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Romans 1:18-22
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. Today we are going to begin a journey through the great doctrine of justification, which teaches us that it is God, and God alone, Who declares us to be righteous in His sight. It is also this doctrine that makes it abundantly clear that human works can’t be used as a basis for obtaining favor with God that will secure a right relationship to God, His blessings, and ultimately entrance into heaven. This has been the place where so many great men and women of God have come to the point of complete surrender to God because they realize that to be an adopted child of God, He must declare them free of all guilt of sin to complete the adoption process. Justification is an act of God that completes our adoption so our redemption/salvation is secure for all eternity. So let’s dig into this doctrine that reveals the heart of God for Man’s eternal redemption by starting with:
- JUSTIFICATION DEFINED: Most often the word “justification” as used in Scripture means: GOD declares a person to be legally released from all charges.” As we get deeper into justification you will clearly see and understand why God is the only Person who can release us from the charges against us. The charges against all Mankind are the reason:
- JUSTIFICATION IS DEMANDED. The simplest way to explain why all people must be justified by God is because we are all guilty before God and He is angry with us! Why? We have all violated, even disregarded God’s moral and spiritual laws. God’s moral laws are those laws God has given us that define how we relate to, and interact with all other people. They are summarized in the last 6 commandments given in Ex. 20:12-17. Every time you read in Scripture any principle that deals with how you relate to other people in any way, it is part of God’s moral law. God’s spiritual laws are those laws God has given us that define how we will relate to, and interact with God! They are summarized in the 1st 4 commandments given in Ex. 20:1-11. Every time you read in Scripture any principle that deals with how you relate to God in any way, it is part of God’s spiritual law. Paul’s theme to the Romans is found in 1:16. It is the clearest statement of the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith that can be stated by any person. After his intro in 1:11-17, Paul begins the most clearly stated explanation of Man’s need of justification in print today. Verses 18-20 give us the reasons for God’s anger. In v. 19 we see the 1st reason is because “men suppress the truth by their wickedness.” Paul describes what unrighteousness looks like in the lives of people who suppress God’s truth in 1:29-32. God is also angry with us because, v. 21 “men do not glorify God nor are they grateful to Him.” Another reason God is angry with us is in v. 23. Men became idolaters. How did that happen? They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images! Take note of the downward progression as a result of abandoning God. Further, God is angry with Man because as sin sucks us further into degradation people “exchange the truth of God for a lie.” 25. Now watch! When people set aside God’s truth and live according to their own lies, they “worship and serve created things, rather than the creator.” People become idolaters and worship their own pride! Now watch! When any person tries to bribe God by thinking they can get to heaven any other way through faith in Christ’s finished work on Calvary, watch, they are guilty of all 4 of these reasons for God’s anger! So, are you one who thinks: “God must be mad at me, because my life sure isn’t what I read in Scripture a Christian’s life is supposed to be?” If so, you need to come to grips with the truth that you live in this passage of Scripture. You are already guilty and condemned by God and on your way to an eternal hell! Now, that is the bad news. Here is the good news! You don’t have to continue a life overshadowed by God’s anger at you for all these reasons. You have an opportunity right now to stop being His enemy, and become one of His adopted children. All you have to do is ask yourself – do I want to stay here in the darkness of sin, or do I want to move into God’s eternal light and life? Before you answer, will your answer in any way suppress the truth of God?
If we can help you with your spiritual questions, call us at 574-643-9419.
