JUSTIFIED TO LIVE FREE
Dr. Leslie C. Chaney
THE PROCESS OF HIS PRESENCE
I WANT YOU TO THINK OF THE MOST DEDICATED CHRISTIAN THAT YOU KNOW. WHAT MAKES THEM COME TO MIND?
1. THEY PRAY
2. THEY DILIGENTLY STUDY THE BIBLE
3. THEY TITHE THEIR MONEY
4. THEY ARE LEADERS IN CHURCH
5. OR BECAUSE THEY LIVE THEIR LIFE IN STRICT ADHERENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD?
ALL OF THESE ITEMS THE WORLD THINKS MAKE CHRISTIANS HOLY ARE EXACTLY HOW THE BIBLICAL PHARISEES LIVED.
YET, IN THE SCRIPTURES, JESUS ENCOUNTERS A PHARISEE NAMED NICODEMUS, WHO LIVED THIS PERFECT RELIGIOUS LIFE. JESUS TOLD NICODEMUS IT WASN'T ENOUGH JUST TO LIVE A RELIGIOUS LIFE, HE HAD TO BE BORN-AGAIN.
1. YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN BECAUSE YOU KNOW A LOT ABOUT JESUS.
2. YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN BECAUSE YOU GO TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY.
3. YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN BECAUSE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE EVERY DAY.
4. YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN BECAUSE YOU PRAY.
5. AND YOU ARE NOT EVEN A CHRISTIAN BECAUSE YOU ARE A MEMBER OF A CHURCH AND HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED.
SALVATION IS NOT ABOUT TRYING TO LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE BY DOING WHAT IS GOOD AND AVOIDING WHAT IS EVIL.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHURCH GOING PEOPLE ARE BEING DECEIVED. THEY THINK THEY ARE SAVED BECAUSE ONE DAY THEY WALKED THE CHURCH AISLE AND TOOK THE PREACHER’S HAND AND DID ALL THE THINGS THEY WERE TOLD TO DO.
TODAY THEY HAVE AN EMPTY SHELL OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE BECAUSE THEY MISSED WHAT SALVATION IS ALL ABOUT.
ALL THEY EXPERIENCED WERE THE PHYSICAL THINGS THEY DID, (WALKING THE AISLE, PUBLIC PROFESSION OF FAITH, BAPTISM, ETC.)
SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE NEVER LEARNED ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE THAT HAPPENS WHEN WE COME TO CHRIST.
AS WE LEARN ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF OUR SALVATION EXPERIENCE AND ACCEPT THEM BY OUR FAITH, THEN WE CAN BEGIN TO LIVE THE VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIFE.
GALATIANS 3:11 TELLS US:
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.
AS WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED TO US SPIRITUALLY; AND BEGIN TO BELIEVE IT & APPLY IT TO OUR LIVES THEN WE BEGIN TO FIND FULFILLMENT IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK.
TURN IN YOUR BIBLE TO:
Titus 3:3-8 (NIV)
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. (WE WERE LOST AND SEPARATED FROM GOD)
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. (OUR SALVATION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR RIGHTEOUS ATTEMPTS TO PLEASE GOD, BUT RATHER IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH GOD’S AWARENESS THAT WE WERE HOPELESS IN OUR ATTEMPTS TO LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE. WE CANNOT DO IT)
He saved us through the washing of rebirth (JUSTIFICATION) and renewal by the Holy Spirit, (ETERNAL LIFE) 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
THIS DESCRIBES THE SPIRITUAL ACTIONS OF BEING BORN AGAIN
NICHODEMUS WAS TOLD HE HAD TO BE “BORN-AGAIN.” THE “BORN AGAIN” EXPERIENCE HAS TWO PARTS:
1. OUR JUSTIFICATION BY GOD.
2. AND GOD GIVING US A NEW WAY TO LIVE OUR LIFE IN HOLINESS IN CHRIST. THIS COMES WHEN HE IMPLANTS WITHIN US HIS HOLY SPIRIT IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT LIVE OUR ETERNAL LIFE.
LET’S LOOK AT ANOTHER PASSAGE THAT DEALS WITH THE SPIRITUAL ACTS OF OUR RECEIVING CHRIST.
ROMANS 5:8-10, 19
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him!
10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!
TODAY, LET’S LOOK AT THE FIRST PART OF THE BORN AGAIN EXPERIENCE – OUR JUSTIFICATION BY GOD.
JUSTIFICATION COMES FROM THE GREEK WORD, DIKAIÔSIS (dee-KAH’-yo-sis) AND IS DEFINED IN SEVERAL BIBLICAL DICTIONARIES:
EASTON'S ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY
AS REGARDS ITS NATURE, IT IS THE JUDICIAL ACT OF GOD, BY WHICH HE PARDONS ALL THE SINS OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST, AND ACCOUNTS, ACCEPTS, AND TREATS THEM AS RIGHTEOUS IN THE EYE OF THE LAW
NELSON’S ILLUSTRATED BIBLE DICTIONARY
JUSTIFICATION IS GOD’S DECLARATION THAT THE DEMANDS OF HIS LAW HAVE BEEN FULFILLED IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF HIS SON. THE BASIS FOR THIS JUSTIFICATION IS THE DEATH OF CHRIST. PAUL TELLS US THAT “GOD WAS IN CHRIST RECONCILING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF, NOT IMPUTING THEIR TRESPASSES TO THEM” (2 COR. 5:19). THIS RECONCILIATION COVERS ALL SIN: “FOR BY ONE OFFERING HE HAS PERFECTED FOREVER THOSE WHO ARE BEING SANCTIFIED” (HEB. 10:14). JUSTIFICATION, THEN, IS BASED ON THE WORK OF CHRIST, ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH HIS BLOOD (ROM. 5:9), AND BROUGHT TO HIS PEOPLE THROUGH HIS RESURRECTION (ROM. 4:25). WHEN GOD JUSTIFIES, HE CHARGES THE SIN OF MAN TO CHRIST AND CREDITS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST TO THE BELIEVER (2 COR. 5:21).
MOODY HANDBOOK OF THEOLOGY
TO JUSTIFY IS TO DECLARE RIGHTEOUS THE ONE WHO HAS FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. IT IS A FORENSIC (LEGAL) ACT OF GOD WHEREBY HE DECLARES THE BELIEVING SINNER RIGHTEOUS ON THE BASIS OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. THE MAJOR EMPHASIS OF JUSTIFICATION IS POSITIVE AND INVOLVES TWO MAIN ASPECTS. IT INVOLVES THE PARDON AND REMOVAL OF ALL SINS AND THE END OF SEPARATION FROM GOD (ACTS 13:39; ROM. 4:6–7; 5:9–11; 2 COR. 5:19). IT ALSO INVOLVES THE BESTOWAL OF RIGHTEOUSNESS UPON THE BELIEVING PERSON AND “A TITLE TO ALL THE BLESSINGS PROMISED TO THE JUST.
THE DAY THE NEW CHRISTIAN ACCEPTS JESUS INTO HIS LIFE AND MAKES HIM LORD; FROM THAT DAY FORWARD GOD TREATS THEM AS IF THEY WERE TOTALLY RIGHTEOUS IN HIS EYES
Romans 3:21-24 (NIV)
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
OUR JUSTIFICATION IS THE FIRST SPIRITUAL ACTION GOD PERFORMS WHEN WE RECEIVE CHRIST
WHEN WE RECEIVE CHRIST INTO OUR LIVES WE GIVE GOD ALL THAT WE ARE – SPIRITUALLY DEAD, DOMINATED BY SIN AND SELFISH DESIRES. HE TAKES THAT LIFE FOCUSED ON SIN & SELF AND NAILS IT TO THE CROSS IN THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST.
THEN GOD IMPLANTS WITHIN US THE RESURRECTED LIFE OF JESUS. – A RESURRECTED LIFE COMPLETE WITH FORGIVENESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ACCEPTANCE BY GOD. WE GET THE LIFE OF CHRIST WHO HAD COMPLETE VICTORY OVER SIN AND IS NOW SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING POINT OF SALVATION CALLED -- JUSTIFICATION.
THIS EXCHANGE IS THE “BORN AGAIN” EXPERIENCE.
WE GAIN A TOTAL ACCEPTANCE BY GOD BECAUSE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL EXCHANGE.
AFTER YOUR SPIRITUAL “BORN AGAIN EXPERIENCE” THE ONLY THING GOD CHOOSES TO SEE IN YOU IS HIS SON.
THEREFORE BECAUSE THE SON LIVES IN YOU GOD DECLARES YOU RIGHTEOUS IN HIS EYES.
YOU HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED. (JUST IF I’D NEVER SINNED.)
THIS STATE OF PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE GOD HAS TO BE UNDERSTOOD AND ACCEPTED AS FACT BEFORE YOU CAN EVER FIND FULFILLMENT IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
LET’S EXAMINE THE SCRIPTURES TO CONFIRM HIS TEACHING.
Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Romans 3:27-31 (NIV)
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith.
28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
Romans 6:5-11 (ASV)
5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection;
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of
sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;
7 for he that hath died is justified from sin.
Galatians 2:16 (ASV)
16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
IN THE OLD COVENANT, YOU HAVE THE LAW AND ALL ITS REQUIREMENTS OF RIGHTEOUS LIVING. THE LAW IS A STANDARD TO WHICH MEN MUST ADHERE IF WE ARE GOING TO BE RIGHTEOUS IN THE EYES OF GOD BY OUR WORKS.
BUT YOU CAN’T LIVE UP TO THE LAW. -- AND GOD KNOWS IT.
SO MANY OF US ARE GOING THROUGH OUR LIVES TRYING TO DO GOOD AND AVOID WHAT IS EVIL AND WE ARE FAILING -- AND WE ARE CARRYING THIS HUGE SENSE OF GUILT BECAUSE OF OUR FAILURES.
BUT THIS OVERWHELMING SENSE OF FAILURE IS NOT WHAT GOD INTENDED FOR HIS CHILDREN TO EXPERIENCE.
IF WE ARE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE WE MUST UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD’S PLAN IS FOR US.
THE CENTER OF HIS PLAN IS THIS ONE LITTLE WORD “JUSTIFICATION,” AND YET MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE NO CLUE WHAT IT MEANS.
IN CHRIST, WE ARE PERFECTLY RIGHTEOUS IN THE EYES OF GOD. (THE CHRISTIAN IS GIVEN FREE ACCESS TO A HOLY GOD. WE CAN COME INTO HIS PRESENCE BECAUSE OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS HE GAVE TO US WHEN WE EXCHANGED OUR LIVES WITH CHRIST.)
THE MOST IMPORTANT TEACHING ABOUT OUR JUSTIFICATION IS FOUND IN ROMANS 3: 20-24
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished--
26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
IT IS NOT ABOUT RELIGION, MAN REACHING UP TO GOD WITH OUR OFFERINGS OF FAITHFULNESS AND SERVICE, BUT RATHER IT IS ABOUT CHRISTIANITY, WHAT GOD DID FOR US THROUGH CHRIST WHEN HE JUSTIFIED US.
LET’S ADDRESS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF THIS DOCTRINE. WHEN GOD JUSTIFIES US, OUR SINS ARE COMPLETELY FORGIVEN AND ERASED FROM THE MIND OF GOD.
WHEN WE ARE” IN CHRIST” OUR SINS WILL NEVER BE USED BY GOD TO CONDEMN OR PUNISH US.
WE ARE SET FREE FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN.
AS WE GRASP GOD’S FORGIVENESS AND CLEANSING THEN WE HAVE THE MOTIVATION FOR OBEDIENCE – OUR GRATEFULNESS FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US –OUR LOVE FOR HIM.
GOD KNOWS WE ARE STILL GOING TO SIN, BUT HE CHOOSES TO NO LONGER condemn us in OUR SIN BECAUSE HE KNOWS ALSO HE HAS IMPLANTED IN US HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO LEAD US TO RIGHTEOUSNESS AS WE YIELD OURSELVES TO HIM.
THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURE EXPLAINS THE EXCHANGED LIFE FOR CHRIST’S LIFE.
Romans 8:1-9 (KJV)
1 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:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
DID YOU HEAR WHAT THIS PASSAGE HAS SAID? YOU HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN (NO CONDEMNATION). YOU ARE NOT GOING TO STAND IN JUDGMENT FOR SIN WHEN YOU ARE IN CHRIST.
CHRIST HAS ALREADY PAID THE "SEPARATION FROM GOD PENALTY" THAT SHOULD BE YOURS IF YOU WERE TO STAND IN JUDGMENT BEFORE GOD.
BUT YOU WON’T, BECAUSE GOD’S JUDGMENT AND THE PENALTY OF YOUR SIN WAS CAST UPON CHRIST.
IN GOD’S EYES, THE SIN ISSUE IS OVER WHEN YOU COME INTO THE “IN CHRIST RELATIONSHIP”.
IF SATAN CAN KEEP US FOCUSED ON OUR SINS OF THE PAST BY CONTINUING TO BRING UP FEELINGS OF GUILT, WE WILL NEVER BE FREE TO TRUST CHRIST AS WE WALK THROUGH LIFE DAY BY DAY.
HOW CAN WE TRUST CHRIST WITH OUR LIVES IF WE ARE UNSURE OF HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD US.
MOST OF US HAVE BEEN TAUGHT FROM AN EARLY AGE THAT GOD IS HOLY AND “HATES SIN”. YOU SAY, I HAVE COMMITTED SINS, SO HOW CAN I APPROACH HIM WITH CONFIDENCE?
THE ONLY SOLUTION IS AN UNDERSTANDING OF, AND A TOTAL TRUST IN, THE FACT THAT JESUS CHRIST DID IT ALL ON THE CROSS. THE SIN ISSUE BETWEEN MAN AND GOD IS TRULY OVER.
WE MUST COME TO THE BIBLICAL CONVICTION THAT GOD’S FORGIVENESS IS A PRESENT REALITY THAT ENABLES US TO CONCENTRATE ON WALKING DAILY WITH A LOVING AND ACCEPTING GOD WHO DESIRES TO LIVE THROUGH US.
FORGIVENESS IS NOT SOMETHING WE MIGHT HAVE, OR HAVE ON SOME DAYS AND NOT ON OTHERS; FORGIVENESS IS SOMETHING THE CHRISTIAN LIVES IN CONTINUALLY, JUST LIKE WE LIVE IN AND BREATHE IN AIR.
SATAN HAS DONE A MASTERFUL JOB OF KEEPING THE CHRISTIAN WORLD PREOCCUPIED WITH THE THING THAT GOD HAS DEALT WITH ONCE AND FOR ALL –SIN!!! AND HE HAS KEPT US IGNORANT OF THE THING THAT GOD WANTS US TO BE PREOCCUPIED WITH -- LIFE!!!
AS WE CONCLUDE TODAY, TURN TO HEBREWS 8:6-13
Hebrews 8:6-13 (NIV)
6 But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.
7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.
8 But God found fault with the people and said: "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
11 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
13 By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
IF SALVATION WAS ONLY FORGIVENESS OF SINS WITHOUT A CHANGE OF HEART THEN WE AS CHRISTIANS MIGHT TAKE THE ABSOLUTE RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE GOD AS A LICENSE TO SIN.
REMEMBER, OUR BORN AGAIN EXPERIENCE IS TWO PARTS. OUR JUSTIFICATION AND THE IMPLANTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES TO LEAD US TO RIGHTEOUSNESS AND NOT SIN.
WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO SETTLE THE FINALITY OF THE SPIRITUAL ACTIONS OF THE CROSS IN OUR MINDS IN ORDER TO DISCOVER AND EXPERIENCE THE RESURRECTED LIFE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
