The Benefits of Being Justified

“The Benefits Of Being Justified!” Galatians 2:16; Romans 5:1-11 INTRO. In our text Galatians 2:16 the apostle Paul said, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by works of the Law; for by works of the Law shall NO FLESH be justified.” The word "justified" is used 3 times in this verse alone. In fact, In GOD'S WORD, the word "justify" in its various forms occurs some 64 times, with 28 of these occurrences in the writings of the apostle Paul. "Justify" comes from a Greek word "Dikaioo" which means "To render free and innocent." So we can define "justification" this way: "The act of God of declaring and making the sinner righteous through the righteousness of Christ Jesus." In popular, everyday language the words can be paraphrased: "Just As If I'd Never Sinned!" That's how God sees us now! I'd like to title the message, "The Benefits Of Being Justified!" It is a GREAT BLESSING to be a Child Of The King! But none of it would be possible, if not for the marvelous, infinite, and matchless grace of God! Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; And that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." I believe of all the Old Testament promises contained in God's Book; I like this one best: "But Noah found Grace in the Eyes of the LORD." (Genesis 6:8). Just picture in your mind with me a moment. There stands Noah before the LORD, Who has declared, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth... for it repenteth me that I have made them." (Genesis 6:7). But in the very next verse of Genesis 6, it says, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD!" God always offers grace before Judgment. It is freely available, if only man will accept it by faith. This old World is seeking peace; and that peace can only be by being justified before God! Let's look today at some of the Benefits of being justified found in Romans 5. BECAUSE WE ARE JUSTIFIED, WE Have: (1) A NEW RELATIONSHIP TO GOD Text: Romans 5:1-2—“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” WE HAVE: A. ASSURANCE OF SALVATION. Romans 5:1 says, “…being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” What a blessing it is to have the God’s peace ruling and reigning in your life! Peace with God means that our problem with sin has been settled by the blood of Christ (Warren W. Wiersbe. Wiersbe’s Expository Notes on The New Testament. p. 375). Kenneth L. Tangen said, “Happiness isn’t in possessions, education, or sensory ability. Happiness is found in relationships. And life’s greatest happiness is found in life’s greatest relationship: a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ” (Albert M. Wells, Jr. Inspiring Quotations-Contemporary & Classical. p. 85). It is our NEW RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ that gives us assurance because we NOW have “peace with God.” Galatians 1:3-5 tells us, “Grace be to you, and peace, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” ILLUS: Assurance is having confidence of eternal life that is resting upon the sure foundation of Jesus Christ, but presumption is presuming ourselves to have eternal life when in fact our confidence is based on nothing more than the flimsy foundation of our own self-righteousness. - D. J. Kennedy

B. ACCESS TO THE THRONE (v2). “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Barnes in his notes writes: By Jesus Christ the way is opened for us to obtain the favor of God. (Albert Barnes’ Notes on The Bible). We have direct access to the presence of Almighty God. We don’t have to go through a priest or a certain denomination but anytime and anywhere we can call out to God! Hebrews 10:19-22 tells us, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having a high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” ILLUS: Adam Clarke in his Commentary writes that we have: Liberty, full access to the entrance of the holy place…This is an allusion to the case of the high priest going into the holy of holies. He went with fear and trembling, because, if he had neglected the smallest item prescribed by the law, he could expect nothing but death. Genuine believers can come even to the throne of God with confidence, as they carry into the Divine presence the infinitely meritorious blood of the great atonement; and, being justified through that blood, they have a right to all the blessings of the eternal kingdom. (Adam Clarke’s Commentary on The Bible). Because we are justified, WE HAVE A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD and because of this NEW RELATIONSHIP, we have… (2) A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF SUFFERING Text: Romans 5:3-5—“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Because WE ARE JUSTIFIED, we see: A. THE RESPONSE TO SUFFERING. The proper response to suffering given us in v3 seems at first to be a hard pill to swallow, “…we glory in tribulations also…”. B. W. Johnson in The People’s New Testament writes: The peace of Christ is so sweet, and the hope of the saint so glorious, that the Christian can even exult in present sufferings, since he has assurance that even these minister to his eternal joy. (The People’s New Testament). We must keep this in mind, we do not glory that the tribulation has invaded our life, but that in the midst of the tribulation, God is in control! We can “glory in tribulations also..” because we have assurance and confidence in God’s promises. We believe Romans 8:28 which says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

B. THE REASON FOR SUFFERING. The word "Tribulation” used in v3 is translated from a Greek word which means “pressures, anguish, trouble, burdens and persecution.” Paul Evans said, “Adversity is God’s university” (Albert M. Wells, Jr. Inspiring Quotations-Contemporary & Classical. p. 206). Suffering in the life of the Christian should be a learning experience. From suffering, we learn that: 1. "Tribulation worketh patience" (Romans 5:3). The word “patience” speaks of “endurance, patient continuance, waiting.” How can we endure and patiently continue in spite of severe tribulation? Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us how, “Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 2. "Patience worketh experience" (Romans 5:4a). The word “experience” is translated from a Greek word which means “testing, proving, a trial.” It is used here to express the idea that impurities must be purged out so the best can remain! We read in 1 Peter 1: 3-7—“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” Patience in Trials burns out the dross in our lives and makes our spiritual self grow! 1 Peter 1:7 should be the desire of each believer!

3. "Experience worketh hope" (Romans 5:4b). The word “hope” means “anticipation, expectation, and confidence.” It is the anticipation, the expectation and confidence of something good. THIS IS A: a. Hope That Is Built Upon Faith (Hebrews 11:1). b. Hope That Grows By Patience In Tribulation (v4b; Proverbs 3:5-6). c. Hope That Makes Not Ashamed (v5; Jeremiah 17:7; Titus 2:13). Because we are justified, we have: A NEW RELATIONSHIP TO GOD, A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF SUFFERING and finally… (3) A NEW ASSURANCE IN JUDGMENT Text: Romans 5:6-11 WE HAVE ASSURANCE: A. BECAUSE OF GOD’S GREAT LOVE FOR SINNERS (Romans 5:6-8). It is impossible for us to express in words the great love God has for sinners. ILLUS: Leon Morris in his book Testaments of Love writes: Why does God love sinners? I have been arguing that he loves them because it is his nature to love, because he is love. Unceasingly he gives in spontaneous love. He loves not because of what we are, but because of what he is: he is love. Without the cross we would never have known what agape is, let alone have experiences it. But the cross shows us what love meant. There the sinless Son of God laid down his perfect life for sinners, there he died for men without merit. That is agape…We were in desperate trouble, unable to save ourselves. But out of love Christ offered himself as a sacrifice to save us. Again it is plain that divine love is love for the undeserving. (Leon Morris, Testaments of Love: A Study of Love in the Bible. pp. 142-143, 144). A. BECAUSE OF GOD’S FINISHED WORK OF SALVATION (Romans 5:9- 11). The word “reconciled” simply means "to make friendly." Barnes is his notes writes: We are brought to an agreement; to a state of friendship and union. We became his friends, laid aside our opposition, and embraced him as our friend and portion. To effect this is the great design of the plan of salvation… It means that there were obstacles existing on both sides to a reconciliation; and that these have been removed by the death of Christ; and that a union has thus been effected. (Albert Barnes’ Notes on The Bible). ILLUS: Albertus Pieters in his book Divine Lord and Saviour, tells of a believer who was not well educated, but who had a deep assurance of his salvation. Everyone called him "Old Pete." One day while talking with Dr. Pieters, he said, "If God should take me to the very mouth of Hell I’d say to me, 'In you go, Pete; here's here you belong,' I would say to Him, 'hat's true, Lord, I do belong there. But if you make me go to Hell, Your dear Son Jesus Christ must go with me! He and I are now one, and we cannot be separated anymore.' CLOSING: According to Romans 5:1 the Bible says, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through Our LORD Jesus Christ." That's how I and every born-again believer in this place stands before God this morning! At peace with God, no longer condemned, for Romans 8:1 tells us, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are IN CHHIST JESUS, Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." But to the lost, the Scripture says, "He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18 in part). Some years ago, a wealthy Englishman bought a Rolls Royce automobile and took it to France on his vacation. While on vacation, it broke down. At great expense, the factory flew out a mechanic and not only fixed the car, but entertained the customer in one of France's best Hotels. When the man arrived home, he expected to receive a large bill, but none came. Eventually, he wrote the company, asking for his account to be rendered. He received this reply; "Dear Sir, We have no record of anything ever going wrong with your car." That's exactly what it means to be justified! That's how all believers stand before God! How is your standing before God today?