a minute Pastor Ed” that sounds like very cheap grace. You’re making it so cheap.
• But that’s not so… the price was HIGH! The blood of Jesus.
• Its’ not cheap grace guys… it COST Jesus everything!
• Remember, he’s the PROPITIATION, the atoning victim.
Galatians 1:4 (NKJV) 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
NOTE: It may BE FREE but it’s not cheap!
• Jesus left His home in glory, came dwelt among us, died in place of us, for every sin… He paid the price completely!
• His blood flowing redemptively that the price might be paid so that we as hostages to sin might be set free!
It’s awesome isn’t it? Justification. Our loving, wonderful, tenderhearted, compassionate Heavenly Father making a way to free us from sin and draw us to Himself!
• Look at v26 as we close… God is both the JUST & the Justifier.
• The price for sin has been satisfied & the unjust justified.
The story is told of A seventeen-year-old that was arrested for reckless driving in a rural community. As he was brought into court, he was relieved to see that his father was the presiding judge. An hour later, the judge rendered his decision. “Your reckless driving,” he said, “has endangered the people of our community. Consequently, justice must be served. You will either pay one thousand dollars or serve one year in jail.”
“Dad,” the boy said. “You know I don’t have a penny to my name.”
“Young man,” said his father, “in this court you will address me as Your Honor. I am your judge.” And down went the gavel as the boy stood incredulous before the bench.
The bailiff approached. He was ready to take the boy to jail when the judge stood up, took off his robe, and left the bench to stand by his son. “Behind the bench,” he said, “I am your judge. But here beside you, I stand as your father.” And he took a checkbook from his pocket to pay his son’s fine.
