* Justification by faith was one of the central tenets of the reformation.
* Justification is the doctrine by which “the church either stands or falls.” ~ Martin Luther
* Justification by faith is the “hinge” of the Reformation. ~ John Calvin
* Yet, what is the practical aspect of it with respect to our Christian living?
* Sometimes, it seems that this doctrine is only useful for people with very troubled conscience, like Luther.
* However, Luther was serious about sin, just as he was serious about God.
* The Apostle Paul, 22 years into this ministry says: What a wretched man I am!
* Towards the end of Paul’s life, he said: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst”
* When we do not realize the full measure of our sins, justification by faith means little to us.
* We cannot just know about justification, but we must have a real sense of its liberating power.
1. Justification brings freedom.
* It is for freedom that Christ has set us free <Gal 5:1>.
* Have we sense that freedom of justification coming upon us?
2. Justification brings us through trials and sufferings.
* <Ro 5:1-5>: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And weboast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
* Justification → Reconciliation → Blessed View of Sufferings
* Suffering → Perseverance → Character → Hope → Experiential love by the Holy Spirit.
* … for love is as strong as death <Songs 8:6>.
3. Justification deals with our sinful condition.
* <Ro 7:19-25; 8:1> 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
* <Ro 8:1> Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
* Peculiar experience which Paul describe about his sinful condition.
* All his struggle with sin points to his self-wretchedness.
* All hismisery, helplessness and self-unworthiness simply points him to Christ.
4. Justification deals with the worries of this life.
* <Ro 8:32> says: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
* Being self-merited always put in us a worry about not being able to receive God’s best.
* Faith is not merited. <Eph 2:8>: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
* Yet, why is faith demanded?
* “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes” <Mk 9:22-23>.
* True faith direct us to rely on God and no one else
* Faith helps us see God at work and give glory to God in the end
5. Justification cuts down the accusation of our enemies.
* <Ro 8:33-35>: 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? …
* The right way to deal with actual sin is not to be accused and driven away from God.
* Yet who can accuse us when we’re in Christ?
* <Ro 4:25> He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
* We must approach God’s throne boldly to receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need <Heb 4:16>.
6. How do I truly appreciate the justification doctrine for all its worth?
* Answer: USE IT.
Reflection:
1. Is justification by faith merely a concept to me or something that I truly experience in my Christian life?
2. Am I able to use the doctrine of justification in my life? If yes, when and how do you usually use it?
