Understanding the Message of Christ: Justification
It is by faith in Jesus Christ alone that we are declared right (justified) before God. God's gift of faith is the recognition of our utter moral bankruptcy and our inability to earn God's favor and that we must receiver and rest on Jesus Christ who has done it all.
Romans 3:21-31
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
Performance-reward is the value system that drives the world today. Our worth is measured by our ability to live up to certain standards. Expectations are conveyed to children very early. A parent rewards desirable behavior and punishes undesirable behavior. Love and worth are often seen as conditional.
The gospel is revolutionary because it contradicts all that we have been programed to believe. The righteousness of God has been made know through the live of Jesus, not because we performed the law perfectly. Being made right before God has come to us apart from our ability to live up to God's expectations.
There was a young boy who lived in a New England seaport and loved to watch the boats come in from their daily catch. One day he decided to build a little sailboat all his own. He worked for weeks, making sure every detail was right. The big day finally came when he would launch his boat. As he watched triumphantly, the wind changed suddenly and his little boat was swept out of sight. He was heartbroken. Every day he went to the beach to see if his boat had washed up on shore, but it was never there. Then one day he saw his boat in a store window. He ran inside and excitedly told the shopkeeper that it was his boat. The women informed him that it would cost him five dollars. After pleading to no avail, the boy pulled out the money and gave it to the women. As he left the store, he was heard to say, "Little boat, your are twice mind. You are mine because I made you, and you are mine because I bought you."
The death of Jesus was the purchase price for our life. We have been bought back and made right. Look in the mirror to today and rejoice that you have been given the full justification of Christ.
Matt Emerson
Taken from Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden
Romans 3:21-31
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
Performance-reward is the value system that drives the world today. Our worth is measured by our ability to live up to certain standards. Expectations are conveyed to children very early. A parent rewards desirable behavior and punishes undesirable behavior. Love and worth are often seen as conditional.
The gospel is revolutionary because it contradicts all that we have been programed to believe. The righteousness of God has been made know through the live of Jesus, not because we performed the law perfectly. Being made right before God has come to us apart from our ability to live up to God's expectations.
There was a young boy who lived in a New England seaport and loved to watch the boats come in from their daily catch. One day he decided to build a little sailboat all his own. He worked for weeks, making sure every detail was right. The big day finally came when he would launch his boat. As he watched triumphantly, the wind changed suddenly and his little boat was swept out of sight. He was heartbroken. Every day he went to the beach to see if his boat had washed up on shore, but it was never there. Then one day he saw his boat in a store window. He ran inside and excitedly told the shopkeeper that it was his boat. The women informed him that it would cost him five dollars. After pleading to no avail, the boy pulled out the money and gave it to the women. As he left the store, he was heard to say, "Little boat, your are twice mind. You are mine because I made you, and you are mine because I bought you."
The death of Jesus was the purchase price for our life. We have been bought back and made right. Look in the mirror to today and rejoice that you have been given the full justification of Christ.
Matt Emerson
Taken from Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden
Posted in Discipleship