Justified

Good Morning! 

Our Bible study for this coming Lord’s Day will be in Romans 5.  As I mentioned before, we are having virtual church … church and Bible study over the internet.  If you would be interested in joining the study, please send me an email at jim.gant@gmail.com and I will send the link to you.  Our study starts at 9:00 (prayer and praise time) with Bible study beginning around 9:15 or so.  I would love to “see” you Sunday morning.

We have been walking down the Roman Road in our Bible study.  Paul made this journey because he felt compelled to present the gospel to the people in Rome.  His very first point is the depravity of human … so much so that God gave them over to a reprobate mind.  I believe this is what we have witnessed in our culture over the last few decades.  And it isn’t getting any better.  Men and women are committed to hedonism … the worship of self.  God is omitted from many lives … and, worse – in my mind, placed on the “back burner” in many others. For many, God is treated as a convenience … there for when I need Him, but don’t bother me at other times. 

Thus far in our study, Paul has pointed out that there isn’t anyone who is righteous … not even one.  We cannot claim ignorance of the existence of God because He is revealed in all things around us.  We cannot claim to be in a right relationship with God because we refuse to honor Him as God.  We want to be on an equal plane … to have the RIGHT to determine our destiny.  Well, folks, the only destiny of any human is death … period. That is … unless you have the promise of eternal life found only in Christ Jesus.

Paul also points out that humans are incapable of earning righteousness because all of us have sinned. One has to realize that the basis of sin is the attitude displayed above … the desire to be god of one’s life.  Sins are the actions and attitudes that spring from that base desire … and that is what separates us from God Almighty who is the giver of life … both on earth and for eternity.

Therefore, we are at war with God because of our sin nature.  The only way we can find peace with God is to be justified before Him.  But there isn’t anyone who fits that bill … or, wasn’t anyone until God took off the mantle of holiness and became as we in the person of Jesus. As Paul writes in 2^nd Corinthians 5:21 … “21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 

Romans 5 tells us that it is our faith in the blood of Jesus that justifies us before God. No other means of justification is given for humanity … only Jesus.  Paul recalls the actions of Adam in the Garden of Eden when he and Eve chose to fall prey to Satan’s ploy … where Satan promised that they could become as God if they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. That one act of disobedience permeates throughout humanity … each of us being born with the desire to be in control.  But the blood of Jesus rectifies all.  Listen to Paul’s final statements on that in Chapter 5:

Romans 5:18-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

18 Therefore, as one trespass[a] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[b] leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Footnotes:

a.     Romans 5:18 Or the trespass of one

b.     Romans 5:18 Or the act of righteousness of one

Why is this the subject of today’s Good Morning?  Like Paul, I feel compelled to share the gospel message to all people.  I know that many – if not all – of you have placed your trust in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.  But what if someone stumbling over this blog did not know Christ?  Would the words of encouragement given lead him or her to faith in Christ?  I hope so.

How about your words with others?  Do you feel the same compulsion that Paul had?  I hope so.

God bless each of you this weekend.  Stay safe … and separate.

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer:  Father, You know my heart. And I know how often I fail to honor You with my life. As David said in his psalm to You so many years ago, create in me a clean heart, O God.  And renew a right spirit within me.  Caste me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of my salvation. This I ask in Jesus’ Name … Amen.

Scripture for today: Romans 5:18-21