Free Justification

I. INTRO

Technically we’re still in our Upside Down Life series.  This is week #9 of the series and week #C looking at Matt 5:6: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”  If you missed those the notes can be found below.

Last week I began to zero-in on the word righteousness in Matt 5:6 and, first of all, we noted that it is a hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness – not our own.

We also said that God’s righteousness is part of a larger theological concept (or construct) called the Doctrine of Justification.

The Doctrine of Justification can be compared to a two-sided coin.

• One side is forgiveness.
• The other side is what theologians describe as “imputed righteousness.”

Here’s the BIG IDEA for today: A lot of church-goers have not understood both sides of the “justification coin.”  We tend to think of justification mainly in terms of God’s forgiveness.[1] Today I’d like to dig a little deeper into the “imputed righteousness” side of the justification coin found in Roms 3.

We will be looking at Roms 3:21-28.  This material this been informed largely by the teaching of Tim Keller and Wayne Grudum.

The section of Scripture that really unpacks the concepts of Free Justification and Imputed righteousness are found in Roms 3:21-5:21.  We will be looking at the first eight verses of that section.

Roms 3:21-28 (NIV) (It will be helpful for you to know that the Greek words for righteousness and justified come from the same root word in this passage…

²¹ But now apart [or distinct] from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify [one single story arc in the Bible – the Gospel]. ²² This righteousness is [1] given through faith in Jesus Christ [2 – given] to all who believe[2] [not just head, but head & heart[3]]. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified [1] freely [2] by his grace [3] through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus [i.e., His finished work[4]]. ²⁵ [In v.25 Paul is saying the same thing in a little different way] God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement [to make amends or to satisfy], [how did Jesus atone?] through the shedding of his blood —to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, [1] because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished — ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness [2] at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. ²⁷ Where, then, is boasting [As if we were able to accomplish any measure of righteousness or justification]? It is [boasting is] excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. ²⁸ For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. [Freely, by grace alone, through faith alone, in the blood of Jesus alone.]

So, here’s what I’d like to do…Free Justification:

1. Why do we need free justification?
2. What is free justification?
3. How do we get free justification?

II. BODY

1. Why do we need free justification?

Every human soul on the planet is seeking justification…

Some other words we might use to describe this “hunger and thirst,” this “longing” is that we are all seeking to “justify our existence.”

We all want to know that our life counts  — we all long to feel worthy, accepted, and validated.

Justification is an integral piece of our (humankind’s) search for meaning.

Generally speaking men look search for our justification in WHAT WE DO and (generally speaking) women search for justification through their RELATIONSHIPS.

Augustine said it well in a famous prayer: “God, You have made us for Yourself…and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.”[5]

The older we get the more we feel the need to justify our existence…

Roms 2:15 [Gentiles] “They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.”

Our consciences sometimes convict us that, in our search for significance, we know that we “should” be far better than we are…

The old sermon illustration related to Roms 2 and Matt 7:2[6] – God places a little invisible recorder around the neck – only picks up what we tell other people about how they should live.

And on Judgment Day God says, “I’m not going to judge you according to what the Bible says, I’m just going to judge you by what you told others about how THEY should live.”

Then God hits the “PLAY” button…No one will be able to stand on Judgment Day.  None of us can justify our existence – even by our own standards.

Everyone on the planet is struggling for justification and nobody is getting there.

Paul says — There’s a solution (“But now”)…It is possible through the gospel to end our struggle for righteousness validation, for worth, and for acceptability.

The solution is: free justification.

2. How do we get justification?

Last week we defined righteousness is a validating performance record, which opens doors.

• Job? Resume…
• Grad school? Academic record Grades…

We tend to believe it’s the same with God – that we are to, somehow, build a validating moral performance record to make it into heaven. 

Jesus comes along, and with the other NT writers, tells us about an absolutely unheard of spirituality, an unimaginable approach to God.

Where God provides us with an unblemished record—absolutely free of charge.

Not just a good record, or even a great record – but a divine righteousness – a perfect record that comes to us, alights upon us — as a gift! 

When we have it it’s the end of our personal struggle for validation, for worth, or worthiness, and acceptability.

Apart from the Christian gospel there is no other religion or belief system that offers anything like this. 

The gospel is that God develops a perfect righteousness and provides it to us – and by THAT righteousness alone we are accepted. 

Free justification is important because it affects our assurance of salvation.

Last week we considered the difference between IMPARTED (or, INFUSED) righteousness and IMPUTED righteousness. 

Many churches – including the Catholic Church teach IMPARTED (or, INFUSED) righteousness.

This actually can be defined as THE single issue that brought about the Protestant Reformation.  Martin Luther saw this afresh in his study of the first five chapters of the book of Romans.

A. So, what IS Imparted (or Infused) Righteousness?

The word, “impart/infuse” means to “to give.”

Imparted righteousness (falsely) declares that Christ’s righteousness is given to, or infused within – so that the believer actually becomes righteous.  (This is NOT what the Bible teaches – or what Paul experiences at the end of Roms 7.)

Paul is not writing that we are transformed into people who possess righteousness, but rather that we have been united to Christ.

And because of our union with Him (the emphasis of Romans 5), we have that which He possesses, that is, we have HIS righteousness.

False gospel:  A pastor tweeted — “Once you believe that you are righteous, you will begin do what is righteous.” (Creflo Dollar).  This pastor does NOT understand the gospel.

B. Imputed Righteousness – The word “impute” means “ascribe” or “credit.” Imputed righteousness carries the theological weight of being “counted” or “considered” or “reckoned” righteous.

Within the first 12 verses of Romans 4 (this is where Martin Luther saw this) the word, “credited” (in both the NIV and NASV Bibles) is used 7-8 times.  Roms 4:3: “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Paul is not writing that we are transformed into people who possess righteousness, but rather that we have been united to Christ (i.e., the 30 “in Him” passages of Paul’s letters), and are found, “in Him” — because of our union with Him (the emphasis of Romans 5), we have that which He possesses, that is, righteousness.

One the one hand free justification is far more than forgiveness and pardon – but on the other hand it is distinctly different than moral goodness.

Here’s the essence of the 2-sided coin of free justification:

• Forgiveness (and mercy) focuses on our sin and says, “You may go.  You have been let off the penalty which your sin deserves.”
• But the verdict of imputed righteousness (or free justification) says: “You may come; you are welcome to all My love and My presence.”[7]  It’s as if the Judge says, “Not only are you forgiven and let off the penalty which your sin deserves – but I would also like to adopt you and welcome you as a full-fledged member of My family.”

The righteousness of God comes TO us – it is the righteousness of Christ – which is a PERFECT performance record.

Jesus lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died – and we get the full benefit of that.

3. How do we get it?

Here’s my experience (and Keller speaks of this as well): People cycle in and out of churches – understanding 1) forgiveness and 2) understanding moral goodness – BUT not understanding free justification (or imputed righteousness).  This is how moralism creeps back into the church…

People understand that if they confess their sins and acknowledge that Jesus Christ died for their sins they get forgiven – “And now,” they say, “I really need to live for Him.”  This is a moralistic view of the gospel – yet this is how a lot of church-goers think.

So people end up cycling in and out of the church – come in as kids and cycle out as teenagers…then something goes wrong in their lives and they cycle back into the church.

They try hard to live like they should  – and then something goes wrong or they fall, or fail and fade away until the next time they see the need for Jesus and church.

They come back in and ask for forgiveness and they re-commit – and then they try to live a moral life – but they end up failing AGAIN!

It’s an endless and futile cycle of confession and trying harder, confession and trying harder…

They never get to what we’re talking about today – free justification.  They actually never become Christians.

Consider the Pharisees: They were very concerned about their sins.  They were self-justifying, moral, legalistic, miserable people.  When they sinned they were very upset, they repented, they confessed their sins – and when they’re all done they’re still Pharisees – and not Christians. (The same condition as the elder prodigal brother in Luke 15.)

Because a Christian is someone who is justified freely by faith through the blood of Jesus Christ.  It’s grace alone, through faith alone, through the finished work of Christ alone.

Here’s what’s necessary:  We need to get our primary focus off our sin addiction and begin to boast, not in our moral performance record (or lack thereof), and boast in the finished work of Christ – which grants us free justification.

III. CONCLUSION

Is your justification based in performance or in trust?  This is where the elder prodigal brother was stuck.  He thought his moral performance qualified him. (Luke 15:29, …‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours.” He’s saying that he has a spotless performance record.  Is it enough?)

We are invited to hunger and thirst for Christ’s righteousness.  We are invited to root our identity in the costly grace of Christ…

What makes us a Christian is to not just to repent of our sins — but to repent of our false righteousness and false justification as well.

It’s a transfer of your moral record to what Jesus has done.

Nathan Coles 17^th century Connecticut farmer – converted listening to George Whitfield – “My hearing him preach gave me a heart wound and by God’s blessing my old foundation was broken up and I saw that my righteousness could not save me.”

Hungry for What? or Who?

by Gene Heacock

I. INTRO

• 4th Beatitude tied to the first 3
• Being hungry is a blessing — a time released promise.
•  It’s about Who not a What — righteousness is a Person not a product.
•  Double Blessing — When God gives a man a drink He gives him a double thirst

A.W. Tozer:  There is nothing more terrible or wonderful than to be stricken with a love for Christ so deeply that ones whole being goes out in painful adoration that disturbs and disconnects while it purges and satisfies the deep inner heart.

I am encouraged by your willingness to hear my saying to you Jesus’ words that can be heavy.  You are receiving them and I am encouraged…

Rototiller  Illustration:  Have you rototilled this year? I see most of you know about material rototilling.  Jesus does spiritual rototilling.

The Sermon on the Mount is about truth — Honest with yourself, Law, Gospel, Grace; Jesus Himself is the center of the Sermon on the Mount (Mat 5-7).

Falleness: deep appetites within us that roar to be satisfied. Anger, revenge, lying, unhealthy sexuality, and our falleness as men and women…

The Fall Genesis 2 and 3 and the curse…

• Women: desire for your husband literally consume or common language eat devour side note 9 out of 10 who struggle with food issues are women.  Women struggle in relationships with security and loneliness and the fear of being abandoned
• Men: The need to conquer and build and labor. Men want to build something that lasts, to accomplish – and often struggle with futility, and misuse of power.  Side-note: 9 out of 10 issues in sexual abuse are caused by men struggling with power and controlling themselves and sexuality can become a conquest not a relationship

Jesus says to women: there is a new King who will never break the relationship and will not abandon you.

Jesus says to men there is a new Kingdom where your investment will last and your efforts will not be forgotten or lost in futility.

Jesus is the Master Teacher, Who teaches new truth based on a known truth.

Hunger and thirst in Jesus’ world has a common cultural meaning in His time — like the 2/3’s world picture we see today…

Hear Max Lucado, from When God Whispers Your Name, on being homesick…

We are not happy here because we are not at home here. We are not happy here because we are not supposed to be happy here. We are “like foreigners and strangers in this world” (1Peter 2:11).  Take a fish and place him on the beach. Watch his gills gasp and scales dry. Is he happy? NO! How do you make him happy? Do you cover him with a mountain of cash? Do you get him a beach chair and sunglasses? Do you bring him a Playfish magazine and martini? Do you wardrobe him in double breasted fins and people skinned shoes?  Of course not. Then how do you make him happy? You put him back in his element. You put him back in the water. He will never be happy on the beach simply because he was not made for the beach. You will never be completely happy on Earth simply because you were not made for earth. Oh, you will have moments of joy. You will catch glimpses of light. You will know moments or even days of peace. But they simply do not compare with the happiness that lies ahead.

II. BODY

How does one get hungry?

See the first three beatitudes: poor, mourn, and meek.  The 4^th one is a consuming desire for Christ — and is a good sign that God is cooking something up for you!

When does this blessedness begin? AWARENESS.  You are aware of something more because God is at work in you hunger pangs for heaven.

• How badly do you want more than you presently have?
• How badly do you want more than you can produce?
• How badly do you want more righteousness?

MORE GRACE as an experiential reality??  YOU ARE BLESSED!  Already your desire to please Him pleases Him.  Your desire for more of Him please Him.

• The best recipe for a great meal is extreme hunger
• The best aphrodisiac is a motivated lover
• The best preparation for a deep passionate encounter with Christ is hunger and thirsting for more righteousness.

Sermon of the Mount is about POSTURE, PURGING, AND POURING.

Humility opens the door to Holiness and Happiness

Quote Wesley on Holiness and Happiness:

• Holiness not as achieving sinless perfection but as having one’s heart fully fixed on God, setting aside all other affections — “perfect love.” (Plain Account of Christian Perfection)
• He is therefore happy in God, yea, always happy, as having in him ‘a well of water springing up into everlasting life’, and ‘overflowing his soul with peace and joy.” (From a Wesley tract, “God is the joy of [the Methodist’s] heart”)

How hungry are you? How frustrated are you with your own attempts?

How bad do you want more? Another drink of grace?

Illustration: Wisdom Story Greek teachers — When you want wisdom like air you will find it.  How hungry are you?

Language of the text visceral (or, instinctual)

• Psalm 34: Taste and see…
• Is 55:1-3 Why buy what does not satisfy?
• Song of Songs 5:1 Eat oh lovers…

Jesus welcomes you to the banquet of grace in Gospels

How do you get hungry? 3 ways…

1. Trying to inherit the world on your own — having what you thought you wanted and finding it empty.
2. Trying to be righteous on your own — be a good Christian to quote the American theologian, Dr Phil, “How’s that working for ya?”
3. Living as you want when you want ON DEMAND TV STYLE not restricted by boundaries if it feels good do it, power, revenge, deep forces, appetites…

If you think being a Christina is hard try sinning for a while.  If you go against the grain of the universe you are going to get splinters!

Chronology Being a good Christian- I am poor at that

• Living as you want – mourn over what I have done
• Inheriting the Earth on your own-got to be a better way – meek

THE GREATEST DISCOVERY IN THE TEXT IS THAT IT IS ABOUT A WHO (JESUS) –NOT A WHAT.

Jesus is this righteousness.  There is not a “Grace Department” in heaven or a “Righteousness Department” — it is all about Jesus.  He superimposes Himself in the sermon.

•  verse 5: 11 ME
•  verse 5: 17 I several times
• verse  6 :33 His righteousness. The person and the work of Christ.

Words of the Hymn of Bernard of Clairvaux:

 Jesus the Very Thought of Thee…

Celestial Sweetness unalloyed,
Who eat Thee hunger still;
Who drink of Thee still feel a void
Which only Thou canst fill.

O most sweet Jesus, hear the sighs
Which unto Thee we send;
To Thee our inmost spirit cries;
To Thee our prayers ascend.

III. CONCLUSION

Taking It Home To SBF:

1. Personally read Tozer again…
2. Are you hungry? Are you aware you are blessed?
3. Are you open to being filled with more?

On November 23, 1654 Blaise Pascal had a dramatic encounter with God. He wrote of his experience, and sewed it into the liner of his coat. It wasn’t until after his death that people learned of this and realized everywhere he went Pascal carried this experience with him. This encounter has become known as “Pascal’s Night of Fire.”

Here is “The Memorial”:

The year of grace 1654…
From about half past ten in the evening until half past midnight.

Fire

‘God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob,’ not of philosophers and scholars.
Certainty, certainty, heartfelt, joy, peace.
God of Jesus Christ.
God of Jesus Christ.
My God and your God.
‘Thy God shall be my God.’
The world forgotten, and everything except God.
He can only be found by the ways taught in the Gospels.
Greatness of the human soul.
‘O righteous Father, the world had not known thee, but I have known thee.’
Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy.
I have cut myself off from him.
They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters.
‘My God wilt thou forsake me?’
Let me not be cut off from him for ever!
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.’
Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ.
I have cut myself off from him, shunned him, denied him, crucified him.
Let me never be cut off from him!
He can only be kept by the ways taught in the Gospel.
Sweet and total renunciation.
Total submission to Jesus Christ and my director.
Everlasting joy in return for one day’s effort on earth.
I will not forget thy word. Amen.

FUTURE CORPORATELY: Discover your great Evangelical tradition of deeper encounters list names…

D.L. Moody’s Experience:

“One day, in the city of New York — oh, what a day! — I cannot describe it, I seldom refer to it; it is almost too sacred an experience to name. Paul had an experience of which he never spoke for 14 years. I can only say that God revealed himself to me, and I had such an experience of His love that I had to ask Him to stay His hand.”[1]

Moody was sure that if God did not lift His hand, he would die.

Have you had one?  More love, more power?

CORPORATELY: Become a Church that honors the written word and the Living word.

by Chris Ryan

Signs I struggle with Guilt and Shame:

• I feel distant from God
• I feel like giving up
• *I am highly performance conscious
• I have high anxiety levels
• I am so tired
• I don’t deal w/ compliments or gifts well
• I feel as if I don’t belong
• I’m afraid of being deserted
• I use a lot of negative “self-talk”
• I don’t allow myself to make decisions
• I am over-responsible: It’s all my fault
• I can’t have guilt-free fun
• I feel inadequate or a failure (see myself in “victim mode”)

Guilt: “I did something bad (wrong).”

 Shame: “I am bad.  My identity is wrong.”

As a believer, I need to rest in the reality that:

1. God forgives me CURRENTLY.

“Therefore, there is now…” Rom. 8:1a (See Heb. 10:14)

2. God forgives me COMPLETELY.

“Therefore, there is now no…”  Rom. 8:1b

–no here in Greek here means: “as strong as all time”

– can’t be undone

3. God forgives me LEGALLY.

“…condemnation…” Rom. 8:1c (See Rom. 8:33)

-condemnation is a legal term – criminal/crime

This means:

• God does not REJECT me when I fall
• God is not SURPRISED BY me when I’m inconsistent
• God does not PUNISH me when I sin

What’s the difference b/n punishment and discipline?

What’s the difference b/n condemnation and conviction?

4. God forgive me  ALREADY (IT IS COMPLETED).

“…for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Chris Jesus the law of  the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son…” Rom. 8:1-3

So …what do I as a Christian when I sin?

1. Remember Christ is your advocate (Romans 8:33)
2. Confess (acknowledge) sin and “agree” with God’s grace on you
3. Remember you are forgiven and work on forgiving self.
4. Make step to move forward out of sinful patterns. (chose to not be powerless).

How can I tell if I am sensing the Holy Spirit conviction or Satan’s accusations?  Here are some observations summarized below.

     Condemnation/Punishment               Conviction/Discipline

• Purpose:  “Payback”; assign guilt            To correct; promote growth
• Attitude:   Anger                                          Future
• Result:      Fear, guilt, hostility, death      Security, growth
• Source:     Satan                                            Holy Spirit

for believer)

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Cor. 7:10

“And Joshua said, ‘Ah sovereign Lord…O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies?…The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Stand up!  What are you doing down on your face?  Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep…Tell them, Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow…’” Joshua 7:8-11

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness…” Rom 8:26

“Who is he that condemns Christ Jesus…is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Rom. 8:33,34

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” 1 John 2:1

“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of God, and the authority of his Christ.  For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.” Rev. 12:10

So why not sin?  What happens when a Christian sins?

1. Conviction (John 16:8; Acts 2:37)
2. Hurts others and myself (Gal. 6:7-8)
3. My fruitfulness is limited (John 15:4)
4. Loving discipline from God (Heb. 12:9-11)