Justification: Made Right (Heaven't Best Series)

Justification (Offered right standing in God) Romans 8:30 (NIV) ➢(Made Right)

And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Rom 8.30

Focus: Exploring what it means to have a right standing with God and how that is lived out in our faith.

How would we live if we fully lived into the knowledge of impeccable status (VIP) with God? How will this cancel self-righteousness in our lives?

Acts 13:38-40New International Version (NIV)

38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.(A) 39 Through him everyone who believes(B) is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.(C) 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:

Romans 4:24-25New International Version (NIV)

24 but also for us,(A) to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him(B) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.(C) 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins(D) and was raised to life for our justification.(E)

Romans 4:6-8New International Version (NIV)

6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven,whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”[a](A)

Romans 5:15-19New International Version (NIV)

15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man,(A) how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ,(B) overflow to the many! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death(C) reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life(D) through the one man, Jesus Christ! 18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people,(C) so also one righteous act resulted in justification(D) and life(E) for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man(F) the many were made sinners,(G) so also through the obedience(H) of the one man the many will be made righteous

Romans: Need for Justification: 1:18-3.20; Way of Justification 3:21-4:25; Fruit of Justification 4.6

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We Statements  (Heart of this message): Paul’s language reminds us that what he has in Christ is also ours.

• We have peace with God
• Absence of War
• God offers Himself to us. 
• What is justification without reconciliation?
• (Let us have peace with God…please!)

• We have gained access…into grace
• Position of acceptance
• Access = introduction (suggests our unfitness to enter & the need for someone to introduce us.)
• Stand! (no occasional appearance here…we live in the palace!)
• This relationship is not haphazard…it belongs to us via Christ

• We rejoice in hope of the glory of God
• joyful and confident expectation based upon the promises of God
• We hope for the Glory of God, fully disclosed
• Jesus will appear and we shall be changed, redeemed and fully sharing in God’s glory (817)

Past (Forgivness). Present (Stand). Future (Glory)

• We rejoice in sufferings
• Not merely endure…rejoice in them!
• Find the divine rationale and lean into it
• Suffering leads to maturity, productivity if we avoid bitterness
• Produces hope, which is no fantasy…=

• We shall be saved
• “Already and not yet”
• What Christ accomplished in appearance #1 & what’ll happen in appearance #2
• We share his life now and will share his resurrection
• The best is yet to come
• We rejoice in God

• In v.2.17 Paul rebukes the people who “brag” about their relationship with God
• Exulting in God is different from bragging/boasting
• Boasting as if God were your trophy, or, you have a monopoly on Him, is wrong
• Exultation=  we have no claim on God. His claim is on us..and begin while we were yet sinners/outsiders
• Exultation is to rejoice in God’s merciful exploits to us and not in our possession of Him.

➤Justification breeds joy!

“We rejoice in Christ-centered worship & not self-centered triumphalism” ~ John Stott in Romans, God’s Good News For The World

Closing: We Statements

• We have peace with God
• We have gained access…into grace
• We rejoice in hope of the glory of God
• We shall be saved
• We rejoice in God

Only if we confidence in Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for us, and acceptance of us!

Good works can’t get you close. Bad deeds can’t push you away.

God’s gift to us is Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. Your faith in what Jesus Christ has done for you will change your life and destiny.

How will you now live, knowing you have VIP status with God that is based on God’s love, and work on your behalf?