JUSTIFIED BY CHRIST
ROMANS 3:22-31
WHEN LAST WE MET, WE CONSIDERED HOW THE OLD TESTAMENT BORE WITNESS TO THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. THE OLD COVENANT IS SIGNIFICANT IN THAT IT WAS, FIRST A TEMPORAL MEANS FOR THE ISRAELITES TO ATTAIN A RIGHTEOUS STANDING, AND SECONDLY POINTED TO A MORE PERMANENT COVENANT, WHICH WE WILL SEE IS THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
PAUL HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT THIS NEW COVENANT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS APART FROM THE LAW. THE LAW FAILED TO RESCUE PEOPLE FROM THE POWER OF SIN BECAUSE COMPLIANCE WITH ITS DEMANDS TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO SECURE JUSTIFICATION HAS NOT BEEN – AND CANNOT BE – FORTHCOMING.
UNDER THE OLD TESTAMENT LAW RIGHTEOUSNESS CAME BY BEHAVING, UNDER THE GOSPEL RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES BY BELIEVING. THE LAW BORE WITNESS TO THIS GOSPEL’S RIGHTOUSNESS, BUT IT COULD NOT PROVIDE IT.
AUGUSTINE INSTRUCTED MARTIN LUTHER SAYING:
“THROUGH THE LAW GOD OPENED MAN’S EYES SO THAT HE SEES HIS HELPLESSNESS AND BY FAITH TAKES REFUGE TO HIS MERCY AND SO ISS HEALED….THE LAW WAS GIVEN, IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT SEEK AFTER GRACE. GRACE WAS GIVEN, IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT FULFILL THE LAW. IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE LAW THAT IT WAS NOT FULFILLED, BUT THE FAULT OF MAN’S CARNAL MIND. THIS GUILT THE LAW MUST MAKE MANIFEST IN ORDER THAT WE MAY BE HEALED BY DIVINE GRACE.”
OUR RESPONSIVE READING WAS QUITE CLEAR THAT A NEW AND PERMANENT COVENANT WAS NEEDED.
HEBREWS 10:5-7:
THEREFORE, WHEN CHRIST CAME INTO THE WORLD, HE SAID: “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU DID NOT DESIRE, BUT A BODY YOU PREPARED FOR ME; 6 WITH BURNT OFFERINGS AND SIN OFFERINGS YOU WERE NOT PLEASED. 7 THEN I SAID, ‘HERE I AM—IT IS WRITTEN ABOUT ME IN THE SCROLL— I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL, MY GOD.’
ROMANS 3:22-31 SPEAKS OF THE NEW COVENANT, THAT WOULD BE ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST ON CALVARY. CHRIST’S SACRIFICE FULFILLED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT LAW COMPLETELY.
ROMANS 3:22-24:
22 THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS GIVEN THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST TO ALL WHO BELIEVE. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JEW AND GENTILE, 23 FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD,”
PAUL IS AGAIN TELLING US THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS OR “JUSTIFICATION” IS GIVEN THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST, NOT BY ANY WORKS THAT WE CAN DO TO MERIT SALVATION. IT IS OPEN TO ALL PEOPLE, FOR ALL PEOPLE STAND GUILTY AS SINNERS. IT IS AVAILABLE “TO ALL WHO BELIEVE”.
PAUL WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE ALL IN NEED OF A SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION IN OUR LIVES. WE ALL NEED “REDEMPTION” FROM OUR SINFUL NATURE. HE REMINDS US IN VERSE 23 THAT WE HAVE ALL “FALLEN SHORT” OF THE GLORY OF GOD.
THIS IS HARD FOR US TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WE ASSOCIATE SIN WITH WHAT WE DO, AND NOT WHO WE ARE. A PERSON COULD BE THE KINDEST MOST GENEROUS PERSON IN THE WORLD, BUT THEY WOULD STILL NEED A SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION BECAUSE OF THEIR SINFUL NATURE.
NO ONE WOULD DOUBT THE CHRISTIAN WALK OF BILLY GRAHAM. HE HIMSELF THOUGH WOULD TELL YOU THAT HE IS A SINNER AND NEEDED A SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION IN HIS LIFE OR HE WAS BOUND FOR AN ETERNITY IN HELL.
PAUL DOESN’T SAY WE HAVE SINNED BECAUSE WE ARE THEIVES OR MURDERERS. HE DOESN’T CLAIM THAT WE GOSSIP AND SLANDER PEOPLE. HE SIMPLY SAYS HERE THAT WE “FALL SHORT” OF THE GLORY OF GOD. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “FALL SHORT”?
THE GREEK WORD FOR “FALL SHORT” IS “HUSTEREO”. IT MEANS “TO COME LATE”, “BE BEHIND”, OR “TO COME UP SHORT”. THE IMAGE IS ONE OF ALWAYS BEING BEHIND THE GOAL. WHAT PAUL IS TELLING US HERE IS THAT OUR SINFUL CONDITION WILL ALWAYS MAKE US “FALL SHORT” OF OUR GOAL WHICH IS A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
REARDLESS OF WHAT WE DO, WE CAN NEVER SEEM TO CATCH UP TO THE GLORY OF GOD; WE ARE ALWAYS BEHIND. TRY AS WE MIGHT WE WILL ALWAYS FALL SHORT.
GOD TURNED AWAY FROM HIS SON WHEN JESUS BECAME OUR SUBSTITUTE AND BORE OUR SIN ON THE CROSS. WE HAVE NO PROBLEM BELIEVING THIS. THE POINT I AM TRYING TO MAKE IS THAT IF HE COULD NOT RELATE TO HIS OWN SON DURING THE CRUCIFIXION BECAUSE HE BORE OUR SIN, HOW CAN WE EXPECT HIM TO RELATE TO US IN ONLY OUR SINFUL NATURE? PAUL IS CLEAR ON THIS.
EPHESIANS 2:1-3:
AS FOR YOU, YOU WERE DEAD IN YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS AND SINS, 2 IN WHICH YOU USED TO LIVE WHEN YOU FOLLOWED THE WAYS OF THIS WORLD AND OF THE RULER OF THE KINGDOM OF THE AIR, THE SPIRIT WHO IS NOW AT WORK IN THOSE WHO ARE DISOBEDIENT. 3 ALL OF US ALSO LIVED AMONG THEM AT ONE TIME, GRATIFYING THE CRAVINGS OF OUR FLESH M AND FOLLOWING ITS DESIRES AND THOUGHTS. LIKE THE REST, WE WERE BY NATURE DESERVING OF WRATH
FRANCIS SCHAEFFER WROTE:
“OUR FAITH HAS NO SAVING VALUE. OUR RELIGIOUS GOOD WORKS, OUR MORAL GOOD WORKS, HAVE NO SAVING VALUE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT PERFECT. OUR SUFFERING HAS NO SAVING VALUE. WE WOULD HAVE TO SUFFER INFINITELY, BECAUSE WE HAVE SINNED AGAINST AN INFINITE GOD; AND WE BEING FINITE, CANNOT SUFFER INFINITELY. THE ONLY THING IN ALL OF GOD’S MORAL UNIVERSE THAT HAS THE POWER TO SAVE IS THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST. OUR FAITH MERELY ACCEPTS THAT GIFT. AND GOD JUSTIFIES ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS.”
FAITH THEN IS SAYING “YES” TO GOD’S GIFT OF REDEMPTION AND JUSTIFICATION THROUGH CHRIST.
ROMANS 3:24A: AND ALL ARE JUSTIFIED
HERE WE ARE INTRODUCED TO THE COURTROOM WITH THE TERM “JUSTIFIED” LET’S BEGIN BY ASKING THE QUESTION, WHAT IS “JUSTIFICATION”? JUSTIFICATION IS A LEGAL TERM, SO TO SEEK IT’S MEANING WE MUST TURN TO THE COURTROOM.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT “JUSTIFICATION” MEANS “JUST AS IF I’D NEVER SINNED”. THIS IS A TOTALLY UNBIBLICAL STATEMENT.
TO BE “JUSTIFIED” DOES NOT MEAN, THAT WE ARE ACQUITTED OF A CRIME, FOR TO BE ACQUITTED MEANS THAT WE WERE FOUND TO BE NOT GUILTY, AND PAUL HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT WE ARE GUILTY BEFORE GOD.
TO BE “JUSTIFIED” MEANS THAT WE HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY, AND THAT OUR SENTENCE HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT. ONCE THE SENTENCE IS CARRIED OUT, THEN THE ISSUE IS DONE.
REV.DR. CHARLES PRICE GAVE THIS ILLUSTRATION ABOUT JUDTIFICATION. HE SPOKE OF THE SCOTTISH PRISONS DURING THE TIME OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. HE SAID THAT A STATEMENT WOULD BE POSTED OUTSIDE THE PRISON WALLS ON THE DAY OF THE EXECUTION THAT READ AS FOLLOWS:
ON SUCH AND SUCH TIME AND DATE, AT THE NAME OF THE PRISON, THE NAME OF THE PRISONER, WAS JUSTIFIED.
IF YOU WERE CAUGHT SPEEDING, AND YOU ADMITTED YOUR GUILT THROUGH PAYING YOUR FINE, YOU WERE “JUSTIFIED” IN THE EYES OF THE LAW. YOU WERE FREE BECAUSE YOU PAID THE DEBT FOR WHICH YOU WERE GUILTY OF AND THE ISSUE WAS DONE. IF A POLICE OFFICER PULLED YOU OVER HE COULD NOT FORCE YOU TO PAY FOR THAT INFRACTION AGAIN. YOU WERE FREE BECAUSE WHAT WAS NEEDED TO PROVIDE YOUR FREEDOM WAS OBTAINED AND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR FREEDOM FULFILLED.
WHEN GOD JUSTIFIES, OR DECLARES US RIGHTEOUS, TWO THINGS HAPPEN TO THE PERSON. NEGATIVELY, THE SINNER IS DECLARED NO LONGER GUILTY OF SIN. POSITIVELY, THE SINNER IS DECLARED RIGHTEOUS. NOT MADE RIGHTEOUS, BUT DECLARED RIGHTEOUS. GOD RECORDS THAT THE DEBT OF SIN AND GUILT HAS BEEN PAID IN FULL FOR THE SINNER AND CREDITS OUR ACCOUNT AS BEING RIGHTEOUS.
“JUSTIFICATION” IS ONE OF THE BEST REASONS TO BELIEVE IN THE “ETERNAL SECURITY” OF THE SAINT. WHEN A PERSON ACCEPTS CHRIST AS THEIR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR, THEN THEIR SIN DEBT IS PAID. THE ISSUE IS DONE AND CANNOT BE OPENED AGAIN. JUSTIFICATION IS A ONE TIME, ONCE AND FOR ALL PROCESS.
HOW THEN ARE WE “JUSTIFIED”? VERSE 24 B TELLS US THAT WE ARE JUSTIFIED “FREELY BY HIS GRACE THROUGH THE REDEMPTION THAT CAME BY CHRIST JESUS.” WE MUST THEN ASK THE QUESTIONS, “WHAT IS THIS REDEMPTION” AND HOW DID IT COME BY CHRIST JESUS?”
THE WORD “REDEMPTION” IS A MARKETPLACE TERM. IT MEANS THE LIBERATION THROUGH THE PAYMENT OF A PRICE, OR A RANSOM. PAUL IS REFERRING HERE TO THE PROCESS WHEREBY SLAVES WOULD BE BOUGHT, WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF SETTING THEM FREE.
PAULS USE OF THE TERM “REDEMPTION” SUPPORTS THE FACT THAT “JUSTIFICATION” IS A FREE GIFT, BUT NOT FREELY ATTAINED. PAUL WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND THAT, IT WAS BEYOND THE POWER OF THE SLAVE TO PURCHASE THEIR FREEDOM, SO TOO, IS IT BEYOND THE POWER OF THE SINNER TO EARN HIS “JUSTIFICATION”. JUST AS THE SLAVE NEEDED SOMEONE TO COME FORWARD AND PURCHASE THEIR FREEDOM, SO TOO DOES THE SINNER NEED SOMEONE TO COME FORWARD AND PURCHASE THEIR FREEDOM FROM SIN.”
THE TERM “REDEMPTION” SHOWS US THAT WHILE OUR “JUSTIFICATION” WAS A FREE GIFT OFFERED BY GOD, IT WAS A GIFT OFFERED AT A TERRIBLE PRICE, THE ATONING WORK OF CHRIST JESUS. IT IS THE ATONING WORK OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS THAT PROVIDES THE TRANSFORMATION FROM THE OLD TO THE NEW COVENANT.
25 GOD PRESENTED CHRIST AS A SACRIFICE OF ATONEMENT,
WHEN WE CONSIDER THE ATONING WORK OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS, WE MUST REALIZE THAT IT WAS INITIATED BY GOD. CHRIST WENT TO THE CROSS TO SATISFY THE RIGHTEOUS ANGER OF GOD OVER SIN.
I WANT TO READ V. 25 FOR YOU FROM THE KING JAMES VERSION. IT HAS A WORD IN IT THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
ROMANS 3:25: WHOM GOD HATH SSET FORTH TO BE A PROPITIATION THROUGH FAITH IN HIS BLOOD
THE GREEK WORD USED HERE IS “HILASTERION.” THEOLOGIANS HAVE TRANSLATED THIS WORD IN TWO WAYS, “EXPIATION” WHICH IS THE COVERING OVER OF SINS, OR “PROPITIATION” WHICH IS THE SATISFYING OF GOD’S WRATH.
MANY THEOLOGIANS AND TRANSLATORS LIKE TO USE THE WORD “EXPIATION” AS IT DOES NOT FOCUS ON THE ANGER OF GOD OVER SIN.
“PROPITIATION” IS A MUCH BETTER WORD. IT MEANS THE SATISFYING OF GOD’S HOLY LAW, AND MEETING IT’S JUST DEMANDS. IT ALLOWS GOD TO FREELY FORGIVE THOSE WHO COME TO CHRIST.
IT IS A TERM THAT TAKES US BACK TO THE OLD TESTAMENT SACRIFICE AND THE MERCY SEAT. IT RECOGNIZES THE JUST ANGER OF GOD OVER SIN AND THE PRICE THAT WAS PAID FOR THE FULFILLMENT OF THE COVENANT.
BY VIEWING CHRIST AS THE “HILASTERION” OR MERCY SEAT, PAUL BUILDS AN IMPORTANT CONNECTION BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE OLD TESTAMENT DAY OF ATONEMENT. HE WAS SAYING THAT THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST WAS THE NEW COVENANT TO THAT OF THE SACRIFICE ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT.
THE PRIME DOER IN CHRIST’S CROSS WAS GOD. CHRIST WAS GOD RECONCILING…HE WAS GOD DOING HIS VERY BEST FOR MAN. GOD’S WRATH IS THE INEVITABLE AND NECESSARY REACTION OF ABSOLUTE HOLINESS TO SIN. IT WAS GOD WHO INITIATED THE PROPITIATORY OFFERING.
“IN HIS BLOOD SINGLES OUT CHRIST’S BLOOD AS THE MEANS BY WHICH GOD’S WRATH IS PROPITIATED OR SATISFIED. IN JESUUS CHRIST HIS SON, GOD HAS GRACIOUSLY DIRECTED AGAINST HIMSELF HIS OWN RIGHTEOUS WRATH WHICH THE SINNER DESERVES, AND SO “PROPITIATES” OR “SATISFIES” THE WRATH OF A JUST GOD. HE IS BOTH THE ONE “SATISFIED” AND “THE MEANS OF SATISFACTION.”
GOD’S LOVE AND WRATH MEET IN THE ATONEMENT AND NEITHER CAN BE DENIED OR COMPROMISED IF THE FULL MEANING OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICE IS TO BE PROPERLY APPRECIATED. JESUS LIVED A SINLESS HUMAN LIFE, AND THUS COULD BE THE PERFECT SACRIFICE, A SACRIFICE WITHOUT BLEMISH. HE WAS GOD IN MAN, AND ONLY GOD COULD ACCEPT THE WRATH THAT GOD UNLEASH ON THE CROSS.
THROUGH CHRIST THAT WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY DONE BEHIND A CLOSED CURTAIN WAS NOW DISPLAYED PUBLICLY FOR ALL TO SEE, AND FOR ALL TO ACCEPT. WHAT WAS TEMPORAL IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WAS FULFILLED IN CHRIST’S SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS, AND BROUGHT TO AN END IN CHRIST’S ONCE AND FOR ALL SACRIFICE. CHRIST IN HIS PROPITIATORY SACRIFICE, PROVIDES FULL SATISFACTION OF THE DEMANDS OF GOD’S IMPARTIAL, INVARIABLE, JUSTICE. GOD’S WRATH HAS BEEN TURNED AWAY FROM THOSE WHO DESERVE IT TO ONE WHO DID NOT DESERVE IT.
WHAT KIND OF GOD SENDS HIS OWN SON TO SUCH A HORRIFIC DEATH TO SATISFY HIS OWN SENSE OF JUSTICE? LETS CONSIDER THESE FACTS:
1. JESUS VOLUNTARILY GAVE HIS LIFE. (JOHN 10:14-18) IT WAS THE ETERNALLY AGREED UPON PLAN OF THE FATHER, SON AND SPIRIT.
2. THE TRIUNE GOD – NOT JUST THE SON – IS INVOLVED THE WORLD’S SUFFERING. THE FATHER AND SPIRIT WERE INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH THE SON’S SUFFERING ON THE CROSS.
3. CONSIDER GOD’S HOLINESS AND SIN’S OFFENCEIVENESS TO SUCH A PERFECT, UNSULLIED PERSONAL BEING. SIN JUSTFULLY ILICITS GOD’S RESPONSE – WHICH IS THE REMOVAL OF ALL TRACES OF BOTH SIN AND SINNER.
4. WE MUST GRASY GOD’S LIMITLESS LOVE FOR HIS HUMAN CREATIONS MADE IN HIS OWN IMAGE. IN LOVE GOD ACTED TO SAVE THOSE WHO WOULD TRUST IN HIM. HIS HOLINESS REQUIRED THE JUST PAYMENT OF DEATH FOR SINNERS. HE PAID THE PENALTY HIMSELF ON THE CROSS IN THE PERSON OF HIS SON.
ROMANS 3:25-26:
HE DID THIS TO DEMONSTRATE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, BECAUSE IN HIS FORBEARANCE HE HAD LEFT THE SINS COMMITTED BEFOREHAND UNPUNISHED—26 HE DID IT TO DEMONSTRATE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AT THE PRESENT TIME, SO AS TO BE JUST AND THE ONE WHO JUSTIFIES THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH IN JESUS.
PAUL IS PRESENTING CHRIST’S DEATH AS THE “RANSOM” OR “PAYMENT” THAT IS MADE TO FULFILL THE PAYMENT OF THE SIN PENALTY, FOR ALL PEOPLE OF GOD. WHAT IS PAUL REFERRING TO WHEN HS SAYS HE HAD LEFT THE SINS COMMITTED BEFOREHAND UNPUNISHED? DOES VERSE 25 MEAN THAT GOD IS INCONSISTANT WITH HIS JUSTICE IN ALLOWING SOME SINS TO GO UNPUNISHED?
CERTAINLY NOT. THE PASSING OVER OF SINS COMMITTED BEFOREHAND, IS REFERRING TO SINS THAT WERE COMMITTED BEFORE THE AGE OF SALVATION. BEFORE THE AGE OF SALVATION, OR THE NEW COVENANT, SINNERS WERE DECLARED “RIGHTEOUS” ON THE BASIS OF THEIR OBEDIENCE TO THE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM, OR THE OLD COVENANT.
OUR RESPONSIVE READING REMINDS US THAT THE OLD COVENANT WAS A TEMPORAL SYSTEM, AND NOT A PERMANENT SOLUTION. IT LOOKED FORWARD TO A BETTER, A PERFECT SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF SIN, WHICH WOULD COME IN CHRIST.
PAUL’S MEANING HERE IS THAT GOD “POSTPONED” THE FULL PENALTY DUE SINS IN THE OLD COVENANT. THIS ALLOWED SINNERS TO STAND BEFORE HIM AND BE DECLARED “RIGHTEOUS” EVEN THOUGH AN ADEQUATE, “PERMANENT” SATISFACTION OF THE DEMANDS OF HIS HOLY JUSTICE AND NOT OCCURRED.
HEBREWS 10:1-4:
THE LAW IS ONLY A SHADOW OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE COMING—NOT THE REALITIES THEMSELVES. FOR THIS REASON IT CAN NEVER, BY THE SAME SACRIFICES REPEATED ENDLESSLY YEAR AFTER YEAR, MAKE PERFECT THOSE WHO DRAW NEAR TO WORSHIP. 2 OTHERWISE, WOULD THEY NOT HAVE STOPPED BEING OFFERED? FOR THE WORSHIPERS WOULD HAVE BEEN CLEANSED ONCE FOR ALL, AND WOULD NO LONGER HAVE FELT GUILTY FOR THEIR SINS. 3 BUT THOSE SACRIFICES ARE AN ANNUAL REMINDER OF SINS. 4 IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE BLOOD OF BULLS AND GOATS TO TAKE AWAY SINS
THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST BROUGHT ABOUT THE FULFILLMENT OF THE OLD COVENANT. HIS WAS A ONCE AND FOR ALL SACRIFICE THAT BROUGHT A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF SIN. THE FULL PENALTY FOR SIN WAS NO LONGER “POSTPONED” BUT PAID IN FULL BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
IF GOD HAD FORGIVEN SIN WITHOUT A SACRIFICE A CHARGE OF INJUSTICE WOULD BE VALID AGAINST HIM. BECAUSE A SACRIFICE WAS MADE FOR SIN – AND BECAUSE HE HIMSELF INITIATED AND PROVIDED THE SACRIFICE – AS VERSE 26 STATES, HE IS BOTH JUST AND THE ONE WHO JUSTIFIES THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH IN JESUS.
ROMANS 3:27-31:
WHERE, THEN, IS BOASTING? IT IS EXCLUDED. BECAUSE OF WHAT LAW? THE LAW THAT REQUIRES WORKS? NO, BECAUSE OF THE LAW THAT REQUIRES FAITH. 28 FOR WE MAINTAIN THAT A PERSON IS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH APART FROM THE WORKS OF THE LAW. 29 OR IS GOD THE GOD OF JEWS ONLY? IS HE NOT THE GOD OF GENTILES TOO? YES, OF GENTILES TOO, 30 SINCE THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD, WHO WILL JUSTIFY THE CIRCUMCISED BY FAITH AND THE UNCIRCUMCISED THROUGH THAT SAME FAITH. 31 DO WE, THEN, NULLIFY THE LAW BY THIS FAITH? NOT AT ALL! RATHER, WE UPHOLD THE LAW
THESE LAST FOUR VERSES ARE A SUMMARY OF WHAT PAUL HAS BEEN TEACHING IN THIS PASSAGE. THE JEWS BOASTED IN THE FACT THAT THEY HAD A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP TO GOD BECAUSE THEY WERE THE CHOSEN PEOPLE, BUT PAUL WILL HAVE NONE OF THIS. HE REMINDS US:
EPHESIANS 2:8-9:
FOR IT IS BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED, THROUGH FAITH—AND THIS IS NOT FROM YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD—9 NOT BY WORKS, SO THAT NO ONE CAN BOAST.
WE DO NOT SAY “THERE BUT FOR MY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS GO I”. THE SAYING THAT I REFER TO IS “THERE, BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO I.” IT IS A STATEMENT THAT GAINS IMMEASURABLE STRENGTH WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE ONE WHO SAID IT WAS WATCHING GULTY CRIMINALS GOING TO THEIR DEATH ON THE GALLOWS.
GOD’S GRACE THOUGH IS EVEN GREATER THAN THIS SAYING FOR GOD NOT ONLY INTERRUPTED OUR DEATH MARCH AND TOOK US OUT OF THE LINE, BUT HE TOOK OUR PLACE INSTEAD. HE DID NOT TAKE AWAY OUR GUILT, HE PAID THE PENALTY FOR IT IN FULL. HE TOOK ON OUR GUILT SO THAT WE MAY BE DECALRED “JUSTIFIED” BEFORE GOD.
DEITRICH BONHOFFER SAID:
GRACE IS COSTLY BECAUSE IT COSTS A MAN HIS LIFE, AND IT IS GRACE BECAUSE IT GIVES A MAN THE ONLY TRUE LIFE.
PAUL REMOVES ANY ROOM FOR BOASTING WHEN HE STATES THAT “JUSTIFICATION” IS JUST AS AVAILABLE TO THE GENTILES AS IT IS TO THE JEWS. HE PROCLAIMS IT A MATTER OF FAITH AND NOT WORKS.
PAUL SUGGESTS THAT THE LAW IS FULFILLED IN AND THROUGH OUR FAITH IN CHRIST. PAUL BELIEVES THAT THE CHRISTIANS PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST BY FAITH FULLY MEETS THE DEMANDS OF GOD’S LAW. THUS THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, FAR FROM SHUNTING ASIDE THE DEMANDS OF THE LAW, PROVIDE FOR THE COMPLETE FULFILLMENT OF GOD’S DEMAND IN HIS LAW.
AS PAUL STATES:
GALATIANS 6:14-15:
MAY I NEVER BOAST EXCEPT IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH WHICH THE WORLD HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED TO ME, AND I TO THE WORLD. 15 NEITHER CIRCUMCISION NOR UNCIRCUMCISION MEANS ANYTHING; WHAT COUNTS IS THE NEW CREATION
CONCLUSION:
WHENEVER AND WHEREVER THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED “A RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD IS REVEALED,” THROUGH THE PROCLAMATION OF THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.
THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS DECLARED BY GOD, AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR WALK WITH GOD, NOT AT THE END. ALL IS DONE AT THE TIME WE ARE “JUSTIFIED” BY GOD. WE CANNOT BE MORE OR LESS “JUSTIFIED” THAN WE WERE AT THE TIME WE ACCEPTED CHRIST.
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LABOR UNDER CONSCIENCES BURDENED WITH GUILT ABOUT THAT WHICH THEY HAVE DONE WRONG. THEY FRET ASKING WHETHER THEY HAVE DONE ENOUGH TO “MAKE IT” INTO HEAVEN.
“JUSTIFICATION” IS OUR GUARANTEE THAT THOSE FEARS NEED NEVER CROSS OUR MIND AGAIN. IT IS NOT IN OUR POWER THAT WE ARE JUSTIFIED, BUT GOD’S. WE CAN CLAIM AS THE HYMNWRITER STATES:
FREE FROM THE LAW, O HAPPY CONDITION,
JESUS HAS BLED AND THERE IS REMISSION,
CURSED BY THE LAW AND BRUISED BY THE FALL,
GRACE HATH REDEEMED US ONCE FOR ALL.
NOW WE ARE FREE, THERE’S NO CONDEMNATION,
JESUS PROVIDES A PERFECT SALVATION.
“COME UNTO ME,” O HEAR HIS SWEET CALL,
COME, AND HE SAVES US ONCE FOR ALL.
“CHILDREN OF GOD,” O GLORIOUS CALLING,
SURELY HIS GRACE WILL KEEP US FROM FALLING;
PASSING FROM DEATH TO LIFE AT HIS CALL;
BLESSÈD SALVATION ONCE FOR ALL.
REFRAIN
ONCE FOR ALL, O SINNER, RECEIVE IT,
ONCE FOR ALL, O BROTHER, BELIEVE IT;
CLING TO THE CROSS, THE BURDEN WILL FALL,
CHRIST HATH REDEEMED US ONCE FOR ALL.
CLIFF BARROWS TELLS THE STORY THAT ILLUSTRATES BEAUTIFULLY GOD’S PLAN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
CLIFF BARROWS, THE LONG-TIME SONG LEADER AT BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION CRUSADES, TELLS A STORY ABOUT HOW HIS CHILDREN LEARNED TO APPRECIATE THE PRICE THAT JESUS PAID FOR THEIR SINS. WHEN THEY WERE SMALL, THE CHILDREN PERSISTED IN DOING SOMETHING THAT THEY HAD BEEN FORBIDDEN TO DO. MR. BARROWS TOLD HIS CHILDREN THAT IF THEY VIOLATED THE STANDARD AGAIN, THEY WOULD BE DISCIPLINED FOR THEIR ACTIONS. UPON RETURNING HOME, A SADDENED FATHER DISCOVERED THAT HIS CHILDREN HAD YET AGAIN DISOBEYED THEIR FATHER. BUT THE THOUGHT OF SPANKING THEM OVERCAME HIM.
“I JUST COULDN’T DISCIPLINE THEM,” HE SAID. “BOBBY AND BETTIE RUTH WERE VERY SMALL. I CALLED THEM INTO MY ROOM, TOOK OFF MY BELT AND THEN MY SHIRT, AND WITH A BARE BACK I KNELT DOWN AT THE BED. I MADE THEM BOTH STRAP ME WITH THE BELT TEN TIMES EACH. YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD THE CRYING. FROM THEM, I MEAN. THE CRYING WAS FROM THEM. THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO IT. BUT I TOLD THEM THE PENALTY HAD TO BE PAID AND SO THROUGH THEIR SOBS AND TEARS THEY DID WHAT I TOLD THEM.… I MUST ADMIT I WAS NOT MUCH OF A HERO. IT HURT. I HAVE NOT OFFERED TO DO THAT AGAIN. IT WAS A ONCE-FOR-ALL SACRIFICE, I GUESS WE COULD SAY, BUT I NEVER HAD TO SPANK THOSE TWO CHILDREN AGAIN, BECAUSE THEY GOT THE POINT. WE KISSED EACH OTHER. AND WHEN IT WAS OVER WE PRAYED TOGETHER”
