WHAT THE CROSS DID FOR US
JUSTIFICATION: God Pardons Us
Romans 4
Jerry A Collins
SCC
ü Is justification a gift or is it earned?
ü Are OT and NT believers saved the same way?
ü How is Abraham an illustration of faith?
INTRODUCTION;
The fundamental
question of humanity is this: How can a person have a relationship with God? On
what basis can we guarantee that we are in a right relationship with God? The
answer is summarized in one of two ways.
First, with
the word “DO”. One answer is that we must do something
to ensure that we will be OK with God. There are many forms of ‘doing’ that
religions have measured and determined to be the path toward God’s favor. Some
of these include;
(1) the moral path, which says my goodness is the measure of my
acceptance by God;
(2) The Muslim path,
which teaches the five practical duties to please God;
(3) The Hindu path,
which states that thru shedding Karma, I can reach Nirvana;
(4) The Buddha 8-fold
path of the faithful;
(5) The Catholic path
of 7 sacraments;
(6) The Mormon path
of coming into my goodness.
Second, with the word “DONE”. Another
answer is to trust in something already done to secure God’s favor. That is
Christianity and it declares that people are righteous on the principle of
faith instead of works. In our passage this is illustrated from the past to
indicate it’s validity in the present and future.
INTERPRETATION;
JUSTIFICATION
IS DECLARED BY FAITH NOT EARNED IN ANY WAY
A. Justification is by faith 1-3
(1) In vs 1 we have a foundational question. What lesson can we learn from the biblical record of Abraham’s
experience? It is not just his physical ancestry under discussion but his
spiritual fatherhood.
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(2) In vs 2 a hypothetical solution is postulated. Let’s say that
his works justified Abraham then he had something to boast about. Especially him. But even then it would only be before other
people and not before God. This would also be true for any religion that bases it’s works on securing the favor of God.
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(3) In vs 3 is scriptural support for this. Abraham was justified
by faith not by works. This is a quote of Gen 15:6. Abe had already believed
God before this (Gen 12:1-4;
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B. Justification is not by works 4-8
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Logically speaking, a worker’s wages are what are owed him and what he
deserves vs 4. Conversely, a person not working but
believing receives a gift he does not deserve vs 5.
And incredibly God does this for one who deserves condemnation; “He justifies
the ungodly” vs 5. An illustration in 6-8 proves
this. Abe lived before the Law and David lived under it. Abe represents
patriarchal period and David monarchial. The quote is from Psa
32:1-2 describing God’s gracious dealings with David who viewed his
justification by faith. It stresses that David believed in imputed rather than
earned righteousness resulting in sins as forgiven and covered (not yet paid
for until Christ died).
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Application: So
now we can define justification as the act of God whereby he declares a sinner
righteous by means of faith in Christ on the basis of grace.
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C. JUSTIFICATION IS NOT BY RELIGIOUS RULE-
KEEPING 9-12
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(1) Because of its time 9-10. Was Abe justified by faith before or after his circumcision?
It was not after but before. He was a virtual gentile. Abe was 86 (Gen
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(2) Because of its intention 11a. His circumcision was a sign, a label, of what he already
possessed. Circumcision added nothing to his justification.
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(3) Because of its divine purpose 11b-12. First, to become the father of believing uncircumcised—that
is you and me 11a. Second, to become father of believing circumcised 12. Jews
must do more than be circumcised to be right with God. They must walk in
footsteps of faith like Abe’s. Circumcision essential for justification and is
secondary to faith! It does not contribute to one’s status before God (remember
the Jews in Jesus’ day). Neither does baptism `local church membership, giving
your money, morality, or any rituals, traditions, or religious paths devised by
world faiths. Every faith has it’s own big deal!
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D. JUSTIFICATION IS NOT BY LAW-KEEPING 13-17
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(1) Statement: Inheritance of promise is acquired
by faith vs. 13
God gave His promise
to bless Gentiles thru Abe long before Law. So, incorrect to
believe that Gentile blessing depended on their obedience to Law. (Jews
considered the Law a special revelation from God as a special basis of their
standing before God.) Instead, it depended on God’s faithfulness to His promise
given not on Abe’s obedience but his faith. Abe believed the promises of God—a
land, a people, a blessing before the Law. Believers of all ages are Abe’s seed
who enjoy the same spiritual blessing, justification, which he
enjoyed (Gal
(2) Reason:
Inheritance acquired by law-keeping nullifies
faith & promise First, if Jews could become heirs by law-keeping, then faith has no value,
it’s been made empty and irrelevant. Second, if law keeping makes one an
heir, the promise is made worthless and invalid. No longer a
promise of a gift to be received but it becomes a promise of a reward to
be earned vs 14.
Third, rather than bringing a blessing, which God promised Abe, the Law
brings wrath since it cannot be kept perfectly 15. Without Law there can be no
violation and thus no wrath. If there is no command against something then
there is no transgression-inciting wrath. With Law there is
both.
E.
JUSTIFICATION IS BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN GODS PROMISE TO US IN CHRIST (23-25)
First, Abe obtained the promise simply by believing it,
it comes out of or by faith, not by law-keeping 16. Responding in
faith the promise springs from God’s grace, His favor toward those who deserve
His wrath. Since the promise is by grace it can only be received by faith
and not by works, rules, or law keeping. This promise is certain to all his
descendants by faith—both Jews under the Law and Gentiles outside of it—since
he was declared righteous by faith before the Law was implemented.
Second, the object of Abe’s faith was in God powerful ability 17. It is
God in whom Abe believed. God gave the ability to father many nations to Abe
when he was already dead, past ability to reproduce children. God would have to
step in, the One who calls non-existing things to exist when it seemed
impossible in his and Sarah’s old age 90 & 100.
APPLICATION;
1. It is still faith
in what is ‘done’. Nothing has changed.
2. No one has
privileged status with God and no one is exempt from need to believe.
3. Law-keeping is
pride-based and faith is humility-based.
4. Faith is risk,
problems, worthy object!