Last week I gave you a brief summary of the fourfold declaration of justification given in Holy Scripture. In the Book of God our justification is set forth in these four ways.
Tonight, I want to speak to you about justification as the work of God alone. You will find my text and the title for my message in Romans 8:33.
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? [It is] God that justifieth. Romans 8 (AV)
Justification, as it is revealed and taught in the Word of God is the imputation of Christ's righteousness to us, not the imparting of it, or the infusion of it. In the new birth, sanctification, the righteousness nature of Christ is imparted to the regenerate soul. In justification, it is imputed. That by which we are justified before God is not our experience of grace, and certainly not our own works of righteousness but the obedience and blood of Christ.
The word justify is never used in the Bible to represent any internal change in us. It is a strictly legal, forensic term. It is always used with reference to judicial matters (Deut. 25:1; Pro. 17:15; Isa. 5:22; Matt. 12:37; Job 9:2-3; Ps. 143:2).
Deuteronomy 25:1 If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that [the judges] may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.
Proverbs 17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.
Isaiah 5: 22-23 Woe unto [them that are] mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Job 9:2-3 I know [it is] so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
Psalm 143:2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
Proposition: The teaching of Scripture is just this - We are justified freely by the grace of God through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
We who are by nature guilty sinners, justly condemned by God's holy law, being justified by the obedience and blood of Christ, are cleared of all charges, acquitted of all accusations, absolved of all guilt, freed from all condemnation, and declared to be worthy of eternal life in Christ.
(Rom 8:1 KJV) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(Rom 8:33 KJV) Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
(Rom 8:34 KJV) Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
(Gal 2:16 KJV) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
(Gal 2:17 KJV) But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
(Titus 3:7 KJV) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
(Col 1:12 KJV) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
This doctrine of free justification by the imputed righteousness of Christ is the very essence of the gospel. Every other doctrine of justification is plainly declared by the Spirit of God to be a false gospel (Gal. 1:6-7). This is the very foundation of true Christianity. Martin Luther called it "The article of the church, by which it stands or falls." And he was exactly right. It was the preaching of justification by grace alone which broke the shackles of papacy during the great reformation. And it is the preaching of justification by grace alone which will deliver chosen sinners from the bondage an tyranny of Arminian, free will, works religion today. This is the only ground there is of solid joy, peace, comfort, and hope there is for sinners before the holy Lord God. If my being just with God depends upon me, or must in some way be determined by me, then I have no hope. But, blessed be God, it is not man that justifieth; but "IT IS GOD THAT JUSTIFIETH!'
Divisions: This great work of justification is the work of the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Tonight, I want you to see how that all three Persons in the blessed Godhead are involved in this great work of grace called justification.
I. First, I want you to see that GOD THE FATHER IS SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUR JUSTIFIER (Rom. 8:33; 3:25-26; Isa. 45:20).
(Isaiah 45:20) Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
(Romans 3:25-26) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; {26} To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
(Romans 8:34) Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
A. It was God the Father who, in Scripture, is represented as having contrived the scheme and plan of justification from eternity.
B. It was God the Father who, in the fulness of time, sent his Son into the world to execute his great scheme of grace.
(Romans 8:1-4) "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
(Galatians 4:4) "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,"
C. God the Father accepts and is well pleased with the righteousness wrought by Christ as our Representative.
Once the Lord Jesus had wrought out righteousness for us, once he had magnified the law and made it honorable by both obeying all its precepts and principles and by satisfying all its justice and condemnation, it was our heavenly Father who approved of it and accepted it for us.
D. Our heavenly Father has imputed and forever imputes the righteousness of Christ to believing sinners.
(Romans 4:6) " David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works."
(1 Corinthians 1:30) "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."
II. Next, I remind you that God the Father could never have justified us without or apart from the obedience and blood of his dear Son as our Substitute; and therefore GOD THE SON IS SAID TO JUSTIFY HIS PEOPLE (Isa. 53:11).
(Isaiah 53:10-12) "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: BY HIS KNOWLEDGE SHALL MY RIGHTEOUS SERVANT JUSTIFY MANY; FOR HE SHALL BEAR THEIR INIQUITIES. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
The question was asked way back in the Book of Job, probably the oldest book in the Bible…
(Job 25:4) "How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?"
To that question there is only one answer – CHRIST!(Romans 10:4) "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, having fully obeyed and perfectly satisfied the law of God for us is "THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS", and we are made "THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM." This is the very language of the Bible.
(Jeremiah 23:6) "In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."
(Jeremiah 33:16) "In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness."
(Romans 5:9) "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."
(Romans 5:19) "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."
(2 Corinthians 5:21) "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
A. Christ has the right and power to justify because he is God.
Upon the authority of his own great name alone, he says, "Thy sins be forgiven thee" (Matt. 9:2; John 8:11).
B. As the God-man, our Mediator, "He was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justidfication."
He arose from the grave as "The Sun of Righteousness, with healing in his wings!"
C. As our legal, divinely appointed Head and Representative, our dear Savior was himself justified from all sin (the sins of his people imputed to him) and we were and are justified in him.
(Isaiah 45:25) "In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory."
(Isaiah 50:8) "He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me."
(1 Timothy 3:16) "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."
D. Our Lord Jesus is portrayed as the Angel before whom Joshua the High Priest stood in filthy garments being accused of Satan, the Angel of the covenant who clothed his chosen with the garments of salvation.
(Isaiah 61:10) "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."
(Zechariah 3:1-4) "And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment."
III. Thirdly, THE WORK OF OUR JUSTIFICATION IS ALSO ASCRIBED TO GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT (1 Cor. 6:11).
(1 Corinthians 6:11) "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
A. It is the Holy Spirit who convinces chosen, redeemed sinners of sin, of righteousness, and judgment.
(John 16:8-11) "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged."
B. It is God the Holy Spirit who works faith in us and causes us to look to Christ alone for justification.
(2 Corinthians 4:13) "We having THE SAME SPIRIT OF FAITH, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak."
(Colossians 2:12-13) "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses."
C. It is the blessed Spirit of God who speaks peace to our hearts, sprinkles the blood of Christ upon our consciences, and gives us peace with God, even the peace of perfect, full, complete, everlasting justification!
(Hebrews 9:14) "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
(Hebrews 10:22) "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."
Application: Here are four bold challenges of faith which every justified sinner can and should make.
(Romans 8:31-35) "What shall we then say to these things? IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 WHO SHALL LAY ANY THING TO THE CHARGE OF GOD'S ELECT? It is God that justifieth. 34 WHO IS HE THAT CONDEMNETH? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST?"
(Isaiah 45:20-25) "Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. 21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; A JUST GOD AND A SAVIOUR; THERE IS NONE BESIDE ME. 22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. 23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. 25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory."
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