Get Close To The Lord

Justification by Faith #2

Acts 13:14-43
Text vs. 38,39 - “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

Justification originates in grace.

Romans 3:24
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"

Titus 3:4-5
“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”

Grace is unmerited favor. It is the goodness of God shown to men who deserved the very opposite.“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." (Rom. 5:20). In order to show grace in righteousness to guilty sinners God must have a just and satisfactory basis. Sin cannot be overlooked. It must be atoned for. This has been done through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Redemption is a
buying back. Man’s life is forfeited because of his sinful ways.

Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death; . . .”

He is sold under judgment. Christ, the Holy One, took the guilty rebel’s place, paid the utmost penalty. Thus redeeming the believing sinner from the wrath and curse to which he had sold himself. Someone put it this way.

“He bore on the tree, the sentence for me,
And now both the Surety and sinner are free.”

He who died and lives again is Himself the mercy-seat where His atoning blood was sprinkled. The apostle clearly alludes to the blood-sprinkled mercy-seat.

Romans 3:25
“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”

Above the mercy-seat were the cherubim which stand for justice and judgment. They are ready to leap from that throne to execute God’s righteous wrath against the violators of His law. But sprinkled upon the mercy-seat is the blood of the sacrifice of the cross. Justice and judgment ask no more. God Himself has found a ransom. Until the Lord Jesus suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, to bring us to God, the sin question was not really settled.

Hebrews 10:4
“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

Old Testament saints therefore were all saved “on credit” as we would say. When “justice and judgment” would demand the justice of God’s wrath be executed the sacrifice was offered again each year to roll back God’s wrath for another year. But now that Christ has died, the account is closed. Notice that in Rom 3:25 (above) it is not our past sins He refers to. It is the sins of believers in the ages before the cross.

Now in Rom 3:26 He declares that “at this time” His righteousness. He is both the just and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus. This leaves no room for boasting. Human merit is barred out in the very nature of the case. Salvation is through grace by faith.

Rom 3:28
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

“On Christ Almighty vengeance fell
That would have sunk a world to hell;
He bore it for a chosen race,
And thus became a hiding place.”

Russell Stolp
Chaplain, CFO

Psalm 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy
ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.