JustificationJustification

© John Stevenson, 2012

And He also told this parable to some And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they people who trusted in themselves that they

were righteous, and viewed others with were righteous, and viewed others with contempt (Luke 18:9).contempt (Luke 18:9).

Two men went up into the temple to pray, one Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 1111 The The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself:

“God, I thank You that I am not like other “God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. like this tax collector. 1212 I fast twice a week; I I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.” (Luke 18:10-12).pay tithes of all that I get.” (Luke 18:10-12).

But the tax collector, standing some But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up distance away, was even unwilling to lift up

his eyes to heaven, but was beating his his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, the breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, the

sinner!” (Luke 18:13).sinner!” (Luke 18:13).

I tell you, this man went to his house I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who exalts himself will be humbled, but he

who humbles himself will be exalted. who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 18:14).(Luke 18:14).

And when all the people and the tax-gatherers And when all the people and the tax-gatherers heard this, they ACKNOWLEDGED GOD’S heard this, they ACKNOWLEDGED GOD’S

JUSTICE, having been baptized with the JUSTICE, having been baptized with the baptism of John. (Luke 7:29).baptism of John. (Luke 7:29).

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the on our behalf, that we might become the

righteousness of God in Him. righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21).(2 Corinthians 5:21).

His righteousnessHis righteousness

Our sin

Romans 4:1-2Romans 4:1-2What then shall we say that

Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

Romans 4:1-2Romans 4:1-2What then shall we say that

Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

Romans 4:3Romans 4:3For what does the Scripture say?

“And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Romans 4:4-5Romans 4:4-5Now to the one who works, his

wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

Romans 4:6-8Romans 4:6-8....just as David also speaks of the ....just as David also speaks of the blessing upon the man to whom God blessing upon the man to whom God reckons righteousness apart from reckons righteousness apart from works: works: 77 “Blessed are those whose “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. whose sins have been covered. 88 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”will not take into account.”

Romans 4:23-25Romans 4:23-25Now not for his sake only was it

written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

Romans 5:1-2Romans 5:1-2Therefore, having been justified by

faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:6-7Romans 5:6-7For while we were still helpless, at

the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.

Romans 5:8-9Romans 5:8-9But God demonstrates His own

love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

• God is infinite.God is infinite.• God’s righteousness is infinite. God’s righteousness is infinite. • Anything less than God’s righteousness Anything less than God’s righteousness

is separated from that righteousness by is separated from that righteousness by an infinite gulf. an infinite gulf.

• Therefore, the righteousness that God Therefore, the righteousness that God demands must always be an infinite demands must always be an infinite righteousness. righteousness.

• Sin is contrary to God’s righteousness. Sin is contrary to God’s righteousness. • Therefore, sin is infinite in demerit. Therefore, sin is infinite in demerit. • Because sin is infinite in demerit, it Because sin is infinite in demerit, it

demands an infinite punishment against demands an infinite punishment against the sinner. the sinner.

• The righteousness that God credits to The righteousness that God credits to the believer’s account is an infinite the believer’s account is an infinite righteousness.righteousness.