How does God grow the Church? - message #5 - God changes lives

How does God grow the Church?

God changes lives

Message #5

1 Peter 1:1-2

[Intro:]

Here is a quick review of the 5 key statements that support the truth of God using gospel-preaching Christians to grow the Church:

#1 – God has made every true believer a new creation through Christ

#2 – God has reconciled every true believer to Himself through Christ

#3 – God has entrusted every true believer with the message of reconciliation

#4 – God appeals through every true believer with the lost to be reconciled to Him through Christ

#5 – God made Christ to be the sin-bearer, so that every true believer would receive Christ's righteousness

This week's message in our series How does God grow the Church? We will look at the biblical truth that God changes lives. There are a lot of books, videos, sermons, etc...that give us all kinds of ideas about how we can get our unsaved loved ones to believe (or get saved). Some of them include biblical truths and some include human know-how (a.k.a. Manipulation). So what we need to do to accurately understand what God says about this whole thing is to search His Word. God describes clearly for us how this whole process is worked out. Last week we learned that God uses Christians verbally sharing the gospel to appeal with the lost to be reconciled to Him through Christ. This week we are going to focus on what God does in the process.

[Message:]

Verse 1 –

Peter writes to these Gentile believers who are scattered throughout Asia. They are aliens because heaven is their home, not earth. They are believers because of how Peter describes them. He describes them as being chosen.

Verse 2 –

[a] They were chosen by the foreknowledge of God the Father.

This is something that we have studied before briefly in Romans 8:28-30. "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;" (Ro 8:29). This word foreknowledge comes from the Greek word πρόγνωσις or prognōsis. In the context it refers to God choosing to “know” an individual; that is, He consciously and intentionally entered into a relationship with an individual in eternity past, before mankind was created (Eph. 1:4). "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him." (Eph 1:4).

The word chosen is from the Greek word ἐκλεκτός or eklektos, which is from the root words ek + legw = to call out. This is the same Greek word that is elsewhere translated elect (Matt. 24:22, 24, 31; Rom. 8:33) and chosen (2 Tim.2:10; Tit. 1:1; 1 Pet. 1:1; Rev. 17:14). This is a difficult teaching to accept at times. As sinful human beings we would not choose on our own to repent and accept Christ as Savior, so God in His grace chose to save some. He did this before He created anything (Eph. 1:4). He did not make His choice based on what anyone would do in life or what they would choose (Rom. 9:14-16). His choice is according to “the kind intention of His will” (Eph. 1:5). There are many who would claim that this makes God unfair. Dr. Floyd Barackman, the former Theology Professor at Practical Bible College, responded to this claim of unfairness by saying, “Yes, you are correct the situation isn't fair. If it were fair all people would spend eternity in Hell, and no one would be saved. God is gracious enough to save some.” Here is the biblical response to the claim that God is unfair to save some but not all (Rom. 9:14-26). God chose some but not all “to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,” (Rom. 9:23-26). God chose to save some but not all "so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Eph 2:7). Wow, what a gracious and merciful God! So to summarize, God the Father chose some people to be saved (the elect) through His foreknowledge (His conscious and deliberate choice to enter into a relationship with certain individuals in eternity past).

[b] Next Peter says that these elect individuals were chosen by the sanctifying work of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the member of the God-head that sets apart individuals for salvation It is from the Greek word ἁγιασμός or hagiasmos, which means to set apart for special use. Since God the Father chose to enter into a relationship with certain individuals in eternity past, the Holy Spirit set apart (sanctified) these certain individuals in Christ (2 Thess. 2:13). "But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth." (2 Th 2:13). The Holy Spirit unites the elect individual with Christ (baptizes him into Christ) (Rom. 6:1-7; 1 Cor. 12:13).

The Holy Spirit is the member of the God-head that works out the process of drawing the elect individuals to Christ and then causes the individual to be born again (experience the new birth). At the moment one of these elect individuals puts his faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins the Holy Spirit begins to indwell him. "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory." (Eph 1:13-14). Only the elect (true born again Christians) possess the indwelling Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9-11). "However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." (Ro 8:9-11). True believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

[c] They were chosen to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood. The very first part of this statement is very interesting. God speaking through Peter first describes the purpose for which God has chosen individuals. He has chosen them to obey Jesus Christ. This does not refer to believing the gospel. This refers to living in obedience to the law of Christ (1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:2). Christians are under the authority of the New Testament teaching (this is the law of Christ). "To those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law." (1 Co 9:21). "Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." (Ga 6:2). God saved individuals so that they would obey Him and bring Him glory (Tit. 2:11-14; 3:3-8, 14; 2 Cor. 5:14-15). God saved us to glorify Him through our lives. We were saved to do works that bring God praise and testify of His greatness to the lost (1 Pet. 2:11-17). In fact, Scripture teaches us that God is the one who is at work in the elect giving them the desire and the ability to do His will (Eph. 2:10; Phil. 2:12-16). God saved us to submit to Christ as Lord and to submit to the authority of the Word of God.

The second half of the statement, and to be sprinkled with His blood. This hearkens back to the Old Testament initiation of the Mosaic covenant (Ex. 24:1-8). God had Moses gather all of the people. After some animals had been sacrificed, Moses took half of the blood and sprinkled it on the altar, and the other half he sprinkled on the people. This was the blood that established the Mosaic covenant, between God and the nation of Israel. Peter uses this same imagery to describe the elect Christian. The person who has accepted Christ as his Savior has been sprinkled with His blood. The blood of Christ establishes a new covenant between God and the elect Christians (Matt. 26:28; 1 Cor. 11:25). "In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”" (1 Co 11:25). Jesus is described as the guarantee of a better covenant (Heb. 7:22). The blood of Christ establishes a covenant ( which includes a relationship) between believers and God. Here is a description given by the author of the book of Hebrews: "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance." (Heb 9:11-15). So all who have placed their faith in Christ's payment for sin have been sprinkled by His blood.

Here is another description of the awesome results of salvation (being sprinkled by His blood; being made a part of a new covenant) through Christ, "Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them,” He then says, “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin." (Heb 10:11-18).

[Conclusion:]

We read in this in passage what God has done for true believers (the chosen/elect). True believers have been:

[a] chosen by the foreknowledge of God the Father – God the Father consciously and intentionally entered into a relationship with an individual in eternity past, before mankind was created (Eph. 1:4).

[b] chosen by the sanctifying work of the Spirit - The Holy Spirit is the member of the God-head that works out the process of drawing the elect individuals to Christ and then causes the individual to be born again (experience the new birth). At the moment one of these elect individuals puts his faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins the Holy Spirit begins to indwell him.

[c] chosen to obey Christ and be sprinkled by His blood - God saved us to submit to Christ as Lord and to submit to the authority of the Word of God. The person who has accepted Christ as his Savior has been sprinkled with His blood. The blood of Christ establishes a new covenant between God and the elect Christians (Matt. 26:28; 1 Cor. 11:25).

Now, what does this have to do with how God grows the Church? It has a lot to do with how God grows the Church. God is the one who saves people's souls. He is the one who changes people's lives. We are just the mirror and the mouthpiece. We are the representatives and the messengers. God alone saves souls and changes lives. This should give us, not a personal confidence, but a God-centered confidence. As we reflect Christ and share the gospel, God will accomplish what He desires. Trust in His Word and His power. God will change lives. God will build His Church.

How does God grow the Church? - message 4 - God uses Christians sharing their faith

How does God grow the Church?

God uses Christians sharing their Faith

message #4

{Intro:}

Here is a quick reminder of the earlier messages in this series:

#1 – God desires to save people

#2 – God uses the gospel

#3 – God uses justification by faith

#4 – God uses Christians sharing their faith

Last week in the message, “God uses justification by faith” we studied Romans 3:21-26, in which I highlighted 5 key truths:

#1 – Righteousness isn't received through human effort

#2 – God's righteousness is received through faith in Christ's payment for sin on the cross

#3 – Every person is offered God's righteousness through faith in Christ's payment for sin on the cross

#4 – Christ's payment for sin on the cross satisfied God's wrath

#5 – God declares righteous those who place their faith in Christ's payment for sin on the cross

In our 4^th message in this series “How does God grow the Church?” the answer is God uses Christians sharing their faith to grow His Church. I am going to highlight 5 key statements that formulate this reality of God using gospel-proclaiming Christians to grow the Church.

{Message:}

#1 – God has made every true believer a new creation through Christ (16-17)

Paul has just finished discussing what Christ made available for those who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior (cf. v. 15). One of the results of redemption is that born-again believers will live for Christ, not for themselves. As a result of this reality Christians are not to view other Christians merely according to a human point-of-view (16). In many cases we are tempted to evaluate the worth of a person solely based on outward considerations, such as: color, education, wealth, vocabulary, nationality, gender, etc...Christians are to view other believers as God views them.

Paul and others used to have opinions about Christ that were based merely on a human point-of-view. Paul in his unsaved state believed Jesus to be a false teacher. Now, Paul views Christ in an entirely different way. When Paul was born-again his view of Christ transformed radically. Paul now views Christ as Lord and Savior. Redemption, which is accompanied by the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the careful study of God's Word change our view of things and people, especially our view of other believers.

This is the state of separation from the world, to which all orders of Christians are called. They must so far renounce all worldly tempers, be so far governed by the things of another life, as to show that they are truly and really crucified, dead, and risen, with Christ. And it is as necessary for all Christians to conform to this great change of spirit, to be thus in Christ new creatures, as it was necessary that Christ should suffer, die, and rise again, for our salvation.—William Law - A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life

As a result of this new view of believers we recognize something amazing about those who are born-again (17). Every person who has repented of his sins and trusted in Christ's payment on the cross for the forgiveness of sins is “in Christ” that is, in spiritual union with Christ. Any person who is in spiritual union with Christ is a new creature. Through salvation in Christ every believer is transformed into an entirely new creature (Eph. 4:17-24). The “old things” refer to our way of life before salvation; who we were, how we thought and acted (Col. 3:1-11). Paul states that believers should “behold/see” that new things have come. When we trusted in Christ's payment on the cross for the forgiveness of sins, at that moment God caused us to be born-again, receive new spiritual life (Col. 1:9-14, 19-23). He made us to be new creatures through Christ (Eph. 2:8-10; Col. 2:13-15). So our view of other believers should be that they are new creatures in Christ; not all of these other external things (color, clothes, wealth, education, gender), or even past identities (liars, thieves, adulterers, lazy, sexually immoral, etc...). How should true believers be viewed? As new creatures in Christ.

#2 – God has reconciled every true believer to Himself through Christ (18)

God is the one who has brought all of this to pass (18). He is the one who chose true believers before the foundation of the world to be saved (Eph. 1:3-8) and He is the one who chose to give Christ as a sacrifice to pay the penalty of man's sin (1 Jn. 4:9-10). God is the one who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, it wasn't our own work or effort (1 Pet. 1:17-21). God not only reconciled us to Himself, but He also gave us the ministry of reconciliation. We will find out all the details of this ministry in a moment.

#3 – God has entrusted every true believer with the message of reconciliation (19)

Paul explains further God's act of reconciliation (19). God presented Christ as a payment for sin on the cross and through faith in Christ's payment for sin people are reconciled to God. As a result of faith in Christ's payment for sin a person's trespasses (sins) are forgiven. God has chosen to use those people who have placed their faith in Christ's payment for sin to be His messengers. God has entrusted the message of reconciliation, the gospel, to all born-again Christians. Wow, what a blessing and treasure!

Any person who understands enough of the plan of salvation to receive Christ as his Saviour knows enough to tell others what happened to him and how they also may be saved. Often, even after you know the Bible very well, the most effective witness you could give would be your own testimony with a few, simple, salvation verses.—Dr. A.R. Stanford - Handbook of Personal Evangelism

#4 – God appeals through every true believer with the lost to be reconciled to Him through Christ (20)

All born-again Christians are ambassadors (personal representatives) of Christ (20). As Christ's ambassadors, it is as though God is appealing to lost people through us. Now that is something astounding! Paul speaks representatively of all Christians and pleads with lost people on behalf of Jesus Christ to be reconciled to God (cf. v. 19). Unbelievers are spiritually dead in their sin and they are under judgment (Jn. 3:18; Eph. 2:1-3). They are enemies of God and condemned (Rom. 5:8-10; 2:5-6).

Peter pleaded with those who were listening to him on the day of Pentecost to turn from their sin to Christ (Acts 2:36-40). He pleaded with others later to be saved from their sin (Acts 3:17-19). Paul asked the Ephesians to pray that God would give him boldness to preach the gospel (Eph. 6:19-20). He even stated that his imprisonment for preaching the gospel actually gave other believers the boldness to preach the gospel (Phil. 1:12-14). Paul told the Colossians that he proclaimed Christ, warning and teaching every man (Col. 1:28-29). He also asked the Colossians to pray that God would give he and his co-workers open doors to preach the gospel clearly (Col. 4:2-4). He even called upon them, the church, to be ready to preach the gospel (Col. 4:5-6).

Learn from this, how we should preach, and how you should hear. We do not come in our own name, but in Christ's. We are to do as the disciples did when they received the bread from Christ. We are to receive our message from him and give it unto you; so, in one sense, it is immaterial to us whether you receive the truth or not.—Robert Murray McCheyne

#5 – God made Christ to be the sin-bearer so that every true believer would receive Christ's righteousness (21)

The concluding statement of the paragraph reiterates what God has provide through Christ's payment for sin (21). God the Father made Christ, who never committed any sin, to become sin for us. Christ took the sins of mankind on Himself on the cross and received God the Father's wrath for sin (1 Pet. 2:22-25; Rom. 3:21-26; Col. 2:13-15). This was done so that all who repent of their sin and place their faith in Christ's payment for sin on the cross would receive Christ's righteousness. Christ took our sin and its punishment, so that through faith in Him we would receive Christ's righteousness credited to our name/account (Rom. 3:21-26; 4:22-25; 5:1-2, 8-11, 18-21).

For what is the sum and substance of these simple words? It is this. Christ is that Fountain of living water which God has graciously provided for thirsting souls. In Him, as our Redeemer and Substitute, crucified for our sins and raised again for our justification, there is an endless supply of all that men can need pardon, absolution, mercy, grace, peace, rest, relief, comfort and hope. This rich provision Christ has bought for us at the price of His own precious blood. To open this wondrous fountain He suffered for sin, the just for the unjust, and bore our sins in His own body on the tree. He was made sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (1 Peter 2:24; 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21). And now He is sealed and appointed to be the Reliever of all who are labouring and heavy laden, and the Giver of living water to all who thirst. It is His office to receive sinners. It is His pleasure to give them pardon, life and peace. And the words of the text are a proclamation He makes to all mankind ‘If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.’ — J.C. Ryle - Holiness

{Conclusion:}

Here is a quick review of the 5 key statements that support the truth of God using gospel-preaching Christians to grow the Church:

#1 – God has made every true believer a new creation through Christ

#2 – God has reconciled every true believer to Himself through Christ

#3 – God has entrusted every true believer with the message of reconciliation

#4 – God appeals through every true believer with the lost to be reconciled to Him through Christ

#5 – God made Christ to be the sin-bearer, so that every true believer would receive Christ's righteousness

So what do you do with this? If you are not reconciled to God through faith in Christ's payment for sin on the cross, then you need to be. If you are already reconciled to God through faith in Christ's payment for sin on the cross, then you are an ambassador for Christ. God has chosen to use born-again Christians like you to share the message of reconciliation (the gospel) wherever you are located, so that He may use that message to save those who believe (1 Cor. 1:21).

The Value of the NASB

I have at least one copy of each of the modern Bible translations in either electronic format or hard copy.  I have read the NIV and never fell in love with it.  There are too many places where the translators were too free in their rendering for my liking.  I have read the 2007 ESV.  There are some places where they have updated how the NASB has rendered a passage.  Yet, there are still some very awkward Anglicisms in the text.  I still believe that Crossway's marketing department has portrayed/made the ESV as something that it is not, a more idiomatic translation.  I know that some will respond to that statement by pointing out that it is a formal-equivalence translation.  Yes, I agree it is.  The translators aimed for that form of translation.  The advertisments lean more toward a functional-equivalence translation.  I just have an issue with how many people are waxing eloquent about the ESV being so accurate, yet readable.  I would say it is accurate for the most part, be less readable than many are portraying it.  The HCSB on the other hand does seem to be more of what the ESV is being portrayed as.  I like the HCSB.  There are still some places where I am not as comfortable with the translators choice of rendering.  I can see and understand why they made the choices that they did.  There are just enough unique choices to make me cautious to jump on the bandwagon.  This is a switch from my previous opinion. 

This brings me back to the NASB.  I know that many label it as "too wooden."  I really believe that this is an unfair characteriziation.  The translation is a formal-equivalence work.  There are many places where the NASB is more readable than the ESV.  I have found that when it comes down to trusting a translation "getting it right" I choose the NASB.  The scholars are/were conservative evangelicals.  I write this post because of the "jockeying for position" that is going on among evangelicals over Bible translation.  I trust the NASB, I believe that it is accurate and as readable as possible without becoming a commentary rather than a translation.  I appreciate that the exegesis is left up to the reader rather than the translator.  I appreciate the ministry of the Lockman Foundation. 

I truly believe that we must be very careful with the modern tendency of leap-frogging from translation to translation.  No translation is perfect.  Yet, this hopping around leaves fellow believers a bit confused and less confident in the accurate modern translation they currently use.  

Justification by Faith - a survey

How does God grow the Church

Justification by Faith

message #3

{Intro}

Scripture reveals that mankind is separated from God as a result of sin. They are under judgment because of their sin which must be punished (Jn. 3:18). God provided the means of forgiveness through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:7-8). Jesus, who is the sinless Son of God, gave Himself as an offering for sin (Gal. 4:4-5; 1 Tim. 1:15; 2:3-6). He took our sin upon Himself and received the God the Father's wrath for our sin while He was on the cross (2 Cor. 5:17-21). Jesus' sacrifice satisfied the Father's righteous requirement (Rom. 3:21-26). R.A. Torrey stated the following in a message entitled, The Great Attraction: The Uplifted Christ,

First, Christ crucified draws all men unto Himself because Christ crucified meets the first, the deepest, the greatest and most fundamental need of man. What is man's first, greatest, deepest, most fundamental need? A Savior? A Savior from what? First of all, and underlying all else, a Savior from the guilt of sin. Every man of every race has sinned. As Paul put it "There is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:22-23) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, at this point, nor is there any difference between English and German at this point, there is no difference between American and Japanese at this point, no difference between the European and Asian, no difference between the American and the African. "There is no difference; for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

Every man of every race is a sinner, "there is no difference" at this point. And every man shall have to answer for his sin to the infinitely holy God who rules this universe. Therefore, all men need an atoning Savior who can by His atoning death make propitiation for, and so cover up, our sins-thus reconciling us to this holy God, delivering us from His awful wrath, and bringing us out into the glorious sunlight of His favor. And Jesus lifted up is the only atoning Savior in the universe. He who alone was at the same time God and man, He alone can make atonement for sin. He has made it, has made a perfect atonement, and God has accepted His atonement and, testified to His acceptance of His atonement by raising Him from the dead. The Lord Jesus actually meets our need. He actually meets every man's first, greatest, deepest, most fundamental need, and He alone.

{Message}

Scripture teaches that through Christ's sacrifice, justification was made available (Col. 1:19-23). This justification is received by faith in Christ's sacrifice (Rom. 5:1-2; Tit. 3:4-7). When one trusts in Christ's sacrifice by faith he is declared righteous (justified) by God (Rom. 5:8-11). At that moment the individual receives Christ's righteousness (Rom. 3:21-16). Faith in Christ's sacrifice results in the individual being accepted by God and receiving forgiveness of sins (Col. 2:13-14; Tit. 2:11-14).

This means that for one to attempt to earn God's forgiveness (eternal salvation) is to reject God redemptive plan. Christ's sacrifice is the means of justification and restoration (redemption) (Heb. 9:12-28). Faith is the means of receiving this forgiveness and redemption (Gal. 2:16; Heb. 1:3). Faith in Christ's sacrifice results in receiving God's righteousness (Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 3:21-26). A person receiving righteousness from God by faith is the only way for a person to be justified in the presence of God (1 Cor. 1:8-9; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; Rom. 8:28-39). When one believes in Christ's sacrifice he is justified and receives forgiveness of sins, which he can never forfeit (Heb. 7:24-27; 10:10-18).

Scripture teaches that no man is justified by good works (Rom. 3:19-20, 28). No man is made righteous by being a good person or doing good things (Gal. 2:16; 3:22). In fact, Scripture teaches that no one is righteous (Rom. 3:10-18). Man's good works are described as a “filthy garment” (Isa. 64:6). Therefore, man is in need of righteousness. Scripture teaches that righteousness is available through faith in Christ's sacrifice (Gal. 3:10-14). Righteousness is received by faith (Rom. 3:21-26).

God justifies men by grace, not because of merit. You and I had no merit. Everything was against us. Demerit was ours, and no merit did we have to plead. But now God says in grace, “I am ready to take up that man and save him, if he will but receive and confess my Son as his Lord.” It is so hard for people to understand this. Men always seem to get the idea that they must do something in order to merit God's favor. It would not be grace if it were merited. Grace is unmerited favor, and it is favor for those who have merited the very opposite. That is grace. ~ H.A. Ironside

This biblical teaching has been under attack from the very moment it was revealed (1 Cor. 1:18). Sinful man has set out to establish his own righteousness apart from faith in Christ's sacrifice (Rom. 9:30-32). This pride results in rejecting justification by faith (Rom. 1:18-23). The truth is that sinful man has no righteousness of his own and is incapable of reconciling himself to God. When one accepts Christ's sacrifice by faith for the forgiveness of sins, he receives Christ's righteousness (Gal. 2:16). Can you fathom that a born-again Christian possesses the righteousness of Christ and he received it by faith? Wow! A man is accepted by God and declared righteous through faith in Christ alone (1 Pet. 2:22, 24-25)! This is the only means of being justified with God (Heb. 1:1-4; 7:26-27).

The Lord Jesus Christ was absolutely without offense. He was the holy son of God, but He looked upon us poor sinners in our deep need and He took our place in judgment. He went to the cross and He bore what our sins deserved. He poured out His life in the shedding of His precious blood, and when we receive Him we can say that He has washed out our sins in His precious blood. He had no sins of His own for which to die. He was there for our sins.

~ H.A. Ironside

This subject is so vitally important that it bears summarizing: an individual receives forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ's sacrifice; as a result of faith in Christ's sacrifice God declares that person righteous, imparting to them Christ's righteousness.

{Conclusion}

So your acceptance with God is entirely based on faith in Christ's sacrifice (Eph. 2:1-10). Your approval with God is not based on how you live. God has accepted you through faith in Christ's sacrifice. You are incapable of earning God's approval. You are incapable of repaying God's grace. Rest in the fact that you are justified with God by faith in Christ's sacrifice. You are accepted by God in Christ. Do not fall into the performance trap! This is when you seek to earn God's approval through a laundry list of actions. Some seek to give a lot of money, time, study, evangelism, teaching, etc...all in an effort to earn God's approval. The reality is that justification by faith results in a personal being approved by God in Christ and it has nothing to do with your performance. Through faith in Christ you have as much of God's approval as you can ever possibly possess. Wow, that is something awesome. So get out of the performance trap! You can only be justified by faith in Christ.

There is another trap that is equally as dangerous, which is the debtor's ethic. The debtor's ethic is a subtle poison. The idea is one reported to be motivated by gratitude. It goes something like this, “Christ has done so much for me, so I am going to do...for Him.” If one is not careful, the Christian life becomes an unending process of attempting to repay God for His grace through Christ. A believer can never repay God for His grace through Christ. A believer can never repay God for His grace period, so stop trying! God never intended for us to repay Him! Salvation is by grace and we receive it through faith (Eph. 2:8-9). As believers we are forever indebted to God's grace. In fact, as we live and glorify God, that is a result of His grace, not our own efforts (Eph. 2:10; Phil. 2:12-13; Jn. 3:21). Our obedience to God, our love for Him, our spiritual growth, our spiritual fruit, they are all the result of God's grace in our lives! Some believers think that salvation is by grace through faith, but that spiritual maturity is entirely a personal effort (Gal. 3:2-3). All of the Christian life: positional sanctification, progressive sanctification, and final sanctification are all a result of God's grace at work in our lives (Rom. 8:28-30).

This subject is so vitally important that it bears summarizing: an individual receives forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ's sacrifice; as a result of faith in Christ's sacrifice God declares that person righteous, imparting to them Christ's righteousness.

How does God grow the Church? - message #3 - Justification by Faith

Justification by Faith

Romans 3:21-26

{Intro}

This message is an exposition of the central passage on justification by faith. Justification by faith is crucial to an accurate understanding of Christianity and Scripture. The Protestant Reformation began because of the widespread false teaching concerning how one receives eternal salvation. Men rose up to defend Scripture's teaching of justification by faith. During that time Catholicism taught that men were justified by works. The Reformers boldly proclaimed justification by faith. Their battle cry was, Soli fide, Sola gratia, Sole deo gloria “by faith alone, by grace alone, to God alone by the glory.” Paul writes to teach the Romans that God has provided His righteousness for all who place their faith in Christ's payment for sins on the cross.

In this passage we are going to see 5 key truths that support the doctrine of justification by faith.

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#1 – Righteousness isn't received through human effort (21)

This is the first key truth of justification by faith. God's righteousness has nothing to do with the Law or good works. The Law reveals guilt, not righteousness (cf. v. 20). God's righteousness was foretold by the O.T. (cf. Gen. 15:6; Ps. 32:1-2; Hab. 2:4).

#2 – God's righteousness is received through faith in Christ's payment for sin (22)

God's righteousness is received through faith in Jesus Christ. Everyone who places his faith in Christ receives God's righteousness. This doesn't not refer to simply believing that Jesus existed or exists. It refers to faith in Christ's payment for sin.

#3 – Everyone is able to receive God's righteousness through faith in Christ's payment on the cross (23-24)

No one is excluded from receiving God's righteousness through faith in Christ because everyone has sinned and fallen short of God's standard. This means that no one is too good and no one is too bad to be saved through faith in Christ.

Everyone who places his faith in Jesus Christ is declared righteous (justified) free of charge (as a gift). This salvation is made available by God's grace (the unmerited favor of God). This righteousness (justification) is available only through the redemption that Christ provided on the cross. Redemption was a ransom payment given to free a slave. In this case Christ's payment provided a release from guilt, judgment, and sin's power.

#4 – Christ's payment on the cross satisfied God's wrath (25)

God provided Christ as a propitiatory sacrifice for sin. Christ's death (shed blood) satisfied God's the Father's wrath. Christ being the sinless Son of God was the perfect offering needed to pay for all of mankind's sin. Every person who accepts Christ's payment for sin by faith receives forgiveness of sin and receives God's righteousness credited to his account.

God provided Christ as a propitiatory sacrifice for sin to demonstrate His righteousness. God has previously refrained from fully judging the sin of mankind. This does not mean that the sins committed previously were forgotten nor forgiven before Christ paid for them on the cross. In the case of the O.T. Saints, they were already in heaven because they had trusted by faith in God's promises which they had during their lifetime. Christ's payment on the cross paid for their sins.

#5 – God declares righteous those that place their faith in Christ's payment for sin (26)

Christ's payment for sin on the cross demonstrates God's righteousness. God is just because He has punished sin through Christ. God is also the justifier of every person who places his faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins. God declares that person righteous through faith in Christ.

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Here is a quick review of the 5 key truths that support the doctrine of justification by faith:

#1 – Righteousness isn't received through human effort (21)

#2 – God's righteousness is received through faith in Christ's payment for sin (22)

#3 – Everyone is able to receive God's righteousness through faith in Christ's payment on the cross (23-24)

#4 – Christ's payment on the cross satisfied God's wrath (25)

#5 – God declares righteous those that place their faith in Christ's payment for sin (26)

This is awesome truth. When a person places his faith in Christ's payment for sin on the cross here are two major results: forgiveness of sin; and being declared righteous. Your sins are forgiven and you receive Christ's righteousness credited to your account.