Justification - That Justification (or Regeneration) is the act of God’s grace whereby one receives forgiveness and remission of sins, and is counted righteous before God, through faith in the atoning blood of Jesus, standing before God as though he had never sinned. Psalm 32:1,2; Isaiah 1:18; Micah 7:29; John 3:3-8; Acts 13:38,39; Romans 3:24-30; 4:6-16; 5:1,2; II Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; I Peter 1:23.
God's Word teaches:
Justification is the act of God’s grace through which one receives forgiveness and remission of sins and is counted righteous before God, through faith in the atoning blood of Jesus. Having thus been cleared of every guilt of sin, the regenerated stands before God as though he had never sinned. Now totally forgiven and the sins forgotten, God looks at the redeemed not on the basis of any personal merit but in the light of what Christ had accomplished for mankind by his substitutionary death on the cross of Calvary (Psalms 32:1-2: Isaiah 1:18; Micah 7:19; Acts 13:38).
In order to fully appreciate the benefits of salvation in Christ Jesus, the utter helplessness and hopelessness of man should be noted. Man being incapable of personally providing a solution to his problem of sin or change his eternal destiny of damnation (Isaiah 59:8), the need for justification becomes obvious.
To meet the standard of divine justice, due price needed to be paid. Man lacked both the capacity and purity to afford this. It therefore required the sacrifice of the spotless Iamb of God, untainted and without blemish in himself to pay the necessary ransom with his blood for the expiation of man’s sins.
It is instructive here to note that the nature of sin is not such that man could handle on his own or by the merit if his good works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Just as circumcision cannot justify the Jew nor water baptism the Gentiles, so by the standards of God’s righteousness and holiness, church membership or confirmation does not suffice to justify any one. Only the faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross can assure a penitent soul the full justification through faith by the grace of Jesus. As has been outlined above, three aspects of the doctrinal question need be examined closely.
Redemption by the blood of Christ, Necessity of faith and Evidence of Justification. Genesis 2:16-17 reads and the Lord God commanded the man, saying of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it: for in the day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. God's indelible words cannot be changed as revealed in the Holy Scriptures (Isaiah 55:11). Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away (Matthew 24:25).
Adam and Eve though still physically in the Garden of Eden after eating the forbidden fruit, consequently spiritually dead and became alienated from God and from the commonwealth of His kingdom. This verdict they could not set aside, which emphasizes the insufficiency of man’s works and personal endeavor in gaining salvation, except he be born again (John 3:3). It needed a Messiah - one qualified, sure and of a high integrity to meet the divine standard and thus satisfy God’s imperative judgment.
Christ therefore became the sin bearer, based on the fact of God’s provision and what the scripture says (Romans 3:25). And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (I John 2:2; Acts 4:12). And by Christ’s finished work of grace, solution was provided to the problem of sin to ensure man s reconciliation with God (Isaiah 44:22; Romans 5:9).
Although Christ's atonement on the cross guarantees universal provision of salvation for all mankind, but could only be appropriated on a personal basis there is yet a needful element for it to avail one; through faith in Christ Jesus. The sinner who seeks salvation must take the necessary step of faith in the blood of Jesus. St. Paul gives proof of it in his Epistle to the Romans 5:1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard. (Hebrews 4:2; 11:6).
Having been saved through faith in Lord Jesus, the redeemed has evidence in his new life to show for his justification (II Corinthians 5:17). In keeping with this expectation, Apostle Paul exhorts the Ephesians converts. be ye therefore followers of God as dear children. And work in love as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. (Ephesians 5:1-2). Before he was justified, the sinner had works of the flesh as catalogue in Galatians 5:19-21 but as a new creature, the fruit of the spirit are manifest (Galatians 5:22-23). Therefore, in life style, speech. conduct and disposition, the redeemed is more like Christ, having been quickened by the spirit of God.
The misleading concept of justification by works, as an article of man’s religion, is opposed to justification by faith because it denies the grace of God and dishonors the blood of Christ.
The reference in the General Epistle of James 2:14-26 may be interpreted amiss by a cursory reader of the scriptures, where it asks: but wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Showing posts with label Atonement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Atonement. Show all posts
Saturday, 5 January 2013
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Christ's Atoning Blood
CHRIST’S ATONING BLOOD
Hebrews 9:15-28
Our text brings us to the consideration of one of the most important subjects in Scripture: atonement by the blood, escape from death through the death of an innocent substitute, redemption, remission of sins, and righteousness through the sacrifice and death of our perfect, pure, righteous Saviour. God’s covenant demanded that someone would die in our place. Christ gave His life so that we could “receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”From the time of the fall, it had been repeatedly demonstrated that an innocent one must bear our guilt and punishment before we could be pardoned and set free. This message of the means of redemption runs like a scarlet thread throughout the Scripture. Repentance alone never brought forgiveness: there must be atonement through the blood. The sacrifices of the Old Covenant were repeated so often until Christ came. He came as the final “Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” His Blood cleanses us from all sin.
1.REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD Hebrews 9:15-17; 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:5,6; Romans 3:24,26; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18,19.
Redemption means to deliver by paying a price, to purchase in the market, to buy out of the market, to set free by paying a price.Redemption is by Blood and by power - Ex 14:30Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord has “...obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12). “...He is the Mediator of the New Testament for the redemption of the transgressions” that we “might receive the promise of eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15). By God’s standard of righteousness and justice, the soul that sins must die (Ezekiel 18:4). The only way a person could come to God was to have the penalty of his sins paid. This payment, Jesus has provided for everyone who turns away from sin and trusts Him (1 Peter 1:18,19). In so doing, He became the only Mediator, the only bridge between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5,6). Now, God is satisfied and man is pardoned when he puts his faith in the shed blood of Christ (Ephesians 1:7).
2.REMISSION THROUGH HIS BLOODHebrews 9:18-23; Exodus 24:6-8; Leviticus 17:11; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5,6; 5:9,10.
“...And without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). “For this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). These verses in Hebrews chapter 9 emphasise three things which are related: a testament that demands death, forgiveness that demands blood, and judgment that demands a substitute. A will or a testament, does not take effect until the one who made it dies (Leviticus 17:11). The benefits and provisions of the will only come to the beneficiaries after the death of the testator.Remission of sins and the provisions of the New Covenant are now ours through the Blood of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord (1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5,6; 5:9,10). He had ratified the New Covenant through His own Blood, just as the Old Covenant was ratified by Moses with the blood of animals (Exodus 24:6-8).
3.RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH HIS BLOODHebrews 9:24-28; 7:25,27; 9:12,14; 10:10; Titus 2:13,14; John 14:3; 1 John 3:2,3.
“...Now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to PUT AWAY SIN by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26). “And ye know that He was manifested to TAKE AWAY OUR SINS; and in Him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). He died for us, died in our place “...that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). We were to face the judgment of God for the sins we had committed. Through faith in Christ, our sins are forgiven and will never be remembered; our hearts are cleansed and we are made righteous. We thus pass from judgment unto life. Christ, through His death and blood, has obtained redemption, remission of sins and righteousness for us. Believe in Christ and be made righteous.
Hebrews 9:15-28
Our text brings us to the consideration of one of the most important subjects in Scripture: atonement by the blood, escape from death through the death of an innocent substitute, redemption, remission of sins, and righteousness through the sacrifice and death of our perfect, pure, righteous Saviour. God’s covenant demanded that someone would die in our place. Christ gave His life so that we could “receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”From the time of the fall, it had been repeatedly demonstrated that an innocent one must bear our guilt and punishment before we could be pardoned and set free. This message of the means of redemption runs like a scarlet thread throughout the Scripture. Repentance alone never brought forgiveness: there must be atonement through the blood. The sacrifices of the Old Covenant were repeated so often until Christ came. He came as the final “Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” His Blood cleanses us from all sin.
1.REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD Hebrews 9:15-17; 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:5,6; Romans 3:24,26; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18,19.
Redemption means to deliver by paying a price, to purchase in the market, to buy out of the market, to set free by paying a price.Redemption is by Blood and by power - Ex 14:30Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord has “...obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12). “...He is the Mediator of the New Testament for the redemption of the transgressions” that we “might receive the promise of eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15). By God’s standard of righteousness and justice, the soul that sins must die (Ezekiel 18:4). The only way a person could come to God was to have the penalty of his sins paid. This payment, Jesus has provided for everyone who turns away from sin and trusts Him (1 Peter 1:18,19). In so doing, He became the only Mediator, the only bridge between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5,6). Now, God is satisfied and man is pardoned when he puts his faith in the shed blood of Christ (Ephesians 1:7).
2.REMISSION THROUGH HIS BLOODHebrews 9:18-23; Exodus 24:6-8; Leviticus 17:11; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5,6; 5:9,10.
“...And without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). “For this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). These verses in Hebrews chapter 9 emphasise three things which are related: a testament that demands death, forgiveness that demands blood, and judgment that demands a substitute. A will or a testament, does not take effect until the one who made it dies (Leviticus 17:11). The benefits and provisions of the will only come to the beneficiaries after the death of the testator.Remission of sins and the provisions of the New Covenant are now ours through the Blood of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord (1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5,6; 5:9,10). He had ratified the New Covenant through His own Blood, just as the Old Covenant was ratified by Moses with the blood of animals (Exodus 24:6-8).
3.RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH HIS BLOODHebrews 9:24-28; 7:25,27; 9:12,14; 10:10; Titus 2:13,14; John 14:3; 1 John 3:2,3.
“...Now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to PUT AWAY SIN by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26). “And ye know that He was manifested to TAKE AWAY OUR SINS; and in Him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). He died for us, died in our place “...that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). We were to face the judgment of God for the sins we had committed. Through faith in Christ, our sins are forgiven and will never be remembered; our hearts are cleansed and we are made righteous. We thus pass from judgment unto life. Christ, through His death and blood, has obtained redemption, remission of sins and righteousness for us. Believe in Christ and be made righteous.
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