• CHRISTOCENTRIC MEAL
• DR ABEL DAMINA
• FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020

• JUSTIFICATION

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Deuteronomy 30:11-15 Moses described the righteousness, which is of the law and the righteousness of the faith of Christ.

Romans 3:20 …By the works of the law nobody is justified in his sight.
Vs 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

You can't be justified by God and by the law at the same time. This justification is free, it places no demands on the person in question.

Vs 26 To declare, [I say,] at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

God doesn't justify works. He justifies faith, and this is not as an after thought.

Vs 30 Seeing [it is] one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and circumcision through faith.

Justification is only by faith. It’s the character of God that man is justified by faith.

Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath [whereof] to glory; but not before God

Trying to be justified by works is futility with God. He justifies the ungodly. Who called Abraham ungodly? Not God. He doesn’t find fault. It was the law that labeled him ungodly.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

This is the original plan, not an afterthought.

Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

He justifies by faith. It’s the law that lays a charge. Paul is making a distinction between the law and God.

Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? [It is] God that justifieth.

So righteousness through the law cannot be the same as the righteousness of God.

God has never placed any demands on man to be perfect. It’s a wrong notion to say that God only brought justification when man didn't meet the standards he set. It’s not true!

God has always been the provider of all that man needed and he provided ahead of time. To show his love, he leaves man with a choice to demonstrate faith or unbelief. The law justified by works while God justified by faith. Faith in Christ is therefore righteousness or right living with God.

Confession: I am not justified by my own works. I am justified by his own works. He demonstrated his love that I might be righteous. God never placed any demands on me, I am righteous only by his works and not mine.