justification – Ministry of Grace Church

Tag: justification

Romans 4:25 – Resurrection Justification

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Will

who was delivered for of our transgressions, and was raised for our justification.

Truth to Learn

Salvation is only through faith in the sacrificial death and bodily resurrection of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

Behind the Words

“Delivered” is translated from paradidōmi, which is made up of para, meaning “beside, to the side of, or over to” and didōmi, meaning “to give.” Hence, it means “to give over to” or “to surrender to.”

The word “transgressions” is from paraptōma, which is derived from parapiptō, meaning “to fall by the side” or “to slip-up.”

“Justification” is from the word dikaiōsis, from the verb dikaioō, which means “to justify” or “to declare righteous.”

Meaning Explained

Abraham believed that God would raise up a son from the deadness of his own body and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. Abraham also believed that God would raise Isaac again from the dead after he was to offer him as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah (see Genesis 22:1-19). In the same way we are to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that he will raise us from the dead unto eternal life. Though it is different subject matter in each case, it is still faith that God responds to with His declaration of righteousness.

We are not to believe in just anything. It’s not just blind faith in “a deity” or simply believing that there is a God. In order for us to be declared righteous by God, we have to believe in what He tells us about ourselves and about Jesus. We are sinners, and we deserve the punishment of Hell for our sins; therefore, we need salvation that we can’t provide for ourselves. The worst part of the punishment of Hell is not the torment of the fire; rather, it is the separation from God, the inability to fellowship with Him, the fact that He has sentenced us to a place of loneliness and emptiness. That’s the real agony Hell induces.

As Paul states in this verse, Jesus was delivered for our transgressions. Jesus took on our transgressions and suffered our punishment for us. We must believe this. While Jesus was hanging on the cross, there was darkness for three hours. Toward the end of this time of darkness, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Why? It was during these three hours that Jesus was separated from God the Father for the only time ever. It was during this time that Jesus suffered the loneliness of Hell for us. It was during this time that He suffered in our place and paid the penalty for our sins!

Paul then states that He was raised for our justification. We are justified because Jesus was raised from the dead by the power of God. This is according to His promise just as Isaac was raised from the deadness of Abraham and of Sarah’s womb, and Isaac would have been raised from the dead if Abraham had been allowed to sacrifice him on Mount Moriah. Because we believe in the resurrection of Christ and believe God’s promise that He will raise us up to eternal life, He has imputed righteousness to us and has given us the seal of the Holy Spirit to keep until He fulfills His promise.

Application

Paul has been teaching us that eternally secure salvation is by the grace of God through faith and faith alone. Hallelujah!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 5:18, 19 – Summing it Up

Posted on February 21, 2010 by Will

Romans 5:18, 19

Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

Truth to Learn

We all deserve God’s wrath, but we can be saved from it by believing in the death of Jesus Christ as payment for us.

Behind the Words

This verse starts off with “Therefore” which is a translation of the Greek words ara oun. These two words form what in Greek is called an “inferential conjunction,” implying that the following is a summary of that which preceded it. Hence, these two verses are a summarization of what Paul has already said several different ways in the previous verses.

Meaning Explained

These verses are a summary statement of what Paul has been saying since verse twelve. He has stated this almost repeatedly since then, so we won’t belabor it further.

However, let’s do our own quick summary of Paul’s letter so far to put this all into context. He started out by declaring that God is evident to all men, but because some refused to recognize God for who He is, He gave them up to a depraved mind so as to not only do ungodly things but also to approve of others who do the same thing.

In chapter two he showed that God judges impartially, and to those who do well He will give eternal life, but to those who are self-seeking and unrighteous He will show His wrath. He also began his argument that circumcision of the flesh and obedience to the Law do not produce righteousness.

In chapter three he went on to show that in spite of circumcision, the Jews are no better than Gentiles because, as it has been written, “There is none righteous, no, not one.” We are all sinners deserving of God’s wrath. He continues by saying that the righteousness of God has been revealed, and it is the righteousness that only comes from faith in Jesus Christ.

In chapter four Paul cited Abraham as an example. He showed that Abraham was justified by faith when he believed God’s promise and his faith was credited to him for righteousness. Then, Paul went on to point out that Abraham was declared righteous years before he was circumcised. Obedience came after righteousness-producing faith, not the other way around.

Now in this chapter he points out that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, the Godly for the ungodly. And he said that we rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because just as the sin of one man (Adam) caused us all to be sinners (and now there is none righteous, no not one), so the righteous act of one man (Jesus) results in righteousness (justification) being available to all men. By Adam’s disobedience all were made sinners and by Jesus’ obedience many (those who believe) will be made righteous.

Application

In spite of all your good intentions and good deeds, God says that you are unrighteous and deserving of His wrath. But, by believing in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ as payment for your sins, He will declare you to be righteous. Do you believe?

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Romans 5:16 – One for the Many

Posted on February 17, 2010 by Will

Romans 5:16

And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.

Truth to Learn

God’s free gift of righteousness takes care of all our sins.

Behind the Words

The word “sinned” is translated from the Greek word hamartanō, which means “to miss the mark.”

As if making a play on words, in this verse Paul repeatedly uses nouns that end in ma. In each cast it indicates the result of an action. These words include:

· The word translated “gift” – dōrēma, derived from the verb dōreō, meaning “to bestow a gift.” Hence, it refers to a gift.

· “Judgment” – from krima, which is derived from krinō, meaning “to decide” or “to judge.” Whereas, it can refer to a decision of innocence or guilt, it is most often used in relation to a guilty judgment.

· The word translated “condemnation” – katakrima. The prefix kata means “down” or “against” and krima, as we just saw, means a judgment. Hence, this word means “a judgment against” or “condemnation” as we have it in this verse.

· “Justification” – from dikiōma, which is based on the verb dikaioō meaning “to declare righteous” or “to declare innocent.” Hence dikiōma refers to the result of the declaration. That is, our righteousness or justification.

Meaning Explained

This is a tough verse, so follow closely. It’s the second time Paul is contrasting the effects of the deeds of Adam and Jesus. Previously, he said that death (the consequence of sin) flowed from Adam but that the gift of grace flowed from Jesus.

A literal word-by-word translation of the first phrase in this verse is, “And the gift not like through the one having sinned.” Fortunately a couple of words have been added by the translators in order to make the verse more clear. What Paul is saying is that the free gift is not like the one sin of Adam.

Paul now shows why the one sin is not like the free gift. Here’s what the remainder of this verse says,

for (on the one hand) the judgment is out of one (deed) resulting in condemnation, but (on the other hand) the free gift is out of many transgressions resulting in justification.

Though the grammatical construction is a bit awkward in English, Paul is saying: “on the one hand the judgment that came from one deed resulted in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift that handles many transgressions results in justification.”

If we were to sum up this verse it would be to say that death (the consequence of sin) flowed from one transgression (one sin), but the gift of grace is effective over many transgressions resulting in our justification.

Application

Once again, we should be driven to our knees in prayer giving thanks for the gift of the sinless life of Jesus and the gift of grace whereby we will one day stand in the presence of God as righteous saints, not as condemned sinners!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Romans 4:25 – Resurrection Justification

Posted on January 26, 2010 by Will

Romans 4:25

who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

Truth to Learn

Salvation is only through faith in the sacrificial death and bodily resurrection of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

Behind the Words

The word “offenses” is from paraptōma, which is derived from parapiptō, meaning “to fall by the side” or “to slip-up.”

“Justification” is from the word dikaiōsis, from the verb dikaioō, which means “to justify” or “to declare righteous.”

Meaning Explained

As Paul states in this verse, Jesus was delivered because of our offenses. Jesus took on our offenses and suffered our punishment for us. We must believe this. While Jesus was hanging on the cross, there was darkness for three hours. Toward the end of this time of darkness, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Why? It was during these three hours that Jesus was separated from God the Father for the only time ever. It was during this time that Jesus suffered the loneliness of Hell for us. It was during this time that He suffered in our place and paid the penalty for our sins!

Application

Paul has been teaching us that eternally secure salvation is by the grace of God through faith and faith alone. Hallelujah!

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –