GRACE FOR TODAY Radio Message #463
Four Aspects Of Justification
Pastor
Don Fortner
Grace Baptist Church of Danville
2734 Old Stanford Road
Danville,
Kentucky 40422-9438
The
Lord Jesus Christ took upon himself our nature. As a man, the Son of God rendered
unto God the perfection and righteousness which he required of us. He made an
infinite satisfaction for sin, by pouring out his life’s blood unto death at
Calvary. He did these things as the Representative and Substitute of God’s
elect; and all that he did for us we did in him. Every true believer has both rendered perfect righteousness to God and
made an infinite satisfaction for his sin in the Person of our all glorious
Christ. As the result of Christ’s finished work as our Representative, it
is a perfectly just thing for God to justify all who believe on him. In saving
our souls and bringing us to heaven, the Lord God deals with us in exact
accordance with justice. He gives us that which, in Christ, we deserve. Here
are four things which are plainly revealed in the Word of God about our
justification in Christ. God’s elect are justified by…
THE DECREE OF GOD THE FATHER
IN ETERNITY - In
the mind of God, all his elect were justified from eternity. Our justification
was actually accomplished by God’s sovereign purpose of grace in eternal
predestination before the worlds were made. This is not a matter of speculation
or hair-splitting theological precision; but a matter of unmistakable
revelation. Read it for yourself in the Book of God. Romans 8:30 declares that
God justified his elect when he chose them and predestinated them to be
conformed to the image of his dear Son before the worlds were made. Our
justification did not commence in time, but in eternity. Paul, speaking of
God’s eternal decree of predestination, declares that all of God’s elect were
justified in his eternal purpose of grace.
(Romans 8:29-30)
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. {30} Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and
whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also
glorified."
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. 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. The Holy Spirit tells us plainly that when Christ died, those for
whom he died were justified (Rom. 3:24-26).
THE DECLARATION OF GOD THE
HOLY SPIRIT IN CONVERSION - When God the Holy Spirit
regenerates the sinner, giving him faith in Christ, as that sinner looks to
Christ alone as his Savior, the blessed Spirit sprinkles the blood of Christ
upon the conscience and speaks like a bailiff reading the verdict in court - “JUSTIFIED!” Thus every believing sinner
receives justification by faith in Christ(Rom.4:25-5:1). Faith does not cause
God to justify us. The obedience of Christ has done that. But faith, resting
upon Christ alone as Savior, obtains peace with God, even the peace of perfect,
complete justification.
THE DISPLAY OF GOOD WORKS
BEFORE MEN - Yes, there is a sense in which we are justified by
works, not before God, but before men. We justify our profession of faith in
Christ by our works. Believers do not show their faith by creeds, confessions,
and catechisms, but by their conduct (James 2:14-26). Just as Abraham and Rahab
justified their profession of faith by their works, so today all true believers
justify their claim of faith in Christ by their obedience to Christ.
May
God grant you this blessed gift of free justification in Christ. May he now
grant you faith in his dear Son by the power and grace of his holy Spirit, for
Christ’s sake.
AMEN.