God — The Just and Justifier of the Faithful!!!
It’s funny how some attempt to declare themselves right by their own standard or merits in life. Like the Jews, some have gone out and established their own righteousness and not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God (Rom. 10.1-3). At times some equate their law or the law of some loved one to the law of God. Israel did this when they attempted to declare themselves right by a law that had been nailed to the cross of Christ (Col. 2.12-14). The law of their forefathers had been long in the past yet they would not accept the Law of Moses not being part of the righteousness of God (Rom. 3.21). What a tragedy and unfortunate turn of events.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ was now to be revealed through the preaching of the Apostles and witnessed by the Law and the Prophets as being the righteousness of God for men to be declared right before God Himself. God was using this system of justification BY faith for the Jew and THROUGH faith for the Gentile (Rom. 3.30). No longer did God need the Jews as a special people to bring in the Seed (Gal. 3.16). No longer was the Law of Moses needed to illuminate man’s way through a misguided world (Gal. 3.19-25). All men were going to be governed and justified by the Law of Christ (1 Cor. 9.21).
So why was this justification system even needed or even warranted? Couldn’t man justify himself? Couldn’t man devise his own system of religion or justification? Man was in need of justification because of his transgressions against the law of God in the beginning and his continually going beyond the will (desires and commands) of God. Paul stated clearly, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3.23). In addition to this travesty, there is a price for sin, Paul stated, “for the wages of sin is DEATH…” (Rom. 6.23). Hence the reason our Lord and Savior had to live a pristine LIFE and suffer a horrendous DEATH and be put on a tree for US, which was extremely shameful yet vital for our spiritual lives (1 Pet. 2.21-23; Matt. 27.1ff; Gal. 3.13).
O’ what wondrous love we see, freely shown for you and me are the famous words of a great song sung in the Lord’s church. Paul champions the Justifier of all men when he stated, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3.24). Notice the grace man has and how it’s obtained, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Friends, without Christ, man would be lost in Sin and without the grace of God we would have NO HOPE and like the Gentile world, without God (Eph. 2.12). God showed His compassion upon man by allowing His Son to be that satisfaction for OUR SIN, and this was a kind act of His forbearance thus passing over our sin previously committed, PRAISE HIM!!!
To the one who finds himself questioning if God has or had the right to condemn sin, the writer hopes this small article will show forth His worthiness to condemn sin. For God is JUST, meaning He is right and He will always be right in everything He does. In addition to being just, He is the One who justifies the ones who demonstrate faith in Christ by that Man, Jesus Christ who shed His blood for our sins. So it’s the responsibility of the Christian to continue in the faith by keeping the will of God (John 14.15). It’s to our advantage to remain faithful even to the point of death (Rev. 2.10). This exhortation should aid us in our quest for truth and love in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom we shine as lights (Phil. 2.15). God is definitely the just One and certainly the Justifier of men throughout time and we praise Him for His excellent greatness and rich mercy He extends on a daily basis. If we remain faithful to His cause, He will definitely save us from the depths of torment and give us existence with Him. Jehovah, The Just One and Justifier of the Faithful!
Please keep in mind the beauty of our God and His awesomeness in our lives. He is the One who justifies us. He is the One who declares us right. He is the One who will save us. God is the Just One, and He is the One we must render full devotion too at all times. May the Lord bless us in all we do as citizens of the kingdom of Christ. Live justified lives this week and bless someone else along the way. God bless and let Him be true.
Article written by Mike Bonner