WHAT THE CROSS MEANS TO BELIEVERS: JUSTIFICATION - (Part 1)---

Acts 13:38-39 & Romans 3:21-26

In this series entitled “Cross Examination” we are looking at the cross from every imaginable perspective.

· What the Cross means to the Bible: Revelation.

· What the Cross meant to God the Father: Propitiation.

· What the Cross meant to God the Son: Substitution.

· What the Cross means to God the Spirit: Regeneration.

· What the Cross means to Sinners: Salvation or Condemnation.

Do you see the astounding promise made in Acts 13:38 & 39? “Through this man (Jesus Christ) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

In this message, “What the Cross means to Believers” we want to take on another great Bible word—justification. For those who believe, the cross means “justification.”

How many of you like to enjoy the courtroom drama of the television series Perry Mason or Law and Order? Let me tell you, it is altogether different when you are involved in that process. The interplay between the plaintiff and defendant, lawyers and witness, judge and jury, is filled with tension...all moving toward the climax of the judicial process: the verdict! It is either innocent or guilty?

In many different ways in our lives we are on trial, waiting for the verdict.

· We go to school for years, studying hard, hoping the college of our choice will accept us.

· We work at a job, wondering if we will get that promotion and raise.

· We spend years raising of children, then hold our breath to see if they will “turn out all right” in adulthood.

There is one verdict we all face. Beyond death looms eternity and the judgment of God, the Almighty, the Creator. When all is said and done, will the Great Judge answer “yes” or “no” to us? The oldest book in the Bible, Job, has one of the oldest dilemma’s man faces. Job 25:4 asks, “How then can man be justified with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?”

The biblical teaching on “justification” answers that question. So, let’s ask and answer some questions regarding justification.

1. Justification, WHO Needs It?

· Romans 3:19, 23 “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God….For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

The Judge of all the earth has given His verdict: Guilty! Who can dispute that? There is nothing so obvious as our sin and sinfulness.

- History records our sin. The pages of history, past and current, are blackened by sin’s effect. George Sweeting said, “The great scourge of the human race is not cancer, not crime, not even war, but an unseen enemy called sin.” “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9.

- Our Conscience reacts to our sin. In moments of despair most all of us have cried out, “I have sinned.”

- Scripture reveals our sin. The Bible begins with the sin of Adam and closes with the sin of anti-christ. And all in between, sin is the common denominator of all people.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.

The word “sinned” (hamartano) has the idea of an archer’s arrow falling short of the target. The word“come short” (hustereo) means to fall behind in a race.” While mankind has been able to accomplish many remarkable things, we have all have failed to lived up to their God-given purpose, “the glory of God.”

“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not,” Ecclesiastes 7:20.

So, what do we do? There seems to be three options:

(1) Do nothing...despair...lives in hopelessness...die in ignorance.

(2) Turn over a new leaf...live to please God...works of righteousness

...earn God’s approval….keep the law...be a good neighbor...pay your taxes… but, is it ever enough? No one knows. Isaiah 64:6, “We are all an an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” God’s righteousness and man’s righteousness cannot be compared, for God’s righteousness is entirely different. A billion bananas put together will never make an apple and all the human righteousness of all people or all times can never add up to the righteousness of God.

(3) Admit your sinfulness, see you need for the Savior and His death on the cross for you sins, turn and trust Him alone for the forgiveness of the tremendous debt your sins have incurred against God as your only payment.

2. Justification, What does It MEAN?

“Justified, justification” is a legal term meaning “to secure a favorable verdict; to acquit; to be vindicate; to declare righteous.” E. Y. Mullins gives this definition. “Justification is a judicial act of God in which He declares the sinner free from condemnation, and restores him to divine favor. It takes place when the sinner trusts in Christ and His merits for salvation.”

3. Justification, What Does it DO?

Justification gives us….

A new relationship, “in Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:24. The expression ‘in Christ” occurs more than 100 times in Paul’s writings. It speaks of our spiritual union with Christ. That is now how sees the believer, “in Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 says, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

A new record, “justified.” “All charges dismissed.” Your record has been expunged.

A new reality, “in Christ.” “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new,” 2 Corinthians 5:17. Before you were “in Adam,” now you are “in Christ.”

A new righteousness, we are made“ the righteousness of God in Him (Christ).” 2 Corinthians 5:21.

A new representative, “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,” Romans 8:34. We now have One who stand in our behalf. By the way, Jesus is our “defense Attorney,” not our “Prosecutor.” He stands with us, not against us.

“Justification” is the divine declaration before God that “in His sight we are right.”

A divine dilemma (humanly speaking, for God has never faced a dilemma) appeared that had no human solution. How could mankind ever be truly “right” in God’s sight?

4. Justification, HOW is it Accomplished?

“Being now justified by His blood…” Romans 5:9. This is obviously pointing us back to the cross. The Bible says Christ died “the just for the unjust,” 1 Peter 3:18. And if I can add another line that, it was “the just dying for the unjust that we might be justified.”

“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” Romans 3:24. God’s unmerited favor. “freely” = without a cause.

“A missionary became good friends with an Indian pearl diver. They had often talked about salvation, but the Hindu could not believe that it could be a free gift. He believed that salvation might come by walking the nine hundred miles to Delhi on his knees, but not without him offering some kind of sacrifice. But the missionary insisted that salvation was so costly that Jesus had to buy it for us.

Upon leaving the country, the Indian gave the missionary the largest and most perfect pearl he had ever seen. The pearl diver explained that his own son had lost his life in getting this pearl from the bottom of the sea. The missionary thanked him, but then insisted that he pay for it. The Hindu was offended, saying that there was no price that could be paid for a pearl that had cost him his son.

Then and there the truth dawned: That is why Christians insist that no one can pay for salvation. It cost God the death of His only Son. To think we can pay for that is an insult indeed. Grace is free to us but very costly to God.” -- Erwin Lutzer, Spend Eternity with God, p. 4

What does the hymn say?

“In my hand no price I bring

Simply to Thy cross I cling.”

5. Justification, WHEN Does It Take Place?

“Being now justified by His blood…” Romans 5:9. Do you see the word “now”? Underline that word, “N-O-W.” Justification happens in this life, in the “now.” God does not promise to justify us a million years from now if everything turns out all right. We’re not talking about “probation,” we’re talking about “justification.”

If you are justified you are as sure of heaven as if you were already there!

6. Justification, How Does it HAPPEN?

· “And by Him all that believe are justified from all things…” Acts 13:39.

· “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith…” Romans 3:28

· “”But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness,” Romans 4:5

· “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Romans 5:1.

While God’s offers to “freely” justify sinners in His Son, Jesus Christ, no one in the Bible was ever said to be justified who did not believe. Salvation is not extended universally to all people, without exception. Salvation is extended to all, without distinction, but salvation only avails for those who believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.

· “Therefore it is of faith, that it might by grace…” Romans 4:16.

Let me say it this way. The only things you can “do” without “doing anything” is trust. Trusting is not meritorious on our part. The object of our trust is the One who deserves and receives all the glory.

The very fact that righteousness is a free gift makes it so hard for many people. Most people want to do something, add something, promise something to what God freely offers as His gift to those who simply believe.

7. Justification, How Long Does it LAST?

God’s offer of justification comes with a divine guarantee. Listen to it in Romans 8:33-34. “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, this is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

Having had our sins judged in the person of Jesus Christ, is there ever any possibility that….

· We will ever face one sin at the judgment? No.

· We will ever loose our salvation because of our sins? No.

· Is it really possible to be “once saved, always saved”? Yes!

This is how God can be “just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus,” Romans 3:26b. God the Father in infinite wisdom by the work of God the Spirit puts the believing sinner in God the Son imparting to those who believe the fullness of Jesus Christ.. Believers are now “accepted in the Beloved,” Ephesians 1:6. Believing sinners can now no longer be condemned because God has stood in their place, assumed their punishment, paid their debt.

If you are an unbeliever, I plead with you—settle out of court! Christ died so that you might live. Christ suffered so you might not have to suffer.

Some may be distracted today by other issues. Let me say this about your “what if” or “you don’t know my situation” issues. Any issue other than believing in Jesus Christ for your personal salvation serves only to postpone the day of salvation. You dare not run that risk. There is no issue more important, both now and for eternity, than, “Has my soul’s account been settled to the satisfaction of God?”

· “He that believeth on Him (Jesus” is not condemned,” John 3:18.

· “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” Romans 8:1.