with Pastor Chris McCool (9/25/2023)
In today’s post, I want to begin sharing an article by Elder Buddy Abernathy regarding the three types of “justification” taught in Scripture. These three are justification by grace, justification by faith, and justification by works. Each type of justification has its place and fills an important role in our lives, but only justification by grace gets us to heaven!
Join us today as we begin looking at this concept of justification as taught in the Bible.
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
THREE KINDS OF JUSTIFICATION, PART ONE
I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? (Job 9:2)
By Elder Buddy Abernathy
The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Tim. 2:15 KJV). In his first letter to the church at Corinth, he emphasized the necessity of the Holy Ghost in comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1Cor. 2:13). In the book of Nehemiah, Ezra, the Levites, and others, “…read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. (Neh. 8:8 KJV). The prophet Isaiah wrote, Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little (Isa 28:9-10 KJV). All these verses identify the reason why the Bible may appear to have contradictions unless it is rightly divided, i.e., “cut straight” or “handled aright” (2 Cor. 2:17, 4:1-2). It is unlike any other book in the world. As a seamstress must cut cloth so that the pieces fit together, such is the case with the infallible word of God (Psa. 12:6 & 2 Tim 3:16).
Justification is a subject which exemplifies the importance of rightly dividing the word of truth. Justify means, “to render, declare, or exhibit one to be righteous”. The Bible teaches that God’s people are justified by Christ. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2Co 5:21 KJV). We were made the righteousness of God in Christ; therefore, we are justified (declared righteous) before God in Christ. God has accepted his people in Christ (Eph. 1:6). We are acceptable to God based on what Christ has done for us. Consider the following verses which attribute our justification to Christ.
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Rom 5:9 KJV)
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Rom 3:24 KJV)
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Rom 4:25 KJV)
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1Co 6:11 KJV)
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Tit 3:4-7 KJV)
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 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. (Rom 8:29-30 KJV)
Thousands of years ago, Job said, “I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? (Job 9:2). Job is asking the same question that many of God’s children ask today. How can a sinner so vile as I be made righteous before God? The gospel answers this question, …by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.…but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Heb 9:12, 26 KJV). For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Heb 10:14 KJV)
To Be Continued. . . .