Tuesday, September 02, 2025
Justification by faith
The Just and the Justifier by Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey
One of the most intriguing descriptions of God is found in Romans 3:26, where we read, "that He might be just and the justifier." W. A. Criswell explains, "The entire significance of the atonement is nowhere more succinctly or wonderfully stated than in this verse (Romans 3:26)." John R. W. Stott said, "Thus God himself gave himself to save us from himself." Matthew Henry correctly concluded that "God is either your worst enemy or your best friend." In the oldest book in the Bible, Job asked, "But how can a man be righteous before God?" (Job 9:2). How can you become justified or righteous before God? Let's look at how righteousness is defined, demonstrated, and delivered.
Note how righteousness is defined. Romans 3:21-23 reads, "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This righteousness comes from God through the selfless sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, not from our self-effort. Paul the apostle writes, "But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us" (Titus 3:4-5).
Note how righteousness is demonstrated. Romans 3:24-26 reads, "being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." God's righteousness is demonstrated through the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ, through His death on the cross for the forgiveness of sin.
Note how righteousness is delivered. Romans 3:22b; 26b reads, "to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference . . . that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." When John Bunyan, the author of the well-known allegory titled, The Pilgrim's Progress, read this passage found in Romans 3:21-26, he said that it was as though God was speaking personally to his own soul saying, "Sinner, do you think that because of your sins and the sickness of your soul, I cannot save you? But behold, My Son is by Me, and upon Him I look, and not upon you, and I will deal with you according as I am pleased with Him!" Matthew Henry wisely warned, "Those who will not deliver themselves into the hand of God's mercy cannot be delivered out of the hand of his justice." Make certain that you know God as the just and the justifier!
One of the most intriguing descriptions of God is found in Romans 3:26, where we read, "that He might be just and the justifier." W. A. Criswell explains, "The entire significance of the atonement is nowhere more succinctly or wonderfully stated than in this verse (Romans 3:26)." John R. W. Stott said, "Thus God himself gave himself to save us from himself." Matthew Henry correctly concluded that "God is either your worst enemy or your best friend." In the oldest book in the Bible, Job asked, "But how can a man be righteous before God?" (Job 9:2). How can you become justified or righteous before God? Let's look at how righteousness is defined, demonstrated, and delivered.
Note how righteousness is defined. Romans 3:21-23 reads, "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This righteousness comes from God through the selfless sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, not from our self-effort. Paul the apostle writes, "But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us" (Titus 3:4-5).
Note how righteousness is demonstrated. Romans 3:24-26 reads, "being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." God's righteousness is demonstrated through the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ, through His death on the cross for the forgiveness of sin.
Note how righteousness is delivered. Romans 3:22b; 26b reads, "to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference . . . that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." When John Bunyan, the author of the well-known allegory titled, The Pilgrim's Progress, read this passage found in Romans 3:21-26, he said that it was as though God was speaking personally to his own soul saying, "Sinner, do you think that because of your sins and the sickness of your soul, I cannot save you? But behold, My Son is by Me, and upon Him I look, and not upon you, and I will deal with you according as I am pleased with Him!" Matthew Henry wisely warned, "Those who will not deliver themselves into the hand of God's mercy cannot be delivered out of the hand of his justice." Make certain that you know God as the just and the justifier!
# posted by Groseys messages @ 8:47 PM 
