GOD DECLARES ME RIGHTEOUS

Text: Job 25:4; Rom. 5:1

Job 25:4
How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

Rom 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

1. The Definition Of Justification

1) General: To be justified is to be

righteous and just.

2) Theological: Justification is the judicial act of God whereby He legally declares the believing sinner to be

of all sin and as perfectly

Reveal Answer

as Christ.

• Augustus Strong described justification as: “…That judicial act of God which, on account of Christ, to whom the sinner is united by faith, he declares that sinner to be no longer exposed to the penalty of the law, but restored to His favor.” (Systematic Theology, p. 849)

2. The Necessity Of Justification

• No one will see the need to be justified until he sees himself as a

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  . The Bible teaches that all have sinned. (Rom. 3:23; 3:10-12; Eccl. 7:20; Jer. 17:9-10)

• God, as a perfect, righteous, and holy Judge, must punish all sin and therefore all sinners. (For God to turn away from judgment would mean God was unjust.)

• Because man is a sinner, he fails to recognize the seriousness of his sin or the reality of God’s wrath. (Jer. 17:9)

• Men vainly attempt to justify themselves. They plead:
  1)

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  . This is refuted by the fact that God declares that He has revealed Himself to all men both by an inner witness and by the witness of Creation and all men have rejected that revelation. (Rom. 1:18-20)

  2) That they are not really that bad. This is refuted by the fact that no man has lived up to God’s holy standard. (Mt. 5:48)

  • We may not be that bad as compared with other sinners, but that is not the standard of comparison! Compared to God’s holiness, we are depraved.

  3) That they do

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  deeds, too. These deeds are rejected by God as filthy rags in His sight. (Isa. 64:6)

  4) That they are

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  than others. This plea merely adds the sin of judging to their list of sins. (Rom. 2:1-4)

3. The Elements Of Justification

• Justification is a
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  act (not a change in nature).
• The Negative Aspect: To be justified is to be declared “just if I’d”
  Reveal Answer
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  . However, this ALONE would be incomplete enough as a definition to be incorrect. To be correct, a definition must be complete in all its essentials. Justification also includes a positive aspect.
• The Positive Aspect: To be justified is not only to be declared “just if I’d” never sinned, but also “just if I’d” been as righteous as
  Reveal Answer
  .

4. The Means Of Justification

• “Therefore it is of FAITH, that it might be by GRACE…” (Rom. 4:16)

  1) We are justified by faith, for this is the only way that sinful man can be saved. (Rom. 5:1; Num. 21:5-9; cf. Jn. 3:14-16)

  2) We are justified by grace, for this is the only way that God will receive all the GLORY. (Rom. 3:24; Titus 3:7; Eph. 2:1-10)

5. The Illustrations Of Justification

1)

was justified by faith. (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:1-5)

2)

was justified by faith. (Ps. 32:1-2; 51:16-17; Rom. 4:5-8)

6. The Timing Of Justification

• Justification is an instantaneous
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  , not a process. It occurs at the very moment of salvation, faith in Christ. (Rom. 5:1)

7. The Distinctiveness Of God’s Justification

• Man only declares those believed to be innocent to be just. God only declares those who admit they are
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  to be just.
• Man declares men just because of individual righteousness. God declares men just because of
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  righteousness.

8. The Blessings Of Justification

1) We are forgiven of all our sins and thereby rescued from the just

of our sins. (Acts 13:38-39; Rom. 4:7; Rom. 6:23; Rom. 8:1, 33-34; Eph. 1:7; Col. 2:13)

2) We are placed in right standing before God. (Rom. 5:1-11)

• Nine things:
  1] We are given peace with God. (v. 1)
  2] We are given access to God. (v. 2a)
  3] We are given standing in a permanent position of grace. (v. 2b)
  4] We are given rejoicing in hope. (vv. 2c-5a)
  5] We are given the love of God in our hearts. (v. 5b)
  6] We are given the indwelling of the Spirit. (v. 5c)
  7] We are given preservation in Christ. (vv. 9-10)
  8] We are given joy in Christ. (v. 11a)
  9] We are given the atonement (reconciliation). (v. 11b)

3) We have the

of Christ reckoned to our account. (Mt. 22:11; Rom. 4:11; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21)