Session 3
God the Just and Justifier
Steve Lawson
Romans 3: 21-26
How can God be both just and justifier at the same time? If God failed to punish sinners, He would become unjust. A judge who knowingly lets a guilty man go free becomes a participant in the guilt, in the crime. God must punish every single sin.
How can God both punish sin and justify sinners?
Our sins were punished to the fullest extent of the law on the cross of Jesus Christ.
Calvin said of justification: The main hinge on which salvation turns. (Heavy vault doors swing on relatively small hinges.
Luther: Justification by faith is the chief on which the church stands or falls.
What does this doctrine of justification tell us about God Himself.
- Theology produces doxology
Seven attributes of God seen in the doctrine to justification (Dr. Lawson always has a series of points)
- The faithfulness of God: God promised to send a redeemer, a sin-bearer. God bore witness through the law and the prophets throughout the Old Testament. God keeps His promise, providing what He promised so long ago. (Rom 1:2)
- The righteousness of God: Rom 3: 21-22, 3:25-26; Eze 18:3 Breaking the law of God requires the death penalty.
- The holiness of God: Rom 3:23 All have fallen short of the mark, short of the glory of God. Intrinsic glory of God and the ascribed glory of God.
- The immutability of God: Rom 3:24 Being justified as a gift. We are justified in the past, the eternal declaration of God (we were justified before we were even born and committed even one sin)
- The grace of God. Even the faith in God is a gift from God. Dead sinners have no will to have faith in God. (Eph 2:8; Phi 1:29; Heb 12:2)
- The wrath of God Rom 3:25 God provided Christ as propitiation. There is not one drop of wrath in the cup of God’s judgment left for us. Now the smile of God’s pleasure is upon us (this is my beloved Son…)
- The forbearance of God. Rom 3:25. He passed over sins previously committed. His wrath and mercy was held back until the time when Christ came forth. God is patietn and long-suffering with sinners.
As those who has been justified by an act outside of ourselves, how do we justify separation from others who have likewise been justified outside of themselves in denominations, factions and sects?
2 comments:
I think we ought consider professing Christians that believe in basic Christian doctrine, our brethren.
We may not agree on all doctrine, but we aren't saved by our good doctrine anyway, but rather by Christ and Him alone.
I think it's ok to criticize doctrine, but we ought not judge another's salvation.
Christ alone will do that... and He doesn't want or need our help.
Steve, I agree completely. There is a dangerous line we cross when we start to link orthodoxy with salvation. I have more to say on that specifically in an upcoming post. Of course, I still hold that Reformed theology is the best expression of the doctrines of the Bible as a whole!
By the way, that thought at the end was my thought as I was jotting down notes, and didn't appear in the talk by Dr. Lawson.
Post a Comment