This and That 090912 Justified – period!

One afternoon I listened to Alistair Begg’s sermon, After Darkness Light.  I am so blessed by his teaching and almost all of his sermons are free at www.truthforlife.com. 

This particular sermon dealt with justification.  I know – big word and one we can get so used to that we cease to really hear it.  But we need to get a grasp on the power in that term and make good use of it in our lives

Paul writes:

Rom 8:30-31  And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.  (31)  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Justification is done.  It was done on the cross and proclaimed by the words:

Joh 19:30  . . . . "It is finished," . . . .

In that majestic and horrible moment God,

2Co 5:21  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

As I listened to Alistair I thought, “this was a perfect execution of justice in an unjust execution.”  That is, He who did not deserve this punishment took this punishment and the punishment is done.  So, Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

We must, even if we struggle, to accept that,

1Pe 2:24  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

I like to say that if one is going on a journey, the most important thing they have to know is where they are.  If we have that wrong, then not maps, compasses or anything else will be of use to us.  If we enter the wrong coordinates as our starting point, we will have a much harder time getting to our goal.

Praise God, however, that unlike a journey we make, in Him it is a journey He takes us on.  Praise God, our skills at navigation are not necessary for He intends to get us to our journey’s end and nothing can thwart that.  But the quality of that journey, the security of that journey is something in which He calls us to be a part.

This is the importance of you and me standing firm on His, “It is finished.”  This is the point from which we begin our journey, whether we begin daily, hourly or minute by minute.  To start any place else will only get us diverted and make our journey arduous and painful. 

Paul writes,

Php 1:6  And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Why can Paul be so sure?  Because the beginning of that good work was our justification. 

No, do not think as some do that it is “just as if I” had died for my sins.  It is not.  The holy and righteous Son of God died for our sins and our dying for them would only have gotten us to hell.  You dying for your sins would be you dying in your sins and what is the consequence of that?  You and I could never, even by our deaths, satisfy the demands of God’s justice.

But the gracious and intentional acceptance by a holy and righteous redeemer could and did. 

And so, it is indeed finished.

And so, it is indeed begun.

Michael Sanders, Chaplain

ms@tc2v1.com

www.tc2v1.com

UIH 3

What a blessing it is to have a brother or sister in Christ to come along side you and “restore” you gently and kindly.  Paull writes:

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.   (2Co 13:11)

I am particularly focused on, “aim for restoration.”

Restoration:  καταρτίζω, katartizō

Thayer Definition:

1) to render, i.e. to fit, sound, complete

1a) to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair

1a1) to complete

1b) to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust

1b1) to fit or frame for one’s self, prepare

1c) ethically: to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be

UIH is a place where we pray that will happen.  We all get “down” either through circumstances or sin (ours or that of others) and we need to be, “restored.”  We find that same word in:

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  (Gal 6:1-2)

This is one of the most wonderful things the fellowship of believers can do for one another.  But it can be a tough thing to be willing to have done to one’s self.  Admitting a need, a lack of understanding, being caught in a transgression is a very uncomfortable thing to do.  The promise of meeting, “a spirit of gentleness,” goes a long way to easing our way into reaching out.

Us in Him, through the study, counseling and fellowship  seeks to do this.  We pray that He will hold us and keep us in that “spirit of gentleness,”  as we seek, all of us, to be restored – together.   James makes it clear:

For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.  (Jas 3:2)

Note, “we all,” stumble and we do it in, “many ways.”  So we need helping hearts and hands to lift us up and steady us as we gain our feet.

Just this week I had several in my circle of believers comfort and restore me.  It was hard to admit I needed restoring but once I was willing to let go of my pride and the ickiness of it God blessed me gently and greatly through others.  As we are admonished to do this we need to be willing to have it done to us.  

It’s scarier out there when you feel all alone.