Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, … and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. … For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

• Romans 3:22, 24-26, 28

to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

• Ephesians 1:6-7

that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. … God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

• 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21

For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.  David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
“Blessed are those
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

• Romans 4:5-8

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death 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 through the one man, Jesus Christ!
Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

• Romans 5:17-19

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

• Romans 5:1

know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

• Galatians 2:16

and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

• Philippians 3:9

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

• 1 Corinthians 1:30

All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

• Acts 10:43

“Q. 32. What is justification?
“A. Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardons all our sins (Rom. 3:24, Eph. 1:7), and accepts us as righteous in his sight (2 Cor. 5:21) only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us (Rom. 5:19), and received by faith alone (Gal. 2:16, Phil. 3:9).”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon’s Catechism (Scripture proofs in bold above)

“Q. 33. What is justification?
“A. Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.”

• The Shorter Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

“Q. 70. What is justification?
“A. Justification is an act of God’s free grace unto sinners, in which he pardoneth all their sin, accepteth and accounteth their persons righteous in his sight; not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ, by God imputed to them and received by faith alone.”

• The Larger Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

Again, the Larger Catechism is larger, but it only added one verse, Ephesians 1:6 beyond what the Shorter Catechism added.

So, what is “justification?”  God washes us as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18), which will be prominent in the Bible Study tomorrow morning on Isaiah 1.

Odd, in Isaiah 1:18 scarlet becomes as white as snow and crimson becomes like wool.  But there is another oddity with “white as snow.”  The phrase is mentioned seven times in the NIV.  In the three references prior to Isaiah 1:18, “white as snow” refers to leprosy.  In the three references after Isaiah 1:18, “white as snow” refers to the garments of the King of kings, once as prophecy in Daniel and then at Jesus Christ’s ascension in Matthew and His return in Revelation.  Yes, our sin washed away, and all the pain and suffering will eventually be washed away also.

Upon accepting Jesus as our Savior, God forgives and washes us with Christ’s blood.  Our sins, past, present, and future are washed away.  We must still confess our sins and repent, but I like the story someone said a year or two ago.  The person praying had a list of many sins to confess.  As he went through the list, but he got confused, he thought he had skipped one.  He asked God, “I think I skipped the sixth one on the list.  God, what do you have for that sixth one?”  To which God replied, “What sixth one?  What List?”  You see, He had already forgiven and removed the sin as far as east is from west. (Psalm 103:12)

Justification is God’s Grace poured out upon us in great volume.

And now let us sing.

The following song, Nothing But the Blood of Jesus is sung by Carrie Underwood.  She sings the first two verses, but mixes the words of the second verse.  She then mashes parts of verses three and four before repeating verse one.  That is, if you sing along.  It is an interesting interpretation, and well done.

“What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain:
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

• Robert Lowry, Nothing but the Blood

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
We need You.  We thank You.  We have so many sins to confess.  We confess them so that we acknowledge that we still have more to do in becoming more like Jesus, and in confessing, it starts the process of repentance so that you may help us in not ever returning to that sin.  Thank You for Your patience with us.  And thank You, Lord, for Your justification, knowing that our sins are forgiven and removed from us.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.