Justification
The catch phrase “Just as if I’d never sinned”, while revealing a level of truth, does NOT tell the entire story. It actually sells what Christ did for us on the cross way too short.
Justification is the instantaneous and irreversible divine declaration of the unrighteous as positionally righteous, based upon the merit of Christ’s obedience, applied by grace and received through faith (Rom. 3.24-28; 4.1-5; 5.1-2). God declares the unjust to be just based upon Christ’s work on their behalf.
Justification by faith alone is the declarative act by God (the sole judge) that we are forever covered by the everlasting righteousness of Christ! His record is now your record. His merit is yours. God treats you as righteous because he treated Christ as unrighteous for our sake (2 Cor. 5:21).
Our justification has absolutely NOTHING to do with us or whatever we may have done to gain favor with God. We are completely absolved of all sin based on the actions of another. That will NEVER change. We cannot become justified on our own, just like we cannot forgive ourselves of our accumulative sins. We are to graciously and gratefully accept God’s gift of justification by virtue of Christ’s actions. What a blessing! We need God, as well as Jesus, to survive this life and be with them for all eternity. Our words and actions outside of our acceptance of God and Christ’s work, are quite inconsequential. Only what we say and do on Christ’s behalf will ever matter. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.
In His Name & for His Glory,
RL Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
Resource: www.thegospelcoalition.org
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