Theme: Justification
Text: Psalm 23:3
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake
1-Definition:
“Justification is the judicial act of God, by which an individual is brought into an unmerited, right relationship with God.”
Articles of Faith:
V. Justification.
We believe the Scriptures teach that the great Gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in him is justification; that justification includes the pardon of sin, and the promise of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood; by virtue of which faith his perfect righteousness is freely imputed to us of God; that it brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other blessing needful for time and eternity.
2-The Need:
Rom 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Articles of Faith:
III. The Fall of Man.
We believe the Scriptures teach that Man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker; but by voluntary transgressions fell from that holy and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice; being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.
3-Role in the Life of the Christian:
Justification is eschatological in that the verdict of the final judgment has been declared in the present. The verdict is one of acquittal and is assured by the continuing work of God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit.
4-Benefits to the Christian:
Pardon of sin: God forgives our sins and we are pardoned from the penal consequences of sin.
Isaiah 38:17b
In your love you kept me
from the pit of destruction;
you have put all my sins
behind your back.
Micah 7:19
You will again have compassion on us;
you will tread our sins underfoot
and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
Acts 13:39
Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.
Promise of eternal life:
John 5:24
24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
John 17:2-3
2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Righteousness is freely imputed to us:
2 Corinthians: 5-21
God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
5-The Activities in the Life of the Christian:
Psalm 23:3
3 He restores my soul; (justification, atonement)
He leads me in the paths of righteousness (sanctification)
For His name’s sake (justice)
“He Restores”
Joel 2:25
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
1 Peter 5:10-11
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
“He Leads”
Philippians 1:3-6
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Articles of Faith
X. Sanctification
We believe the Scriptures teach that Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means especially the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.
“God’s Justice” For His Name’s Sake
Romans 3:25-26
25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. 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.
6-The Outcomes:
Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Rom 4:7-8
“Blessed are those
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”
