Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification (15)
[Romans 3:21-31]
We are reflecting on nine subtopics under the overarching theme of "Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification": (1) The first subtopic is "The Necessity of Justification." Since "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23), everyone absolutely needs justification. (2) The second subtopic is "The Originator of Justification." The originator of justification is God the Father. God the Father declares righteousness (v. 2). (3) The third subtopic is "The Foundation of Justification." The foundation of justification is solely Jesus Christ. God the Father justifies sinners based on the atoning sacrifice and propitiation of Jesus Christ. (4) The fourth subtopic is "The Method of Justification." We receive the justification given by God the Father only through faith (v. 22). (5) The fifth subtopic is "The Universality of Justification." Because God the Father is righteous, everything He does is fair. Therefore, the "righteousness of God" (justification) given to "all who believe in Jesus Christ" has no discrimination (v. 22). (6) The sixth subtopic is "The Purpose of Justification." Romans 3:25-26 states, "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." Looking at this passage discussing the purpose of justification, the first purpose is to demonstrate that God is righteous. The prophecy in Genesis 3:15, where God foretells enmity between the offspring of the woman (Jesus Christ) and the offspring of the serpent (Satan), serves as the origin of justification and the giving of salvation by God the Father. God fulfilled this prophecy about 4,000 years later through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, where Jesus, by shedding His blood on the cross, crushed the head of the serpent (Satan). In other words, Jesus defeated the serpent on the cross, and Satan could not prevail against Jesus. Therefore, God accomplished our salvation entirely. Jesus, by shedding His blood on the cross, became the basis for our salvation. God endured patiently, considering a day like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day (2 Pet.3:8), and during this long-suffering, He overlooked sins committed in the past. Eventually, when God allowed Jesus to be nailed to the cross and become the atoning sacrifice and propitiation, God demonstrated His righteousness. God is righteous and a God of love. God is not only a God of love but also a righteous God. We should not deny God's righteousness by only acknowledging His love. Because God is righteous, He judges all our sins. To bear the judgment for all our sins, God took them upon Himself and poured out all the punishment on His Son, Jesus Christ, who was nailed to the cross. Therefore, God revealed both His righteousness and His love on the cross.
The second purpose of justification is to declare righteous those who believe in Jesus. Romans 3:26b states: "...and also justifies the one who has faith in Jesus." There are times when, looking at our faith, we may boast about our own faith and attempt to do the Lord's work. Matthew 7:22-23 says, "On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'" Jesus warned that many people, not just a few, would come to Him claiming to have prophesied, cast out demons, and performed miracles in His name. However, Jesus will respond by saying, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." What kind of faith are we exercising in doing the Lord's work? We must ensure that we do not become one of the "many" Jesus referred to. Instead, we should live our faith and engage in the Lord's work with a faith given by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3 states, "Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says 'Jesus is accursed!' and no one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except in the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit enables us to confess that Jesus is Lord. The faith given by the Holy Spirit is genuine faith. Living according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and faithfully handling the responsibilities God has given us, we can lead a life that pleases the Lord. We must faithfully fulfill the duty to proclaim the reconciling word given by God. 2 Corinthians 5:18 says, "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." Originally sinners and enemies of God, we were reconciled with God through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross (Rom. 5:10). God reconciled us to Himself through Christ and entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18). This ministry involves widely spreading the word of reconciliation, a responsibility that even the angels admire and that is expressed in the hymn, “This is the message that I bring, A message angels fain would sing: ‘Oh, be ye reconciled,’ Thus saith my Lord and King, ‘Oh, be ye reconciled to God’" (“I am a Stranger Here”). God, who has given us this precious duty, has committed to us the word of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19). Therefore, empowered by the faith given by the Holy Spirit, we should faithfully convey this reconciling word according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
If we have been reconciled with God, there is peace in our hearts, and anxiety, complaints, worries, and concerns all fade away. We must be at peace with God. God does not impute our sins to us; instead, He laid them all upon Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ bore all the punishment we deserved on the cross. Therefore, God is satisfied through all that Jesus Christ endured on our behalf. Isaiah 53:11 says, "After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities." So, God has reconciled us, who were once enemies of God, to Himself. The Holy Spirit has brought about this reconciliation with God in us. After this reconciliation, God has entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation and has also tasked us with spreading the word of reconciliation. Therefore, as those who have become reconciled with God and now experience the peace given by the Holy Spirit, we must go into this world, filled with numerous sins and difficulties, and proclaim the precious gospel of reconciliation. God the Father, who is the source of righteousness, through Jesus Christ, who is the basis of righteousness, and by the Holy Spirit, who becomes the channel of righteousness, has saved us by leading us to believe in Jesus Christ. In this way, the triune God has accomplished righteousness for us. With the assurance of this righteousness, as we navigate through the challenges of this world, let us share the precious gospel of Jesus Christ with those who cannot endure the true difficulties of life. May all come to be reconciled with God and enjoy the peace that God provides.