“JUSTIFICATION EXPLAINED” Part 1 of 2
The
Reformers pointed out the words “justify”
and “justification” are legal and judicial words
connected
with courts of law and closely related to trials, judgment,
penalties
and justice (Deut 25:1; 1Kings 8:32; 1Cor 4:3; Matt 12:37; Rom
3:4). The
words refer, and directly point to a declaration
and pronouncement from the divine court in heaven, whereby a
sinner will
have right-standing with God upon believing what God has already
done
for him. Christ has fulfilled the law on his behalf and therefore paid
the
penalty for his sins. “Justification” does not mean a
change in
the man, but a declaration of how he appears in God’s eyes.
JUSTIFICATION IS A REALITY THAT CAN BE DESCRIBED 15
WAYS AS FOLLOWS:
EXTRINSIC RIGHTEOUSNESS: Our righteousness is not inherent, inborn or
originate from within ourselves.
ALIEN RIGHTEOUSNESS: It’s foreign to us. Like an alien coming
to earth in the science fiction movies, our righteousness comes from
another
planet – that is, from heaven, and his name is Jesus Christ. As the
manna came
from heaven, Christ our bread has come from heaven.
FORENSIC RIGHTEOUSNESS: Our righteousness can be forensically examined
and is based on facts and the science of objective enquiry.
OBJECTIVE RIGHTEOUSNESS: Our righteousness does not involve the human
experience. It is not subjective or dependent on what we think. “I
think I have
enough? Maybe I don’t!”
It is impartial, pre-determined and promised.
IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS: If the righteousness of God was all the water in the
world’s
oceans, you would have to drink the whole lot to be righteous before
God. An
impossible task! Therefore we have spiritual bank account where
we keep
all this water in safe keeping for us, and the account name is “The
Lord Jesus
Christ”.
EXTERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS: It comes from outside of us.
LEGAL RIGHTEOUSNESS: Our righteousness comes from a judge who pronounces
and declares our liberty and freedom even though we are not
righteous within ourselves. The law has been satisfied – as the saying
goes “We
did crime but Christ did the time.” The fine has been paid by someone
else.
JUDICIAL RIGHTEOUSNESS: A jury has decided and it is a jury of one – God
Jesus Christ, God the Father and God the Holy Ghost “…and these
three are
one … and these three agree in one.” 1 John 5:7-8
VICARIOUS RIGHTEOUSNESS: For some parents, their child’s success is their
success. Christ’s achievements and ‘success’ are our success.
His right
standing before God the Father is our right-standing. Christ’s
fulfilment of God’s law is our fulfilment of God’s law.
“FOR US” RIGHTEOUSNESS: If you inherited 100 trillion, quadrillion, billion,
gazillion dollars you couldn’t collect this in a couple of suitcases.
It would
have to be kept in a bank account – you couldn’t keep it in your house.
Similarly
our ‘body-house’ cannot contain the immeasurable amount of God’s
goodness we
need. We have a ‘spiritual bank account’ where this equivalent and
uncountable
amount of God’s spiritual righteousness is kept. The account name is
“The Lord
Jesus Christ”. Our righteousness is kept in safe keeping for us.
PASSIVE RIGHTEOUSNESS: We did not work for it. We were passive. It was
put to our account by the active work of Christ who performed the Law
of God. 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.
Ephesians
2:8-9
DECLARED RIGHTEOUSNESS: We are declared, pronounced, righteous from
God’s court of law, even though we are not (Rom 3:26). The flesh stills
sins
but the soul has been saved (Col 2:11)
DONE RIGHTEOUSNESS: Christ has done all the work needed on our behalf.
There remains no more sacrifice for sins (John 19:30; Heb 10:26). No
other
sacrifices or work are needed. They are a total waste of time.
“AS IF” RIGHTEOUSNESS that is a pasted-on righteousness. Our
righteousness has been pasted onto us like a “Pin the Tail on the
Donkey” game.
Or like a cut out picture that is glued to another picture.
“SIMUL JUSTUS ET PECCATOR” RIGHTEOUSNESS: The war cry, the slogan and the rallying cry of the
Reformation tearing down the bastions of Rome’s darkness. Yes, as
Christians we
are “SINFUL YET RIGHTEOUS AT THE SAME TIME”. A saved soul
trapped within
a sinful fleshy body.
As
a paraphrased St Paul said: “God has left enough fleas on this dog,
myself,
to let me know I am still a dog, but a saved dog, lest I be exalted
above
measure. My soul is righteous but my body is sinful.” (2Cor 12:7)
‘SCHIZOPHRENICS’ FOR GOD! TWO PEOPLE IN ONE!
**** ****
Harley Hitchcock
This
website’s front page is:
www.
“JUSTIFICATION EXPLAINED” Part 2
Australian Bible Ministries, PO
Box 5058 Mt. Gravatt East 4122 Qld, Australia
www.AustralianBibleMinistries.com
