”To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. ” | Romans 3: 26

Ultimately, there have only ever been two beliefs among professing Christians throughout all generations.

One belief is that it is the sinner’s act of believing which justifies him before God.

The other is that it is God who is both just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

I do not doubt that many are sincere in their desire to show “charity” when they attempt to bridge these opposing beliefs.

I have heard it said that the issue is not what the Lord Jesus Christ did or did not accomplish by his one offering, but rather the issue is “justification by faith.”

Such error is the same as saying the issue is not on whom one believes but merely that he believes.

It is the same as saying it is not Christ’s work that justifies but “self’s act of believing” that justifies.

To say such a thing is to make the justifier, not God, but “self.”

The slightest agreement with such comprise is not only the opposite of love, it is blasphemous to God and murderous to our friends and family.

The very righteousness of God, witnessed throughout scripture by both the law and the prophets, is that sinners are justified freely by God showing grace to whom he is pleased to show grace.

Christ Jesus justified those for whom he fully paid the ransom.

God declared his righteousness clearly before the whole world by setting forth his Son in whom both justice and mercy are satisfied toward all whom God chose to save.

”Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3: 24-26)

God’s very righteousness is that he alone is both just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Justification by faith is the Spirit of God shutting sinner’s mouths and giving such vessel’s of mercy faith to believe on their Justifier.

The gospel is offensive to sinners because, by nature, we want the glory that belongs to God alone.

Yet, if we would truly be a friend to sinners, we must not attempt to save ourselves from the hurt we will incur by stating the truth of God according to his word.

”Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15: 13)

The Lord Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”.

If we would truly show love to all who will listen, we must lay down our lives and preach the gospel by which God is pleased to call out those he has justified – doing so is showing the greatest of all charity.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “The Shepherd and His Sheep” (49:59 minutes)

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Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 8 March, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey