Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification (9)
[Romans 3:21-26]
We have already contemplated the first subtopic, "The Necessity of Justification," under the overarching theme of "Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification" four times, and we are currently meditating on the second subtopic, "The Subject of Justification." The subject or origin of justification is God the Father! God the Father grants us justification.
Today, let's contemplate on Jesus Christ, who is the origin of justification. Romans 3:21-22 says, "But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." God the Father justifies sinners based on the work of Jesus Christ. The word "Jesus" appears four times in today's passage Romans 3:21-26: (1) (v. 22) "through faith in Jesus Christ...", (2) (v. 24) "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus...", (3) (v. 25) "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith...", (4) (v. 26) "...so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." Analyzing these four verses, we see the word "Jesus" mentioned four times, and the phrases "through faith" (v. 22) and "those who believe" (v. 26) each occur twice. Additionally, the words "redemption," "his blood," "sacrifice of atonement," and "to be just" appear once each. I have summarized these words in connection, presenting the following synthesis: 'God the Father, by presenting Jesus Christ as a sacrifice of atonement through His blood, established Him as a reconciling offering by faith. This was done to provide redemption (forgiveness of sins) through the grace of God in Jesus Christ to all who believe, making them righteous without cost.' In conclusion, Jesus Christ alone serves as the basis of justification!
Let's consider who Jesus Christ is, the basis of justification. Jesus is the Word, meaning He is God (Jn. 1:1), the one who created all things (v. 3). Jesus, who is God and created the entire universe, came to this earth, but His own people did not receive Him (v. 11). Jesus was born in a humble stable in Bethlehem and laid in a manger, a precious body lying in a manger. He is the basis of righteousness (Rom. 3:22). Acts 13:39 says, "Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law." The Bible teaches that, unlike the righteousness one cannot obtain through Moses' law, everyone who believes in Jesus receives justification. Westminster Larger Catechism Question 70 asks, "What is justification?" and the answer is, "Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners, in which He pardoneth all their sins, accepteth, and accounteth their persons righteous in His sight, not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ, by God imputed to them and received by faith alone." This answer emphasizes "the perfect obedience of Christ" and "the full redemption of Christ." Today, let's reflect on "the perfect obedience of Christ," and next Wednesday, during our prayer meeting, we will contemplate "the full redemption of Christ."
Let's reflect on "the perfect obedience of Christ." The Bible testifies that Christ fully obeyed God the Father. John 6:38-39 states, "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me but raise them up at the last day." Here, God the Father is the sender, and the sent one is the Holy Jesus. Jesus came to this earth to accomplish the will of God the Father. Therefore, Jesus, in accordance with the will of God the Father, sought to save us and, on the night before He was crucified, prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will" (Mt. 26:39). Even though Jesus is the Son of God, He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. Instead, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant and humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:6-8). Hebrews 5:8-9 says, "Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him." Jesus Christ, the Son of God, experienced many hardships in this suffering-filled world to learn obedience. In other words, Jesus personally underwent various hardships, experiencing obedience, and became perfect through that (experiential obedience). Currently, Jesus Christ, who endured many hardships on this suffering-filled earth, is not displayed publicly. He ascended into heaven after the resurrection, sitting at the right hand of God. Jesus Christ has become the basis of eternal salvation for all who obey Him (Heb. 5:9). Here, "eternal salvation" refers to eternal life. In other words, Jesus Christ has become the basis of justification for all who obey. Therefore, we must obey. What does it mean to believe? Believing means obeying. Faith without obedience is dead. Romans 1:5 states, "Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith." Thus, we need to bear the fruit of obedience. The Bible says, "To obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Sam. 15:22). Romans 3:22 declares, "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." While it might seem that faith leads to righteousness, faith is merely the conduit through which we receive the justification God gives us. Only Jesus Christ is the basis of justification! Therefore, those who believe in Jesus Christ, receiving righteousness through faith, must obey the will of God, obey Jesus Christ, and obey the Word of God.