Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification (10)
[Romans 3:21-26]
We have already meditated four times on the first subtopic, "The Necessity of Justification," under the overarching theme of "Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification." We are currently reflecting on the second subtopic, "The Originator of Justification," which is God the Father! God the Father bestows righteousness upon us. Let's modify the lyrics of Hymn 1, "Fountain of Blessing, God," to offer praise to God the Father: 'Praise to God the Father, the Originator of Righteousness, All the people sing and the angels join in praise, Holy Father, Holy Son, Holy Spirit, Amen."
In last week's Wednesday worship, we meditated on the Holy Jesus Christ, who becomes the foundation of justification for us. Let's modify the lyrics of the hymn “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow” to praise the Holy Jesus: 'The Foundation of Justification, Jesus Christ, All the people sing and the angels join in praise, Holy Father, Holy Son, Holy Spirit, Amen.' Westminster Larger Catechism Question 70 asks, "What is justification?" The answer states: "Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein He pardons all their sins, accepts and accounts their persons as 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 mentions “the perfect obedience of Christ” and “the perfect atonement of Christ.” We reflected on “The perfect obedience of Christ” last week. Today, let's think about “The perfect atonement of Christ.”
Today, let's meditate on "the perfect atonement of Christ," who is still the foundation of justification. The perfect atonement of Jesus Christ is the foundation of justification! Here, "atonement" means that Jesus Christ, by dying on the cross as our substitute, has reconciled us, providing us righteousness freely by God's grace. Romans 3:24 states, "and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." The Bible speaks of being justified "in Christ Jesus." Here, "redemption" refers to paying the price and reclaiming someone, such as a captive or slave, to set them free. There is no redemption outside of Jesus Christ. Redemption is found only in Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 says, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." God the Father has ensured that salvation is only attainable through Jesus Christ and no other name. Matthew 20:28 states, "even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." The purpose of the Son of Man, Jesus, coming to this world was not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for us, redeeming and saving us. Colossians 1:14 says, "in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." We have obtained redemption, specifically the forgiveness of sins, through the shedding of the blood of the Son of God. Galatians 3:13 states, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.'" Christ, by becoming a curse for us on the cross, redeemed us from the curse of the law. Galatians 4:5 says, "to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." The purpose of Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross was to redeem (save) those under the law and to make us children of God.
Romans 3:25 says, "whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance, he had passed over former sins." The Bible mentions 'the blood of Jesus' (v. 25). Blood represents life, and in the case of Jesus Christ, His precious blood was shed when He was nailed to the cross. Through this sacrificial act, Jesus Christ's blood redeemed us. Ephesians 1:7 states, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace." Through the blood of Jesus Christ, we have received "redemption, that is, the forgiveness of sins," and we have obtained salvation (v. 7). 1 Peter 1:18-19 reads, "knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." We have been "ransomed" (redeemed, saved) by the "precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." This emphasizes the perfect and spotless nature of Christ's sacrifice. The lyrics of hymn “I Can Sing Now the Song,” third verse goes like this: "I have grace for the day, I have help by the way; There is healing and comforting balm; For my sickness there's health, For my poverty wealth, I'm redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. I'm redeemed, I'm redeemed, Jesus saves me and keeps me just now.”
Romans 3:25 speaks of the "atonement sacrifice." 1 John 4:10 says, "Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." Because God loved us, He sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Romans 5:9-10 further explains, "Therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" When we were enemies of God, He, in His love, sent Jesus as the atoning sacrifice, making peace through His blood shed on the cross. In this reconciliation, Jesus Christ becomes the foundation of justification. God, through the atonement of Jesus, justifies us, not only declaring us righteous but treating us as righteous. Therefore, as recipients of God's salvation through the atoning work of Jesus, our response should be a lifetime of gratitude and the proclamation of this precious gospel to others.