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Calvary Missionary Baptist Church |
"Justification" -Outline used, New Hampshire Confession One of the most important basic Bible teachings is Justification. By justification I mean the instance when Jesus declares a person righteous, not by the man's own merit, but by faith in the atoning death of Christ. The primary gift of God to believers through Jesus Christ is justification. Justification includes the pardon of sin and eternal life, and is given by grace to all who believe in Jesus Christ. Justification brings us into a state of peace with God and secures every other blessing needed for time and eternity. That believers are declared just, or righteousness, upon faith in Christ is a key doctrine of our faith, for upon this doctrine hinges our view of Jesus' death and personal work in a believer's life. I. God's gift to man through faith in Christ is justification. a. Defined - the act of declaring or accounting a person just or righteous. This act involves a change in state, not of heart. "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man 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." - Acts 13:38-39 II. Justification includes the pardon of sin. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." - Romans 5:8-9 "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." - Acts 10:43 III. Justification includes eternal life. "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." - Romans 5:17-18 "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life." - I John 2:25 IV. Justification is given to man by grace through faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:23 "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:" - Philippians 3:7-9 V. Justification brings us to a state of peace with God and secures every other blessing needed for time and eternity. "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:30-31 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33 |