THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION - Part 1
FORERUNNER MESSENGER ALLIANCE (Doctrine)
The Doctrine of Justification – Part 1 Carlos Sarmiento
THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION - Part 1 INTRODUCTION Justification is the legal relation and standing before a Holy God. Because man is born a sinner he automatically stands before God as guilty and condemned in need of pardon. While Regeneration deals with the change of the believer's nature, Justification deals with the believer's right standing before God. Justification is a legal term describing the divine transfer from guilt and condemnation to redemption and justification. This is made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in behalf of all who put their faith and trust in Him. “He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.” Isaiah 53:11 “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” Romans 8:33
I.
THE MEANING OF JUSTIFICATION A. What Justification is According to the Scriptures: In essence Justification declares the one who is guilty as though he were innocent and righteous (Deut. 25:1). It does not mean that one becomes righteous as Regeneration does, but simply declares the guilty one as righteous. It's actual definition is, "to set one forth as righteous, to declare one righteous in a legal sense, to put one in a right relation." It is the judicial act from a Holy God declaring the guilty party as righteous and innocent. It does not deal directly with character or conduct but rather a question of relationship. The guilty sinner receives by faith the righteousness of God and is seen as such, becoming free of guilt and punishment. “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” Psalm 32:2 “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.’” Romans 4:2-8
www.ForerunnerMessengerAlliance.org
[email protected]
Phone: 407.877.5970
FORERUNNER MESSENGER ALLIANCE (Doctrine)
The Doctrine of Justification – Part 1 Carlos Sarmiento
B. Justification Assures Us of Forgiveness and Removal of Guilt: We can describe Forgiveness to mean God's moral anger and resentment to sin as having ceased. It could also mean that the sinner has been released from the guilt of sin which oppresses the conscience. It's also pictured as the taking away of sin's punishment which is eternal death. So, we can say that Justification forgives all of our sins against us and removes the guilt and punishment it carries with it (Num. 23:21, Acts 13:38-39, Rom. 8:33-34). “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18-19 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1 C. Justification Restores God's Faithfulness to the Forgiven Sinner: Not only does the newly forgiven sinner find himself in right standing with God (righteousness), but he now stands as one who had never offended God with restored favor. Justification means much more than just forgiveness and acquittal. It also restores full privileges and rights of citizenship. “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” Ephesians 2:19 . . .that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:7 D. The Imputation of Righteousness is reckoned upon the sinner andis now justified one before God. The new Believer is "concluded to be, counted as, estimated to be" the Righteousness of Christ. In other words, the same Righteousness that Christ is/has, is now conferred upon all who trust in Him. To me, this absolutely beyond my human comprehension that I should be considered as righteous before God as Christ is! See Rom. 3:22, 5:17-21. “. . .but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.” Romans 4:24-25 “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30
www.ForerunnerMessengerAlliance.org
[email protected]
Phone: 407.877.5970
The Doctrine of Justification – Part 1 Carlos Sarmiento
THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION - Part 1 INTRODUCTION Justification is the legal relation and standing before a Holy God. Because man is born a sinner he automatically stands before God as guilty and condemned in need of pardon. While Regeneration deals with the change of the believer's nature, Justification deals with the believer's right standing before God. Justification is a legal term describing the divine transfer from guilt and condemnation to redemption and justification. This is made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in behalf of all who put their faith and trust in Him. “He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.” Isaiah 53:11 “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” Romans 8:33
I.
THE MEANING OF JUSTIFICATION A. What Justification is According to the Scriptures: In essence Justification declares the one who is guilty as though he were innocent and righteous (Deut. 25:1). It does not mean that one becomes righteous as Regeneration does, but simply declares the guilty one as righteous. It's actual definition is, "to set one forth as righteous, to declare one righteous in a legal sense, to put one in a right relation." It is the judicial act from a Holy God declaring the guilty party as righteous and innocent. It does not deal directly with character or conduct but rather a question of relationship. The guilty sinner receives by faith the righteousness of God and is seen as such, becoming free of guilt and punishment. “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” Psalm 32:2 “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.’” Romans 4:2-8
www.ForerunnerMessengerAlliance.org
[email protected]
Phone: 407.877.5970
FORERUNNER MESSENGER ALLIANCE (Doctrine)
The Doctrine of Justification – Part 1 Carlos Sarmiento
B. Justification Assures Us of Forgiveness and Removal of Guilt: We can describe Forgiveness to mean God's moral anger and resentment to sin as having ceased. It could also mean that the sinner has been released from the guilt of sin which oppresses the conscience. It's also pictured as the taking away of sin's punishment which is eternal death. So, we can say that Justification forgives all of our sins against us and removes the guilt and punishment it carries with it (Num. 23:21, Acts 13:38-39, Rom. 8:33-34). “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18-19 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1 C. Justification Restores God's Faithfulness to the Forgiven Sinner: Not only does the newly forgiven sinner find himself in right standing with God (righteousness), but he now stands as one who had never offended God with restored favor. Justification means much more than just forgiveness and acquittal. It also restores full privileges and rights of citizenship. “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” Ephesians 2:19 . . .that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:7 D. The Imputation of Righteousness is reckoned upon the sinner andis now justified one before God. The new Believer is "concluded to be, counted as, estimated to be" the Righteousness of Christ. In other words, the same Righteousness that Christ is/has, is now conferred upon all who trust in Him. To me, this absolutely beyond my human comprehension that I should be considered as righteous before God as Christ is! See Rom. 3:22, 5:17-21. “. . .but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.” Romans 4:24-25 “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30
www.ForerunnerMessengerAlliance.org
[email protected]
Phone: 407.877.5970
