Wednesday, September 28, 2022

             As he opened Romans 5, Paul paid tribute to some of the many blessings that believers enjoy through justification.  He wrote, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2).  A few important truths stand out for us to consider and, more importantly, remember. 
            First, Paul wrote about an accomplished event.  “We have been justified.”  This justification occurred at the moment of our conversion when the work of Christ at the cross was applied to us.  Justification is a one-time event or action where God looks at us and pronounces us “not guilty” of our sins and wickedness.  This not guilty verdict is rendered because of Christ’s willingness to take sin’s penalty for us.  Recall for a moment the truth of Romans 5:8 which says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  The innocent died for the guilty.  The only One who was not guilty took our guilt while willingly giving us His innocence.  We can take joy today in being declared “not guilty” if we have placed full trust and faith in the debt payment made on our behalf at the cross.
            Second, Paul wrote we are justified, or declared not guilty, on the basis of faith.  We do not work for this reality.  We do not buy it or inherit it.  We receive it through faith.  We place our faith in the sufficiency of Jesus’ death and the promise of the Father to apply that debt-satisfying death to us.  Scripture teaches us more than once that it is impossible to please God apart from faith.  We take God at His Word and trust that He will faithfully bring to completion the good work that He started in us.  When we trust God, we live that way.   
            Third, Paul wrote about the consequences of justification.  We have peace with God.  We are no longer at war with our Maker. We are not separated from Him because of our sinfulness.  We can walk with the Lord in fellowship and friendship.  We are His and He is ours!  This peace that we enjoy inspires us to live for Him, to seek Him, to pursue Him and to choose righteousness above wickedness and evil.  We are now free to live for greater things since we are no longer participants in a full-blown war of rebellion and discontent against our Creator. 
            And fourth, we enjoy all blessings through “our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Remember what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.”  Christ is the mediator and deliverer of all the good things that the Father has made available to His people.  Consider how many times we read the expressions “in Christ,” “by Christ,” and “through Christ” in the New Testament.  Paul’s reaction to the wonders that we enjoy in Christ was expressed in Romans 5:11 when he wrote, “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”  To rejoice is our response to what God has done for us.  We have paid for nothing yet we have been graciously given all things.  May we savor today the power and blessings of justification.  Enjoy your Wednesday!  We hope to see you tonight!  And remember you can share our worship at any time at youtube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.