What two things did Jesus do for our Justification?
Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Note:
- Delivered for our offenses (crucifixion)
- Raised again (resurrection)
Both the death and the resurrection of Christ are vital for our justification.
What is Justification?
Romans 4:7, 8 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Note: Complete Justification includes:
- Iniquities are forgiven
- Sins are covered
- God will not impute sin
What is imputed instead of sin?
Romans 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Note: Righteousness is imputed instead of sin. All have sinned (Romans 3:22). Therefore the work of jusification is to make us and declare us righteous. Only the righteous can enter heaven (Revelation 22:15).
According to the bible, in what sort of a setting does one receive the declaration that one is justified [righteous]?
Deuteronomy 25:1 If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.
Note: The declaration takes place in a Judgment setting after an investigation (Dan. 7:10). Then the judge shall justify the righteous and condemn the wicked at the conclusion of the investigation [judgment].
Where do we find such a declaration of the Judgment?
Revelation 22: 11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Note: God declares one is justified [righteous] at the end of the Judgment and then Jesus will come.
Is forgiveness and justification the same? Who is qualified to be forgiven?
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Note: Any one who confesses and forsakes sins will be forgiven.
Who is qualified to be justified?
Isaiah 43:25,26 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.
Note: The declaration that one is justified can only come when the sins have been blotted out. In other words, the final declaration that one is Justified can only be made when there is no record of sin against that person.
When will the record of sins be blotted out?
Acts 3: 19,20 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Note: Sins will be blotted out “when the time of refreshing shall come” which is just before God sends Jesus. Therefore sins will be blotted out just before the second coming of Jesus.
Who was raised for our justification?
Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Note: Christ Jesus
How does Jesus blot out our sins or justify us?
Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Rom. 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Note: His blood
What happens to us if Jesus only shed blood at the cross, but was not resurrected?
1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Note: Sins cannot be blotted out if Jesus was not resurrected, that’s why Rom. 4:25 says “He was raised again for our justification”.
What did Christ's complete sacrificial atonement on the cross provide for us?
Hebrews 1:3 After He [Christ] had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven [NIV]
Note: Christ's once and for all, complete sacrifice on the cross "provided" the means for our forgiveness and cleansing [blotting out].
Can we be justified today even though the final declaration is at the end of the judgment? Can we have the assurance of salvation today?
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Note: Yes, we can have the assuarance of justification today by faith. And faith is knowing without knowing, and seeing without seeing (Hebrews 11:1). We certainly have the assuarance in Christ alone (1 John 5:11-13).
How the just live till Jesus will blot out the sins?
Galatians 3:11 The just shall live by faith.
Note: By faith
According to what did David pray blot out his sins?
Psalm 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Note: The word MERCY is used twice in the above verse in connection with blotting out of sins. David prayed to blot out his sins according to the Mercy of God. On the Day of Atonement, God appeared in a cloud upon the mercy seat as a judge taking his seat of judgment (Lev. 16:2). It was on the Day of Atonement that the sins were blotted out. The ultimate mercy of God is to erase or blot out your sins so that you are considered as “never sinned”.
When did Jesus start cleansing [blotting out] our sin record?
Daniel 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Psa. 51:1,2 According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Note: The sanctuary will be cleansed by what? The bood of Jesus. Christ began cleansing [blotting out sins] of the sanctuary in Autumn 1844 by his own blood; 1844 is the date for the end of the 2300 day prophesy - The end of the 490 years (70 week prophesy) pointed to Christ shedding his own blood for us. End of 2300 years (2300 day prophesy) pointed to Christ “blotting out our sins” with his own blood (See : Investigative Judgment).
Where should the people of God seek if they are risen with Christ [baptized]?
Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Note: Seek those things are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
What is Jesus doing at the right hand of God?
Hebrew 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens
Rom. 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Note: Christ is in the sanctuary as our high priest and he is interceding for us. As new testament christians, it is paramount that we focus and seek on things which are above, where Christ is at the right hand of the Father. The work of intercession is to protect us from condemnation – that means to ultimately make and declare us righteous [justified].
Thought questions answered:
Didn't Jesus say in John 5:24 that those who believe in Him will not come into judgment?
John 5:24 He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death unto life"
Note: Most modern translations render the word "condemnation" in this verse as "judgment." The word judgment in the New Testament can refer either to condemnation or examination. Both Old and New Testaments declare that all must appear before God's judgment seat to have their actions evaluated, whether they be good or evil (Eccl. 12:14; 2 Cor. 5:10). So when John 5:24 speaks of believers not coming "into judgment," it is condemnation that is referred to, not examination.
Recommended material:
What is Justification by Peter Gregory (Audio)