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JUSTIFICATION
The bible says that everyone in the human race has sinned! Ever
since the first man, Adam, we've all been lawbreakers (sinners) and
we all die as a result.
But, even before we realised that we needed help and should send
out an SOS, God had set the rescue mission going and 2000+
years ago he sent his Son, Jesus to die (sinless) in our
place.
If we believe on Jesus Christ and accept His sacrifice for the remission
of our sins, God will attribute His righteousness to us and we will be
set apart as righteous, justified in His sight. God will then grant us
life eternal, which life is in his Son, Jesus. That whole process
is called justification. Because someone has paid the
price for our sins we stand justified. That is; "We stand
in the position of justice having been served with regard
to our sins". We are considered righteous (justified)
because Christ's Godly righteousness has been substituted for
our lack!
Isa 53:11 (MESSAGE BIBLE) 'Out of that terrible travail of soul,
he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it.
Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant,
will make many "righteous ones," as he himself carries
the burden of their sins'.
We are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. By accepting his
death for our sins and believing in his resurrection to new
life, God imputes his righteousness to us.
Rom 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the
circumcision by faith, and (the) uncircumcision through
faith (in Jesus).
Having been forgiven, and having been justified, God gives us his
Holy Spirit to dwell in us and renew our lives. The Holy Spirit in
us is our guide and teacher to bring us to the knowledge and
understanding and maturity of Jesus. He changes our lives.
1 Joh 3:6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who
keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
So we are justified by accepting Jesus Christ as our savior. But,
for how long? How long does this righteousness that we receive
from Jesus last?
Heb 10:14 “For by one offering He (Jesus) hath
perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”
We've covered elsewhere the fact that this does not mean you can
do what you like (
See - Tough Love) and still receive eternal life. Having promised us
eternal life in his Son, God WILL give it to us!
But, as we live a life of overcoming our natural nature and taking
on His nature, if we do not learn from the lessons we bring on
ourselves, other lessons will be provided!
Having been justified and then sanctified (made holy and set apart
for God's use), Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd will ensure that we grow
in grace and take on His nature and overcome ours to the end.
Phil 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ.”
But some may ask, "If we decide to accept Christ's sacrifice, could
we not later, after receiving the Holy spirit in us, decide to reject
Christ?"
Let's look at this logically, before looking at the
scriptures...
First of all, Our God is a God that always keeps his promises! He
does not make promises he will not or cannot fulfill! He has
promised us eternal life on believing in his Son.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.
Having promised us life, God will keep us on the 'straight and narrow' so
that his promise can be kept. Christ will not lose even one of the lambs
his Father has entrusted to him! (See
Tough Love
Secondly, with the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, and fellowshipping
with us, bringing us to a closer relationship with God the father
and Jesus Christ every day, how can we come to love God less than
when we first accepted Jesus?
1Jo 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed
remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Thirdly, How could God "justly" as a Righteous Judge sentence a
person twice for the same crimes? Remember when we saw our sentence
and accepted Christ's sacrifice, "He perfected forever
those who were sanctified". "ALL" our sins were taken into
consideration! How can God later on say, "I am going to demand the
death penalty from you AGAIN for your sins?
In His word God inspired paul to write...
Rom 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is
the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the
Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness
of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just
shall live by faith.
We see here that the righteousness of God is displayed in His
statement in His word..., "The just shall live by faith." A righteous
God will uphold that! He will not abandon His children, and that's
what Christians are; God's children.
John 10:27-29 “My sheep hear My voice, and
I know them, and they follow Me; and I give unto them eternal
life and they shall NEVER perish and no-one can snatch them out
of my hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than
all, and no-one can snatch them out of My Father's hand.”
No one and nothing is strong enough to snatch us from those hands.
Not principalities, Nor powers; Not even us!
Having been justified by God...
Phil 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ.”
...We will attain to eternal life, because God will maintain us on the path.
We know we have now and will continue to have eternal life because it depends
not on our strength, or our will or our righteousness, but on God's!
Attlee.
For more on
salvation Click Here.
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