“(It’s) legal fiction…
Righteousness is not an object, a substance or a gas which can be passed across
the courtroom.” – N. T. Wright
It’s amazing the amount of Believers, even leaders, who have
no proper understanding of the most basic element of their Faith –
Justification. They’ll go for seminars on Wealth Creation, stock books on
Success, and even boast of being well-versed on the doctrine of Prayer. But
they have no grounding on the very foundation on which every other spiritual
endeavour stands on.
What is
Justification?
Justification is the English translation of the Greek, dik-ah'-yo-sis. It’s a patently
forensic, legal term that refers to
total, absolute acquittal: it’s a judicial proclamation of “Not guilty as
charged”.
This legal aspect – one that Satan’s agents (as evidenced
from our two opening quotes) seem so interested in attacking – is vital. When a
criminal is acquitted in a court of law by a judge, his acquittal is not based
on his feelings or emotions. Much more importantly, it’s not based on the
opinion of the court bailiff. Once you’re acquitted you are acquitted.
Contrary to what some Bible teachers say, Justification does
not mean God deals with the Believer “JUST AS IF” he or she has no sin, (that’s
using English puns to teach doctrine). Justification means God deals with the
Believer BECAUSE they have no sin!
Justification is not a parent overlooking a child’s error;
it’s a Righteous Judge identifying the real object of punishment – CHRIST. As
2Co 5:21 says, God made Jesus, “who knew
no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in
Him.” There’s only one sinner in God’s courtroom.
As we round up this week’s discourse on “Following the Fire”, let’s thank the non-believing Prof. Tabor for
helping us crystalize (in his words) “The
fundamental doctrinal tenets of Christianity”:
Christ is God ‘born in the flesh’. || His sacrificial death atones for the sins of humankind. || And His Resurrection guarantees eternal life to all who believe,”
HALLELUJAH!!!
GREG ELKAN More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.
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