THE GOLDEN CHAIN OF SALVATION (JUSTIFICATION) ROMANS 8:28-30

Transcription

1 Sunday, JUNE 26, 2016 THE GOLDEN CHAIN OF SALVATION (JUSTIFICATION) ROMANS 8:28-30 PREFACE #1: In this chapter we continue with out study of Romans 8:29-30 often referred to by theologians, scholars, pastors, and laymen alike as The Golden Chain of Salvation. These verses contain a series of five verbs all used in the aorist tense describing how God has carried out His saving purpose. The five links in the chain are: Foreknew Predestined Called Justified Glorified Romans 8: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. INTRODUCTION: THE WHOLE BOOK OF ROMANS JUSTIFIED JUSTIFIED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH In justification, the sinner is not only pardoned, he is promoted. John R. W. Stott Nobody has understood Christianity who does not understand... the word justified. Thomas Watson Justification is the very hinge and pillar of Christianity. Purpose of Salvation Romans 8: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called 1

2 according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. The Call of Jeremiah 4 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. Romans 8: Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? 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. You as believers have been tried in the court of God and you have been found not guilty. More than that you have been found innocent! Not just pardoned innocent! I want to go one step further in order to help you better help you understand this word. Justification doesn t just mean we have been forgiven. Certainly justification has with it the idea of forgiveness, but it is much wider and deeper and longer than forgiveness. Justification has the idea that God regards us as if we had never sinned. Justification is the opposite of condemnation. For the one who has believed and embraced Christ they have moved from a state of condemnation to one of justification. That is why Paul starts this chapter out by saying: Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Condemnation (definition) 1) Expression of strong disapproval, pronouncing as wrong. 2) Final judgment of guilty in a criminal case and the punishment that is imposed. I m not only forgiven, but I have been declared righteous. I drive this home because it is an absolute essential part of understanding what justification is. I love the way one pastor described and defined justification. 2

3 2. Justification is Imputed IMPUTE James Boice Justification is the judicial act by which God declares sinful men and women to be in a right standing before Him, not on the basis of their own merit, for they have none, but on the basis of what Jesus Christ has done for them by dying in their place on the cross. Jesus bore their punishment, taking the penalty of their sins upon Himself. Those sins having been punished, God then imputes the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ to their account. 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Romans 1:17 - For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith. Romans 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. Romans 3:26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 4:5-6 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: Romans 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God s wrath through him Romans 5:16 3

4 Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. Romans 5:18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. Romans 8: Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? 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. Romans 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Galatians 3:8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: All nations will be blessed through you. 1 Corinthians 6: Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Titus 3:7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 2. Justification Is Imputed 3. Justification Is Instantaneous 4. Justification Is Irreversible Romans 11:29 for God s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 2. Justification Is Imputed 3. Justification Is Instantaneous 4. Justification Is Irreversible 5. Justification Is Incomprehensible * If this was an all inclusive list it would have probably this order: 4

5 Foreknowledge Predestination Calling Regeneration Faith Repentance Justification Adoption Sanctification Perseverance and Glorification Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God s one and only Son. Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Ephesians 2:10 For we are God s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Romans 1:17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith. 5