Righteous Before God by Faith
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
10/18/2015 AM
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Text:
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John 20;
Lord's Day 23
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Psalters: |
163, 144, 190, 320 |
- Amazing wonder.
- To be “righteous before God” is to be declared righteous in God’s sight and to have the right to life in God=s judgment.
- This is to be justified, i.e., judged by the Supreme Judge to be innocent and righteous.
- God’s declaration is because Jesus was delivered unto death for our offences and raised for our justification.
- God, the Judge, declares one to be without sin in heart and life, and to be in harmony with His perfect Self.
- With the imputation of righteousness God also imparts righteousness so we have life (our condition).
- God enables believers consciously to appropriate this righteousness and He commands us to do so.
- We frequently struggle with assurance of salvation.
- Apart from Jesus there is no possibility of justification.
- Man constantly strives to be righteous before God because of works (what we are and what we do) but always fail.
- But the basis God uses to judge us is the righteousness of Jesus.
- By faith alone (Rom. 3:26,28; 4:11,16,20-22).
- God determined that the only way to appropriate His gift of righteousness is by means of His gift of faith (Rom. 5:1).
- The experience of faith.
- What are the beneficial results of being righteous by faith alone through grace alone in Christ alone?
- Faith sees ourselves as still sinning, but also see what God has most graciously declared of us in Christ: righteous. Faith has us see ourselves the way God sees us: righteous in Christ.
- What a tremendous benefit to receive the gift of righteousness in Christ!!
- This results in a peace which passes all human understanding (Romans 5:1).