BAPTIST ARTICLE 11 JUSTIFICATION.
JUSTIFICATION THROUGH FAITH ALONE IS SEEN BY PROTESTANTS AS BEING THE THEOLOGICAL FAULT LINE THAT DIVIDED ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH FROM PROTESTANT FAITH DURING THE REFORMATION. ROMAN CATHOLICS BELIEVE THAT JUSTIFICATION IS INFUSED INTO THE BELIEVERS LIFE AND IT OCCURS AT BAPTISM (NOT FULLY JUSTIFIED) INFUSED THROUGH THE ORDINANCES — AND FINAL JUSTIFICATION, ACCOMPLISHED AFTER A LIFETIME OF STRIVING TO DO GOD’S WILL.
JUSTIFICATION THROUGH FAITH ALONE ALSO SEPARATES US FROM LIBERAL THEOLOGIANS/BELIEVERS WHO SEE JUSTIFICATION AS A RESULT OF MORAL IMPROVEMENT OF HIS/HER LIFE.
PROTESTANTS BELIEVE THAT JUSTIFICATION IS A SINGULAR ACT IN WHICH GOD DECLARES AN UNRIGHTEOUS INDIVIDUAL TO BE RIGHTEOUS BECAUSE OF THE WORK OF JESUS. JUSTIFICATION IS GRANTED TO ALL WHO HAVE FAITH, BUT EVEN THAT IS VIEWED AS A GIFT FROM GOD.
IMAGINE YOU’RE AT RUTLAND WATER WITH YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR SON IS OUT SWIMMING IN THE LAKE, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR SON GETS INTO TROUBLE IN THE LAKE HE’S BEGIN TO DROWN, THEN YOU SEE ANOTHER YOUNG MAN RUN IN TO SAVE HIM. IN THE PROCESS OF SAVING YOUR SONS LIFE THE YOUNG MAN LOSES HIS OWN LIFE. YOU’VE OBSERVED THIS AND ALSO HAS THE YOUNG MANS FAMILY AND YOUR ABSOLUTELY OVERWHELMED BY THE TURN OF EVENTS. SO YOU DECIDE TO GO OTHER TO THE FAMILY TO OFFER YOUR SYMPATHY AND GRATITUDE. AND YOU SAY, “I REALLY CAN’T EXPRESS HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE WHAT YOUR HUSBAND/FATHER DID FOR MY SON, AND HOW SORRY I AM THAT HE LOST HIS LIFE. BUT I JUST HAPPEN TO HAVE £5:00 ON ME, AND WANT TO OFFER THIS TO YOU AS AN INDICATION OF MY FEELINGS.
YOU SEE BOTH THE CATHOLIC VIEW OF INFUSED JUSTIFICATION AND THE LIBERAL VIEW OF MORAL IMPROVEMENT ARE AN INSULT TO GOD. WHY? BECAUSE YOUR TRYING TO ADD SOMETHING TO WHICH IS ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED AND BEEN DONE FOR YOU BY CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK UPON THE CROSS.
1. JUSTIFICATION IS GODS LEGAL DECLARATION. (JUST – AS- IF- I – NEVER- SINNED).
A LEGAL DECLARATION MEANING “ACQUITTAL,” A DECLARATION THAT SOMEONE IS IN THE RIGHT. NOT GUILTY, GOD DECLARES US TO BE JUST IN HIS SIGHT.
THEOLOGIAN LOUIS BERKHOF WROTE, “JUSTIFICATION IS A JUDICIAL ACT OF GOD, IN WHICH HE DECLARES ON THE BASIS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST , THAT ALL CLAIMS OF THE LAW ARE SATISFIED WITH RESPECT TO THE SINNER.” SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY PAGE 513.”
NOT A PROCESS BUT A JUDICIAL DECLARATION.
JUSTIFICATION IS UNIQUE IN ITS APPLICATION BECAUSE UNLIKE REGENERATION – CONVERSION - SANCTIFICATION WHICH IS THE ONGOING PROCESS OF BEING MADE HOLY , JUSTIFICATION IS AN EVENT WHICH TAKES PLACE UPON CONVERSION AS YOU COME TO CHRIST IN REPENTANCE AND FAITH AND BY GRACE ARE SAVED. YOU ARE JUSTIFIED DECLARED LEGALLY NOT GUILTY AND SEEN AS RIGHTEOUS IN HIS SIGHT YET IT DOES NOT CHANGE OUR INNER LIFE.
A TWOFOLD LEGAL DECLARATION WHEREBY GOD (1). PARDONS OUR SINS (2) DECLARES US AS RIGHTEOUS.
• THE ROLLS ROYCE STORY - “WE HAVE NO RECORD OF ANY ROLLS ROYCE EVER BREAKING DOWN. THAT’S JUSTIFICATION.
• GOD DECLARES THE EXACT SAME THING TO US IN CHRIST, I HAVE NO RECORD OF YOUR EVER BEING GUILTY (BREAKING DOWN) YOUR ARE RIGHT IN MY SIGHT.
TWO ASPECTS OF JUSTIFICATION ARE IMPORTANT......
A) NO RECORD OF OUR SINS (PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE) ROM 8:1 THEREFORE THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS. THIS MEANS WE HAVE NO PENALTY TO PAY FOR OUR SINS THERE’S NO CHARGE – GUILT OR CONDEMNATION. ROM 8:33-34. WHO WILL BRING ANY CHARGE AGAINST THOSE WHOM GOD HAS CHOSEN? IT IS GOD WHO JUSTIFIES.
B) THE OTHER ASPECT OF JUSTIFICATION IS THAT OF BEING RIGHTEOUS. FOR IF ONLY OUR RECORD OF SINS WERE REMOVED WE WOULD MERELY BE NEUTRAL IN THE POSITION THAT ADAM WAS BEFORE THE FALL WE NEED TO POSSES RIGHTEOUSNESS.
SO THE 2ND ASPECT OF JUSTIFICATION IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST BEING BROUGHT TO OUR ACCOUNT. AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE WITHOUT IT WE WOULD BE MERELY NEUTRAL AND GOD NEEDS TO DECLARE US AS HAVING PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS?
C) AND THAT IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH CHRIST ROM 3:21-22 THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST TO ALL WHO BELIEVE.
WE MUST ASK THE QUESTION HOW IS GOD ABLE TO DO THAT ? HOW CAN A HOLY GOD FORGIVE US OF ALL OUR SINS AND DECLARE US A RIGHTEOUS WITH NO PENALTY TO PAY, AFTER ALL WE STILL SIN AND ARE STILL FULL OF UNRIGHTEOUS ACTS. HOW DOES GOD DO IT...
2. JUSTIFICATION IS FOUND IN THE PERSON JESUS CHRIST.
CHRIST IS THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION...... GOD IMPUTES TO BELIEVERS CHRISTS ACTIVE OBEDIENCE TO THE WHOLE LAW AND HIS PASSIVE OBEDIENCE IN HIS DEATH.
THE BIBLICAL MEANING OF IMPUTATION (CONVEYS THE IDEA OF CHARGING , RECKONING ,A CREDITING TO A PERSONS ACCOUNT). A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS IS FOUND IN (PHIL:18) WHERE PAUL SAYS THAT ANY WRONG OR DEBT CAUSED BY THE SLAVE ONESIMUS SHOULD BE PUT ON HIS ACCOUNT.
THREE DISTINCT BIBLICAL TRUTHS IN REGARD TO IMPUTATION....
A) IMPUTATION OF ADAMS SIN -BELIEVER SIN – CHRISTS RIGHTOUSNESS.
AS A HUMAN RACE WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED WE ARE ALL SINNERS, THE IMPUTATION OF ADAMS SIN IS UPON ALL HUMANITY ROM 5:12-19 TELLS US THAT WHEN ADAM SINNED WE ALL SINNED – HIS SIN WAS CREDITED TO OUR ACCOUNT BY THAT ONE MANS DISOBEDIENCE MANY WERE MADE SINNERS. THROUGH THAT ONE MANS OFFENCE JUDGEMENT CAME TO US ALL , RESULTING IN CONDEMNATION .
THIS IS KNOWN AS ORIGINAL SIN , ADAMS SIN IMPUTED TO US ALL. IN ADDITION TO THE IMPUTED SIN OF ADAM WE ARE ALSO CHARGED WITH GUILT OF OUR OWN PERSONAL SINS WE HAVE COMMITTED . THIS IS OUR DILEMMA.
THE GOOD NEWS.... IS AT THE CROSS OF CHRIST A TWOFOLD TRANSACTION TAKES PLACE. THE BELIEVERS SIN IS IMPUTED UPON CHRIST AND CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS IMPUTED TO BELIEVERS AND . JESUS IS KNOWN AS THE 2ND ADAM . HE IS ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE HIS SUPERNATURAL CONCEPTION AND BIRTH FREED HIM FROM THE GUILT OF SIN - AS A RESULT OF HIS PERFECT LIFE (COMMITTED NO SIN) AND LIVED A LIFE OF ACTIVE OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW OF GOD THAT WHICH WE HAVE FAILED TO DO ALSO.
AND WITH PASSIVE OBEDIENCE WENT TO THE CROSS IN ORDER TO PAY THE DEBT OF OUR SINS AS OUR SUBSTITUTE. THIS IS HOW GOD SHOWS BOTH HIS MERCY IN FORGIVING SINNERS AND HIS JUSTICE IN PUNISHING HIS SON AND JUSTIFIES THE SINNER BY IMPUTING THE BELIEVERS SINS UPON CHRIST. ISAIAH.53:6. THE LORD LAID UPON HIM THE INQUITY OF US ALL. 1PET 2:24. HE BORE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY UPON THE TREE. AND BY IMPUTING CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS UPON THE BELIEVER. 2COR. 5:21 GOD MADE HIM WHO HAD NO SIN, TO BE SIN FOR US , SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
ILLUSTRATION: IMAGINE YOU WERE IN DEBT AROUND £100,000 POUNDS YOU’VE THEN LOST YOUR JOB OVERTIME YOU RECEIVE A LETTER FROM THE BANK YOU’RE NOT ITS BEST CUSTOMER. SO YOU GO IN TO SEE THE BANK MANAGER , YOU EXPLAIN YOUR SITUATION, YOU OWN UP ABOUT THE REDUNDANCY HOW IRRESPONSIBLE YOU’VE BEEN WITH YOUR FINANCES , THERE’S JUST NO WAY OUT, YOU CAN’T PAY IT BACK, THE ONLY THING IS TO FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY.
BUT THE BANK MANAGER SAYS, THERE IS ANOTHER WAY, BECAUSE YOU’VE OWNED UP TO YOUR DEBT I’M GOING TO TAKE ON BOARD YOUR DEBT OF £1OO,OOO PERSONALLY AND RECKON IT (IMPUTE) TO MY ACCOUNT AND THEN I’M GOING TO RECKON TO YOUR ACCOUNT £1 MILLION OUT OF MY OWN ACCOUNT. AS A RESULT YOU WILL NO LONGER IN DEBT WITH THE BANK, BUT IN CREDIT ALL BECAUSE THE BANK MANAGER HAS ALLOWED YOU TO IMPUTE YOUR DEBT INTO HIS ACCOUNT AND THEN HE IN TURN HAS IMPUTED YOUR ACCOUNT WITH 1 MILLION OF HIS WEALTH INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. NO LONGER ARE YOU BANKRUPT AND IN DEBT TO THE BANK, BUT IN CREDIT AND IN A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BANK, THROUGH THE BANK MANAGER. BUT ITS AL A RESULT OF THE IMPUTED WEALTH OF THE BANK MANAGER.
O WHAT A TRANSACTION - “COULD YOU IMAGINE IT!” WOULD IT BRING A SMILE ON YER FACE?” NO-BODY WOULD TURN IT DOWN.....
FRIENDS A FAR GREATER TRANSACTION HAS TAKEN PLACE FOR THE BELIEVER , WHEN WE CONFESSED BEFORE GOD OUR OWN PERSONAL DEBT PROBLEM (SIN) AND BELIEVED IN CHRIST , OUR DEBT HAS BEEN PAID, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE BANKRUPT ALL BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST WAS PREPARED TO TAKE ON BOARD OUR DEBT BY IMPUTING OUR SINS UPON HIS ACCOUNT AND THEN TO IMPUTE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS TO OUR ACCOUNT IS AWESOME!
2COR 8: 9FOR YOU KNOW THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THAT THOUGH HE WAS RICH, YET FOR YOUR SAKES HE BECAME POOR, SO THAT YOU THROUGH HIS POVERTY MIGHT BECOME RICH.
3. JUSTIFICATION COMES TO US BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH THROUGH FAITH AND BY GRACE. (ROM 3: 24 , V28)
WHY DOES GOD USE FAITH AS THE INSTRUMENT OF OUR JUSTIFICATION?
WHY DID GOD NOT CHOSE TO DECLARE JUSTIFICATION TO ALL THOSE WHO SHOW LOVE, HUMILITY , COMPASSION, JUSTICE OR WISDOM , WHY FAITH AS THE INSTRUMENT OF RECEIVING JUSTIFICATION .
BECAUSE FAITH IS THE ONE ATTITUDE OF HEART WHEREBY WE ARE NOT DEPENDING UPON OURSELVES BUT ANOTHER - WHEN WE COME TO CHRIST WE ARE SAYING, “ TAKE MY LIFE LORD , I CAN SAVE MYSELF, I GIVE UP I’M NOT TRUSTING IN MY OWN WORKS ANY LONGER BUT CHRIST ALONE TO SAVE ME AND TO GIVE ME THAT RIGHT STANDING BEFORE GOD.”
IT’S THE OPPOSITE OF TRUSTING OURSELVES - ITS THE ATTITUDE THAT PERFECTLY FITS SALVATION NO LONGER DEPENDS UPON OURSELVES BUT UPON THE GRACE OF GOD. (ROM 4:16) SO JUSTIFICATION COMES TO US THROUGH THE INSTRUMENT OF FAITH BY GRACE.
OF COURSE HUMANITY BY NATURE IS PROUD, ALL PART OF OUR FALLEN HERITAGE, SO MANY FIND JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH , A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW BECAUSE MOST OF US BELIEVE ABOUT OUR SELVES THAT WE ARE INTRINSICALLY ABLE TO ADD SOMETHING OURSELVES (V27).
STUART BRISCOE TELLS THE STORY WHICH ILLUSTRATES THIS POINT ........... WHEN I WAS IN TRAINING AS A MARINE, I REMEMBER ONE PARTICULARLY GRUELLING EXERCISE WHERE WE WERE DEPOSITED IN THE CENTRE OF DARTMOOR, ENGLAND. WE WERE TOLD TO MAKE OUR WAY ON FOOT TO A CERTAIN POINT ON THE MAP MORE THAN FIFTY RUGGED MILES AWAY. AS WE HAD DONE A SIMILAR JOURNEY THE PREVIOUS DAY, SLEPT OUT ON HARD GROUND FOR A NUMBER OF NIGHTS, AND BEEN BROUGHT SLOWLY TO THE POINT OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EXHAUSTION, WE KNEW THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A LONG DAY.
WHAT WE DIDN’T KNOW WAS THAT MY PARTNER’S FEET, WHICH HAD A TENDENCY TO BLISTER, WOULD BECOME SO BADLY WORN AFTER A FEW MILES THAT THEY WOULD BECOME LIKE PIECES OF RAW MEAT. WHEN I REALIZED HE WAS IN PAIN, I TOOK HIS EQUIPMENT AND ADDED IT TO MINE. LATER I SUPPORTED HIM ON MY SHOULDER AS HE HOBBLED ALONG, BUT IT BECAME INCREASINGLY PLAIN TO ME AND TO THE COLLEAGUES WHO CAUGHT UP WITH US THAT HE WASN’T GOING TO MAKE IT.
BUT HE WAS MADE OF STERN STUFF AND HE INSISTED THAT HE WOULD KEEP GOING, THAT WE SHOULD GO ON AND STOP WORRYING ABOUT HIM. AFTER MANY MORE EXCRUCIATING MILES, HOWEVER, HE CAME TO THE POINT OF ADMITTING HE WAS THROUGH, AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO PICK HIM UP, PUT HIM ACROSS MY SHOULDERS, AND CARRY HIM THE REST OF THE WAY. HE HAD NO OPTION BUT TO TRUST HIMSELF TO ME TO DO FOR HIM WHAT HE WAS INCAPABLE OF DOING. IT WAS HARD FOR HIM TO BE SO HUMILIATED, BUT IT WAS HIS SOLE OPTION.
• ITS HARD FOR PROUD PEOPLE - GOOD PEOPLE-RELIGIOUS PEOPLE TO ADMIT THERE IS NO OTHER WAY OF JUSTIFYING THEMSELVES THROUGH SELF EFFORT, BUT ONLY THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, BUT LIKE THAT MARINE IT THEIR SOLE OPTION. TO TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE.
JUSTIFICATION THROUGH FAITH ALONE - SITS IS IN STARK CONTRAST TO OTHER RELIGIONS ALSO . WE’VE GOT THE BUDDHIST EIGHT-FOLD PATH, THE HINDU DOCTRINE OF KARMA, THE JEWISH COVENANT, AND THE MUSLIM CODE OF LAW— AND EVEN OTHER BRANCHES OF CHRISTIANITY WHICH TALK ABOUT JUSTIFICATION BEING INFUSED AND EARNED THROUGH WORKS NONE OF THESE OFFERS A WAY TO EARN APPROVAL, OFFERS AN AVENUE TO BOAST.
• BUT ONLY PROTESTANT CHRISTIANITY DARES TO MAKE A SINNER JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH.
• NOT IF I OBEY THE LAWS - I’VE BEEN GOOD – I GO TO CHURCH – I’VE BEEN BAPTISED - - I HELP OTHERS – I WAS BORN A CHRISTIAN AND SO ON .
• DO YOU REMEMBER THAT SCENARIO AT RUTLAND WATER WHERE WE TRIED TO ADD TO THE WORK THAT HAD ALREADY BE DONE AS IF WE COULD EVER PAY FOR IT IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM.
JOHN FLAVEL WAS A THEOLOGIAN AND PREACHER OF THE 17TH CENTURY HE WROTE - “HOW DANGEROUS IT IS TO JOIN ANYTHING OF OUR OWN TO THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST, IN PURSUIT OF JUSTIFICATION BEFORE GOD! JESUS CHRIST WILL NEVER ENDURE THIS; IT REFLECTS UPON HIS WORK DISHONOURABLY. HE WILL BE ALL, OR NONE, IN OUR JUSTIFICATION.
IF HE HAS FINISHED THE WORK, WHAT NEED IS THERE OF OUR ADDITIONS? AND IF NOT, TO WHAT PURPOSE ARE THEY? CAN WE FINISH THAT WHICH CHRIST HIMSELF COULD NOT COMPLETE? DID HE FINISH THE WORK, AND WILL HE EVER DIVIDE THE GLORY AND PRAISE OF IT WITH US? NO, NO; CHRIST IS NO HALF-SAVOIR.
IT IS A HARD THING TO BRING PROUD HEARTS TO REST UPON CHRIST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. GOD HUMBLES THE PROUD BY CALLING SINNERS WHOLLY FROM THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS TO CHRIST FOR THEIR JUSTIFICATION.
SO FAITH IS A GIFT: EVEN THE FAITH WE EXERCISE IN CHRIST IS NOT OURS EPH 2:8 BUT A GIFT ( OTHERWISE IT WOULD BECOME A WORK ) - SOMETHING WE MUSTER UP IN OURSELVES – SO WE CANNOT BOAST EVEN ABOUT THAT ITS A DIVINE FAITH RECEIVED AS A GIFT THROUGH GODS GRACE IN ORDER TO BELIEVE. BY GRACE WE RECEIVE IT THROUGH CHRIST.
PASTORAL IMPLICATIONS
A) JUSTIFICATION THROUGH FAITH OFFERS GENUINE HOPE TO NON BELIEVERS - WHO KNOW THEY COULD NEVER MAKE THEMSELVES RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD. IF SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT TO BE RECEIVED THROUGH FAITH ALONE - THEN ALL WHO RESPOND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN SUCH A GIFT.
B) JUSTIFICATION GIVES BELIEVERS CONFIDENCE THAT GOD WILL NEVER MAKE US PAY AT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE FOR OUR SINS BECAUSE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID IN FULL WITH THE DEATH OF CHRIST – THERE WONT BE A PAYBACK TIME. ROM 8:1 THEREFORE THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS
C) JUSTIFICATION MEANS WE ARE VALUED NOT ON ACCOUNT OF WHO OR WHAT WE ARE OR DO , BUT ON ACCOUNT OF WHO WHAT GOD IS.
D) THE AMAZING TRUTH ABOUT JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IS THAT GOD AFFIRMS AND VALUES US DESPITE WE INHERENTLY POSSESS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WHICH COULD BE THE BASIS OF SUCH AN ASTONISHINGLY GENERIOUS ATITTUDDE ON GODS PART.
SO TO RECAP AND CLOSE ....
1. A LEGAL DECLARATION MEANING “ACQUITTAL,” A DECLARATION THAT SOMEONE IS IN THE RIGHT. NOT GUILTY, GOD DECLARES US TO BE JUST IN HIS SIGHT.
2. JUSTIFICATION COMES THROUGH THE IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST
3. JUSTIFICATION COMES TO US BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH WHICH IS A GIFT . (ROM 3: 24 , V28)
As Martin Luter said,
I do not come because my soul is free from sin
and pure and whole and worthy of Thy grace;
I do not speak to Thee because I’ve ever justly kept
Thy laws and dare to meet Thy face.
I know that sin and guilt combine
to reign o’er every thought of mine and turn from good to ill;
I know that when I try to be upright and just and true to Thee,
I am a sinner still.
I know that often when I strive to keep
a spark of love alive for Thee,
the powers within Leap up in unsubmissive might
and oft benumb my sense of right and pull me back to sin.
I know that though in doing good I spend my life,
I never could atone for all I’ve done;
But though my sins are black as night,
I dare to come before Thy sight because I trust Thy Son.
In Him alone my trust I place, come boldly to Thy throne of grace,
and there commune with Thee.
Salvation sure, O Lord, is mine,
and, all unworthy, I am Thine, for Jesus died for me.
