Here's the launching point for this discussion: Romans 3 & 4. For the sake of legitimacy, please stay true to the Text.
Justified — δικαιόω [dikaioō - dik-ah-yo'-o]
- to render righteous or such he ought to be
- to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
- to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be
Justification — δικαίωσις [dikaiōsis - dik-ah'-yo-sis]
- the act of God declaring men free from guilt and acceptable to him
- abjuring to be righteous, justification
I look forward to reading your responses.
I think this ties into the tail end of your previous article on Galatians...right?
ReplyDeleteI have had a few discussions with people who seem to think that we need the law to go hand-in-hand with grace and the cross. What this tells me is that most people don't really understand the cross, justification through grace, rather than the law, and haven't really read the bible. Then again, I think the confusion is in our upbringing and the mixed messages we are given that we are saved by grace, yet we must do A-Z based on the personal beliefs/issues of a church and/or pastor.
I don't think people realize what the law was and if you must follow it, you must follow all of it: no mixed fabrics, parapets, and other guidelines for multiple wives, servants, keeping the sabbath day..etc. Even in trying to discuss this issue, the self-justification crowd's field of view is often limited, and run into a wall because they don't realize God is so much bigger than what they can see. Those trying to live under the law or self-justification, haven't really let go of "self" or "me" and haven't completely grasped the power of the cross to understand that it isn't about "me" its about Jesus.
Throughout the Bible, it was never about the great men of the Bible, it was about God. It wasn't David's might that brought down Goliath, it was God's. It wasn't Abraham's might that he became a mighty nation, it was God's. It wasn't about Joshua's ability as a warrior or general, it was about God's power to deliver him from his enemies.
Justification comes from Christ, and there is nothing you can do to make yourself more justified in Him, and we must have faith in God's love for us and His ability to justify us. Thus the first step is to let go of "me" and have faith God is more than enough.
Thanks for the comment Aaron.
ReplyDeleteAre there responsibilities for relationship?
Look who is "justified" according to Jesus in His Word:
ReplyDeleteLuke 18:10-14
Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector
9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer*: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”