Jul24-30: Justification and the Law

Teaching Points

1. What is the purpose of the law?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 3:20—by the law is the knowledge of sin.
• Rom. 5:13—Sin is not imputed without the law.
• Rom.  7:7—I had not known sin but by the law.
• Rom. 7:13—the law reveals the exceeding sinfulness of sin. 

2. What is sin?

ANSWER:

• 1Jn. 3:4—Sin is the transgression of the law. 

3. Does being under grace change the fact and obligations of the law?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 6:14, 15—Grace frees us from the condemnation of the law but does not change the obligations of the law.
• It is because God’s law is still binding that we need grace.

4. Is it God’s law that makes me sin?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 7:7—The law is not sin, but it reveals sin in the life.
• Rom. 7:12—the law is holy, just and good. 

5. What is the result of sinning and continuing to sin?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 6:23—the wages of sin is death.  

OBSERVATION:

• The law reveals the exceeding sinfulness of sin and the sin in ones life.
• The law reveals the problem and the consequences of breaking God’s law—death.
• Grace (Christ’s death for our sins and His righteousness replacing our record of past sins) removes the condemnation of the law so that we no longer face death.
• God’s law does not make us sin. Rather, sin is breaking God’s holy, just law.  

6. Is God’s grace adequate for the amount of sins committed in a person’s life?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 5:20—Where sin abounds grace abounds much more.
• God’s grace is more than enough.  

7. Can justification be obtained by keeping the law?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 3:20—No, by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified.
• Rom. 8:3—The law is weak—It has no power to keep us from sinning or give us victory.
• Even if we obey from this point forward that obedience can’t take care of past sin because we still must die for those past sins. Justification is the only answer.  

8. Can I keep the law without outside help?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 7:14, 18—I am sold under sin: to will is present with me, but how to perform I find not.
• No, we are powerless on our own. 

9. Where does the power for victory or keeping the law come from?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 8:1, 2—Being in Christ walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit. 

OBSERVATION:

• God’s grace is sufficient for the greatest sinner. The greater the sins the more grace God offers to forgive and cleanse from sin.
• The law has no ability to save us from the consequences of violating it. No matter how good we keep the law from this day forward this does not atone for our past record of sin.
• Only justification answers the claims of the law because it erases our past record of guilt.
• We cannot keep the law without divine help from God.
• This outside help is found in Jesus  and choosing to walk after the Spirit not our sinful desires.

SOP

• Christ consented to die in the sinner's stead, that man, by a life of obedience, might escape the penalty of the law of God. His death did not make the law of none effect; it did not slay the law, lessen its holy claims, nor detract from its sacred dignity. The death of Christ proclaimed the justice of His Father's law in punishing the transgressor, in that He consented to suffer the penalty of the law Himself in order to save fallen man from its curse. The death of God's beloved Son on the cross shows the immutability of the law of God. His death magnifies the law and makes it honorable, and gives evidence to man of its changeless character. From His own divine lips are heard the words: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." The death of Christ justified the claims of the law.  {2T 200.2} 
• We must center our hopes of heaven upon Christ alone, because He is our Substitute and Surety. We have transgressed the law of God, and by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified. The best efforts that man in his own strength can make are valueless to meet the holy and just law that he has transgressed; but through faith in Christ he may claim the righteousness of the Son of God as all-sufficient. Christ satisfied the demands of the law in His human nature. He bore the curse of the law for the sinner, made an atonement for him, "that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Genuine faith appropriates the righteousness of Christ, and the sinner is made an overcomer with Christ; for he is made a partaker of the divine nature, and thus divinity and humanity are combined.  {FW 93.3} 
• The law of God is the only true standard of moral perfection. That law was practically exemplified in the life of Christ. He says of Himself, "I have kept my Father's commandments" (John 15:10). Nothing short of this obedience will meet the requirements of God's Word. "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1 John 2:6). We cannot plead that we are unable to do this, for we have the assurance, "My grace is sufficient for thee" (2 Corinthians 12:9). As we look into the divine mirror, the law of God, we see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and our own lost condition as transgressors. But by repentance and faith we are justified before God, and through divine grace enabled to render obedience to His commandments.  {RC 96.4} 

CONCLUSION:

• The law reveals the exceeding sinfulness of sin and the consequences of breaking the law—death.
• The law reveals sin in the life leading one to realize his need for the Saviour and power for victory over sin. 
• The law has no power to save one from suffering the consequences of breaking the law.
• God’s grace in the plan of salvation satisfies the claims of the law and sets the sinner free from the condemnation of the Law.
• Grace also empowers the sinner to live a life of victory through Christ living in him.  

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

• When you look at the law does it awaken in you a sense of sin and a desire to get help?
• Do you realize that you need Christ’s power in your life to enable you to keep God’s holy just law?
• Do you realize that you need to experience justification by faith to erase your record of past sin and free you from paying the penalty of sin—death?
• Are you accepting Christ’s righteousness in place of your record of sin by faith?

Jul17-23: Justified by Faith

Teaching Points

1. What is Justified or justification by faith?

ANSWER:

• Strong’s: H6663—to be right, to cleanse, clear self, be righteous.
• G1344—to render just or innocent.
• Innocence by faith
• Rom. 3:19, 20—contextually justified is the opposite of guilty. The answer to guilt is justification.

2. What is faith?

ANSWER:

• Heb. 11:1—Substance of things hoped for; evidence of things not seen.
• Faith is hoping for something that is not yet happened based on God’s promise.
• Justification by faith is innocence based on a future promised event.  

3. Who receives justification?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 3:20—those who believe. 

4. What makes it possible for us to be justified?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 3:24, 25—redemption and propitiation of Christ. 
• Redemption: ransom paid in full, riddance.
• Propitiation: Expiatory (place or thing), atoning victim, to expire, die away, finish, also the lid of the ark (mercy seat). Sprinkling of blood of atoning victim and mercy seat on the Day of Atonement expiated sin. 

5. Where else does the Bible use the word propitiation?

ANSWER:

• Heb. 9:5—Mercy seat. True justification takes place in the Most Holy Place.
• Propitiation in Romans 3:25 is that act of saving us and the Most Holy Place is where He (Jesus) does His final work of redemption. 

OBSERVATION:

• Justified means to declare or render innocent or just—the opposite of guilty.
• Faith is hope in a promised future event.
• Justification by faith means made innocent by hope in a future promised event—being declared innocent (justification).
• Justification comes only to those who believe.
• Redemption is the process of salvation including the propitiation and the remission of past sins.
• The Mercy Seat was where the blood of the expiatory victim was sprinkled to expiate sin. The propitiation is not finished until the blood is used to expiate or blot out sin.
• True justification takes place in the Most Holy Place where Jesus does His final work of redemption.

6. How is the work of propitiation done?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 3:25—though faith in His blood. Blood does the work of propitiation or atones. Blood transferred sin.
•  The final purpose of redemption is not just to take away sin but also to blot out sin so there is no more record of past sins on the person’s account.

7. What step must Jesus take before the work of remission of sins is complete?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 3:25—He must declare His righteousness for remission of past sin.
• This clearly indicates that Christ stands between God and the sinner pleading His blood and righteousness on behalf of the sinner.

8. How is “declare” defined?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 3:25—evident token, proof, evidence, sign, demonstration. “To declare”—a declaration, an act of legal pronouncement. 

9. What clues do we have that this declaration and remission of sin happens in the future?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 3:22, 28 justified by faith.
• Rom. 3:25 Jesus declares His righteousness for sin that are past.
• This future event only deals with past sins—not future sin—therefore this declaration of Christ’s righteousness and actual remitting of sin must take place during a specific time right before probation closes—during the Antitypical day of Atonement or judgment. (Declaring one innocent or justified must take place in a judgment setting).
• Isa. 43:25, 26 declaring and blotting out of sin are related to justification.

10. Who is Jesus the justifier of?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 3:26—Him which believeth in Jesus.  

OBSERVATION:

• Propitiation is done by blood.
• Blood is used not only to take away sin but also to blot out sin—complete expiation.
• The believer puts his faith in the promise of his sins being taken away and completely blotted out by Jesus’ blood.
• Before past sins are remitted, Christ must declare His righteousness before the Father on the sinner’s behalf. 
• This declaration is a legal pronouncement. 
• By faith in Christ’s death for us and faith that He credits His righteousness in place of our past record of sins, Jesus saves us from sin—this is justification. Now by faith, Jesus’ record of righteousness is put in the place of our record of sins.
• Both declaration and blotting out of sin is involved in justification.
• The condition of justification is believing or faith.

SOP

• We have the precious promise that every sin, if sincerely repented of, will be forgiven. To turn to God with contrition of soul, claiming the merits of the blood of Christ, will bring to us light, pardon, and peace. But we must turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, with a decision to be doers of the words of Christ. Our past sins will sometimes come to mind, and cast a shadow over our faith, so that we can see nothing but merited punishment in store for us. But at such times, while we feel sorrow for sin, we should look to Jesus, and believe that he has pardoned our transgressions. "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." To those who, though they have repented, are troubled over their past sins, who are tempted to think that perhaps they are not forgiven, Christ says, "Go, and sin no more." You have found peace with God; through his grace you have entered upon a new life; "by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Then allow no unbelief to come in. Commit the keeping of your souls unto God as to a faithful Creator; he will keep that which is committed to his trust against that day. Instead of looking inward with regret and despair, look outward and upward in faith. Unless you are constantly fighting the fight of faith, the past will press its shadow over the present.  {RH, January 13, 1891 par. 12} 
• All who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of Heaven; as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life. The Lord declares, by the prophet Isaiah, “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” [Isaiah 43:25.] Said Jesus, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven.” [Revelation 3:5; Matthew 10:32, 33.]  {GC88 483.2}
• Imputation of the righteousness of Christ comes through justifying faith, and is the justification for which Paul so earnestly contends. He says: "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. . . . Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law" (Romans 3:20-31).  {1SM 397.4}

CONCLUSION:

• Paul describes justification as the answer to the problem of guilt. In definition justification is innocent or being declared innocent.
• Justification is Christ’s righteousness legally declared in the place of a person’s past record of sin. When the sinner accepts Christ by faith, then God looks at His life as innocent—no longer guilty.
• True justification takes place in the Most Holy Place where Jesus finishes His work of redemption.
• Both declaration and blotting out of sin is involved in justification.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

• Do you realize the importance of the work Jesus is doing in the Most Holy Place right now for you?
• Are you thankful for Jesus pleading for your salvation?
• Does this truth drive you to deeper consecration and love for our wonderful Saviour? 
• Are you accepting Christ’s righteousness in place of your record of sin by faith?

Jul10-16: All Have Sinned

Teaching Points

1. How does Paul describe every human being? 

ANSWER:

• Rom. 3:10-18, —There is none that are righteous or does good, they are deceitful, bitter and curse, swift to shed blood, destructive, and miserable, and have no fear of God before them. 
• Rom. 3:19—guilty before God.
• Rom. 3:23—All have sinned. 

2. What is the result or payment for sin?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 6:23—death. 

3. What is the answer to the death-sin problem?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 6:23—The gift of God through Jesus Christ.

4. What does the name “Jesus” imply and why did he come?

ANSWER:

• Matthew 1:21—“Jesus” is connected to the idea of Saviour.
• He came to save us from our sins

5. How do we know what Jesus came to save us from—what is sin?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 3:20—By the law is the knowledge of sin.
• 1 Jn. 3:4—Sin is the transgression of the law—breaking the law. 

OBSERVATION:

• Paul describes humans as naturally bad, unrighteous, deceitful, destructive, miserable and the list goes on!
• The reason for this is that “all have sinned.”
• The punishment or payment for sin is death—therefore all will die.
• Jesus, the gift of God, came to save us from our sins.
• The law shows us what Jesus came to save us from—it reveals what sin is.

6. How does Jesus save us from sin?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 3:24, 25—By faith in His blood, His righteousness is declared in place of our past record of sins.  
• Being justified. 

7. What do all, both Jews and Gentiles, need in order to be saved?

ANSWER:

• Rom. 3:22-27—The righteousness of Christ by faith—nothing we can do can atone for our past record of sin, but faith in Jesus’ blood who died to free us from the debt for those sins.  

OBSERVATION:

• By faith in Christ’s death for us and faith that He credits His righteousness in place of our past record of sins, Jesus saves us from sin—this is justification. Now by faith, Jesus’ record of righteousness is put in the place of our record of sins.
• This is what all humans need because all have sinned. Jesus death paid the death penalty for our sins if we accept it. 

SOP

• "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," and for this reason the Lord has provided a remedy for sin: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not; whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him." The true test of religious experience is here given. He that abideth in Christ is perfected in the love of God, and his purposes, thoughts, words, and actions are in harmony with the will of God expressed in the commandments of his law. There is nothing in the heart of the man who abides in Christ that is at war with any precept of God's law. Where the Spirit of Christ is in the heart, the character of Christ will be revealed, and there will be manifested gentleness under provocation, and patience under trial. "Little children, let no man deceive you; he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous." Righteousness can be defined only by God's great moral standard, the Ten Commandments. There is no other rule by which to measure character. "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning." It was the refusal of Satan to obey the commandments of God that brought sin and apostasy into the universe. "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."  {Signs of the Times, June 20, 1895 par. 6} 
• The Son of God endured the wrath of God against sin. All the accumulated sin of the world was laid upon the Sin-bearer, the One who was innocent, the One who alone could be the propitiation for sin, because he himself was obedient. He was one with God. Not a taint of corruption was upon him…{Signs of the Times, December 9, 1897 par. 6} 
• And was all this suffering undergone to give men the liberty to transgress the law of God?--No, no. This scene of suffering was because of the law transgressed. In order to save the sinner, and yet meet the demands of the law, it was necessary for Christ to suffer the sinner's penalty. Satan's falsehood that has placed the Christian world as transgressors of God's law would not have been found in such company if his temptations had not taken with them as they did with Adam, if by their tradition man had not made void the law of God in the place of leading men to obedience to all its commands.  {Signs of the Times, December 9, 1897 par. 7} 

CONCLUSION:

• Paul describes the evilness of the human heart and reveals the problem: sin.
• This problem of sin caused another problem: death.
• In order to have eternal life we need a Saviour: Jesus.
• Jesus came to save us from sin: breaking the law.
• Jesus paid our death penalty and puts His righteousness in place of our past record of sin: justification.
• In order have this great gift from God we must accept it by faith. 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

• Do you accept the reality that you are a sinner in need of a Saviour?
• Are you willing to come to Christ, confess you sins and your need of salvation and accept His blood for you?
• Are you accepting Christ’s righteousness in place of your record of sin or are you clinging to your sins?