Assurance of Justification and Victory in Christ

 

Summary

In this message, we explore the profound truth of justification through Christ, as articulated by the Apostle Paul. The core of this teaching is that God justifies the ungodly because He has already condemned and punished sin through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. This act of justification is not merely a declaration but a profound assurance that believers are no longer under condemnation. God's justice is fully satisfied, and thus, it would be unjust for believers to be punished again for sins that have already been dealt with in Christ.

The Apostle John reinforces this by stating that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us. This faithfulness and justice are rooted in the fact that God has already punished sin in Christ. Therefore, God's justice, rather than being a source of terror, becomes a source of comfort and security for believers. It assures us of our forgiveness and the impossibility of condemnation.

The resurrection of Christ is pivotal in this assurance. It is not the cause of our justification but the proof of it. The resurrection proclaims that God is satisfied with Christ's work, having fully borne the punishment for sin. It also signifies Christ's victory over death, the grave, and hell, which are the ultimate enemies of humanity. This victory assures us that we, too, are conquerors in Christ, as we are united with Him in His death and resurrection.

This union with Christ means that His victory is our victory. We are alive unto God, and nothing can bring us into condemnation. The resurrection is a proclamation of our justification and acceptance with God. It assures us that we are indeed the children of God, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. This truth should fill us with confidence and joy, knowing that our salvation is secure in Him.

Key Takeaways:

- God's justification of the ungodly is rooted in His justice being fully satisfied through Christ's death. This means that believers are no longer under condemnation, as their sins have already been punished in Christ. God's justice now demands our forgiveness, making it a source of comfort and assurance. [19:08]

- The resurrection of Christ is not the cause of our justification but the proof of it. It proclaims that God is satisfied with Christ's work and that all demands of God's law have been met. This assurance of justification is foundational to our faith and security in Christ. [32:09]

- Christ's resurrection signifies His victory over death, the grave, and hell. As believers united with Him, we share in this victory, and these enemies no longer have power over us. This truth should dispel any fear of death or condemnation. [37:29]

- Our union with Christ means that His resurrection life is our life. We are alive unto God, and nothing can separate us from His love. This union assures us of our eternal security and inheritance in Christ. [44:39]

- The assurance of our salvation is rooted in the unchanging nature of God's justice and faithfulness. As we grasp the depth of these truths, our hearts should be filled with wonder, love, and praise for the work of Christ on our behalf. [50:11]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [17:41] - Justification Explained
- [18:36] - God's Justice Satisfied
- [19:26] - Faithful and Just to Forgive
- [21:29] - Comfort in God's Justice
- [22:25] - Assurance of Pardon
- [23:49] - No Condemnation in Christ
- [25:05] - The Significance of Resurrection
- [27:51] - Resurrection and Assurance
- [29:48] - Raised for Our Justification
- [32:09] - Resurrection as Proof
- [33:33] - Victory Over Enemies
- [35:50] - Conquest Over Death
- [38:12] - Assurance in Resurrection
- [41:07] - Union with Christ
- [44:39] - Alive Unto God

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1. Romans 4:5 - "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
2. 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
3. Romans 6:8-10 - "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him."

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Romans 4:5, what is counted for righteousness, and who is justified by God?
2. In 1 John 1:9, what two attributes of God are highlighted in relation to forgiveness, and what is required from us to receive it?
3. How does Romans 6:8-10 describe the relationship between Christ's resurrection and our life in Him?

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of God justifying the ungodly challenge or affirm your understanding of justice and grace? ([18:17])
2. What does it mean for God's justice to be a source of comfort rather than terror for believers, as mentioned in the sermon? ([21:29])
3. How does the resurrection of Christ serve as proof of our justification, and why is this significant for our faith? ([32:09])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt condemned by your past actions. How can the assurance of justification through Christ change your perspective on that situation? ([23:49])
2. In what ways can you remind yourself daily of the victory over sin and death that you share with Christ? Consider practical steps you can take. ([37:29])
3. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of security in your salvation, knowing that God's justice demands your forgiveness? ([22:38])
4. Identify an area in your life where fear of condemnation still lingers. How can the truth of your union with Christ help you overcome this fear? ([41:07])
5. How can you use the assurance of your salvation to encourage someone else who might be struggling with doubt or fear? ([44:39])
6. What specific actions can you take this week to live as someone who is "alive unto God," as described in Romans 6:8-10? ([40:23])
7. How does understanding the resurrection as a proclamation of your justification impact your daily walk with Christ? ([42:29])

Devotional

Day 1: God's Justice and Our Justification
God's justification of the ungodly is a profound act rooted in His justice being fully satisfied through the death of Jesus Christ. This means that believers are no longer under condemnation, as their sins have already been punished in Christ. God's justice now demands our forgiveness, making it a source of comfort and assurance. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that this justification is not just a legal declaration but a transformative reality that assures believers of their standing before God. This assurance is not based on our merit but on the completed work of Christ, which satisfies all the demands of God's law. [19:08]

Romans 5:9-10 (ESV): "Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life."

Reflection: Consider a time when you felt unworthy of God's love. How does understanding that God's justice demands your forgiveness change your perspective on your relationship with Him today?


Day 2: Resurrection as the Proof of Justification
The resurrection of Christ is not the cause of our justification but the proof of it. It proclaims that God is satisfied with Christ's work and that all demands of God's law have been met. This assurance of justification is foundational to our faith and security in Christ. The resurrection is a divine affirmation that the penalty for sin has been fully paid, and it serves as a guarantee of our own future resurrection and eternal life. This truth should fill us with confidence, knowing that our salvation is secure and that we are accepted by God. [32:09]

1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

Reflection: How does the resurrection of Christ provide you with assurance in moments of doubt or fear about your salvation?


Day 3: Sharing in Christ's Victory
Christ's resurrection signifies His victory over death, the grave, and hell. As believers united with Him, we share in this victory, and these enemies no longer have power over us. This truth should dispel any fear of death or condemnation, as we are assured of our eternal security in Christ. The victory of Christ is not just a historical event but a present reality that empowers us to live boldly and confidently in the face of life's challenges. [37:29]

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 (ESV): "When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.' 'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to embrace the victory of Christ more fully, and how can this change your approach to those challenges?


Day 4: Union with Christ and Eternal Security
Our union with Christ means that His resurrection life is our life. We are alive unto God, and nothing can separate us from His love. This union assures us of our eternal security and inheritance in Christ. As children of God, we are heirs of His promises, and this truth should fill us with joy and confidence. Our identity in Christ is secure, and we are called to live out this reality in our daily lives, reflecting His love and grace to the world around us. [44:39]

Colossians 3:3-4 (ESV): "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

Reflection: How does knowing that your life is hidden with Christ impact the way you view your identity and purpose today?


Day 5: The Unchanging Nature of God's Justice and Faithfulness
The assurance of our salvation is rooted in the unchanging nature of God's justice and faithfulness. As we grasp the depth of these truths, our hearts should be filled with wonder, love, and praise for the work of Christ on our behalf. God's faithfulness is a constant source of strength and encouragement, reminding us that He is always true to His promises. This understanding should lead us to a deeper trust in Him and a more profound commitment to living out our faith in every aspect of our lives. [50:11]

Hebrews 10:23 (ESV): "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively remind yourself of God's faithfulness and justice in your daily routine, and how might this practice transform your spiritual life?

Quotes

"God justifies the ungodly and he does so because he's already condemned justification is a declaration that we are no longer under condemnation but let's look at it like this this means then that God's justice is fully satisfied now that's the most important Point God is just we were emphasizing that last Friday night but here the Apostle again puts it more in detail in this way in order that we may take a firm grasp of this Justice is fully satisfied and therefore we can argue like this that if we were to be punished now who believe in Christ it would be unjust." [00:18:36]

"Well very well says the Apostle John you need to have no fear about this the very truthfulness the faithfulness and the justice of God make certain that you are forgiven because God has already dealt with the sin has already punished or condemned it and has already punished it in the person of his own son so you see we can put it like this that God's justice now far from being a source of Terror to a Christian believer should be his greatest Comfort his greatest Solace his greatest security." [00:21:29]

"The justice and the righteousness and the truthfulness of God now insist upon and demand that we be pardoned completely why will because of what he's done in Christ it would be unjust to punish the same sin twice over and God can never do that God can never be unjust he is faithful and just that's what the argument ear so that you see here is an absolute proof not only that we cannot be condemned but that it is because of the death of the Son of God that this is impossible for us to be condemned." [00:23:49]

"The resurrection is not the cause of our justification the death of Christ is the cause of our justification as I've just been showing you it isn't it isn't the resurrection that justifies us well what does the resurrection do the resurrection is the proof to us that we have being justified by the death that's what he say you see Christ had to die because of our sins he dies because of our sins he rises because of our justification the justification is before the rising the rising is the proclamation the Declaration the Assurance of the fact that we are Justified and accepted in the Lord Jesus Christ." [00:32:09]

"God in raising his son again from the dead is proclaiming to us that he is satisfied with the work that he had done that he had fully borne the punishment of sin that everything the Lord demanded has been more than fully satisfied that there is nothing left at all that he's taken it all upon himself and that every demand of God's character and law has been fully satisfied the resurrection is a great proclamation of that it's because of that that God Ra raised him from the dead." [00:33:33]

"The resurrection helps at this point tremendously we've seen already do you see how sin and guilt and the law have already been dealt with by the death of Christ but what about death itself what about the grave what about hell here are powerful enemies and foes that are confronting us you remember how the author of The epistle to the Hebrews puts this in the second chapter of his great epistle he puts it like this he says for as much then as the children are partakers of Flesh and Blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is the devil and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject abundant." [00:35:50]

"The resurrection does this it is a mighty proclamation of our Lord's Conquest over death over the grave over hell what is death it's the wages of sin so that's why people are afraid of death The Sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is is the law that's why people are afraid of death The Sting of death is sin this sense of guilt what's going to happen to me people who call themselves atheists they don't like facing death and that's why this fear it's there it's innate in the H of men." [00:38:12]

"The answer is the resurrection he has conquered death he's conquered the grave he's conquered hell oh death where is thy sting oh grave where is thy Victory he's LED captivity captive he's conquered everything the devil and all his forces all have been conquered he's entered into the lowest parts of the earth and he's LED captivity captive he's conquered everything and every that is against us even death and hell are conquered he's conquered them and the proof of that is to be found in his resurrection from the dead." [00:41:07]

"Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death has no more dominion over him for in that he died he died unto sin once but in that he liveth he liveth unto God what does that mean well what it means is this he died under sin once once and for all never again he put himself under the law that's how he came to die as I say he wouldn't have died but for that but now that only happened to him once he'll never die again." [00:44:39]

"Don't let death frighten you don't let the grave frighten you don't let hell frighten you he's conquered them all he's out of that realm he came into it for a while in order to save us he's out of it he'll die no more he's alive we are in him we are join to him you're alive un to God nothing can bring you into condemnation the thought of death should not make a make a Christian Feel condemned the thought of the Grave should make us feel condemned the thought of Hell shouldn't terrorize us it's all been dealt with the resurrection is a proof of it he's come right through never again to go back to that and we are in him so what is true of him is true of us." [00:50:11]

"Let the devil come let sin come let the law come let death come let the grave come let hell come all are answered yeah rather that is risen again very well then I say that realizing this great doctrine that he's already laid down in chapter 6 about our Union with Christ you remember it in the early chapters in the early verses how shall we he says that are dead to sin live any longer therein know you not that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ we're baptized into his death therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like us Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father even so we also should walk in newness of life." [00:54:39]

"Jesus Lives thy Terrors now canot death no more a US Jesus Lives by this we know thou oh grive can no can not appall us can not enthrall us Jesus Lives henceforth is death but the Gate of Life Immortal this shall calm our troubled breath when we pass its gloomy portal Jesus lives our hearts know well not from us his love shall s life nor death nor powers of hell tear us from his keeping ever Jesus Lives to him the throne over all the world is given may we go where he is gone rest and reain with him in heaven." [00:59:11]

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Transcript
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