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Romans 3:24-26
All God’s elect were justified by the death of God the Son at Calvary. Though Christ is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, he was also slain in time for the redemption of our souls. And though God’s elect were justified by his sovereign decree in eternal predestination, we were also justified by the precious shed blood of God’s dear Son at Calvary.
Accomplished The Bible does not teach that justification was provided, or made possible by the death of Christ. The Bible declares that justification was accomplished at Calvary. If it was merely provided or made possible for us, but is not accomplished until we believe, then our faith would be as much the cause of justification as the purpose of God and the sacrifice of Christ. But that is not the case. Here God the Holy Ghost tells us plainly that when Christ died, those for whom he died were justified. As C. H. Spurgeon put it…
“I must hold that, in the moment when Jesus Christ paid my debts, my debts were canceled; in the hour when he worked out for me a perfect righteousness it was imputed to me; and therefore, I may, as a believer, say I was complete in Christ before I was born, accepted in Jesus, even as Levi was blessed in the loins of Abraham.”
When the Scriptures declare that we are justified by faith in Christ, the meaning is not that our faith justifies us, but rather that Christ, the Object of our faith, justifies us. We are not justified by our act of faith in him, but by his faithful obedience to God for us, as our Representative. — We were justified by “the faith of Christ” and receive justification by “faith in Christ.”
Righteousness and Satisfaction The life obedience of Christ was as necessary as his obedience in death. In his life of obedience to the law and will of God, the Lord Jesus Christ worked out a perfect righteousness for us. In him we have obeyed God’s holy law (Daniel 9:24; Jeremiah 23:6; 33:16; 1 Corinthians 1:30). In his death at Calvary, I died, fully satisfying the demands of God’s law and justice against me for sin (Galatians 2:20; 3:13; Romans 6:6-7; 8:1). — In Christ I lived in righteousness and died a death that made complete satisfaction to God’s justice for all my sin.
Infinite Merit Since our Redeemer is both God and man in one glorious Person, all that he has done is of infinite value for all who trust him. He has effectually accomplished the eternal justification of his people. He has obtained eternal redemption for us (Hebrews 9:12). He has put away the sins of his people (Colossians 2:13-15; Hebrews 9:26). He has perfected forever those who were set apart as the objects of his grace (Hebrews 10:14). This is complete, perfect justification. The law can require no more of us than perfect righteousness and infinite satisfaction (Ephesians 2:4-6).
Just and Justifier Do you see this? We were eternally justified by the decree of God the Father before the world began. And we were justified by the death of God the Son at Calvary. By virtue of, and upon the merits of the life and death of Christ as our Substitute, God is both just and the Justifier of all who believe on his Son. Now, in perfect consistency with his justice, God forgives all the sins of all his people. — “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” In Christ, God both punishes and saves the sinner.
Don Fortner
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