Eternal Security: The Assurance of Justification in Christ

 

Summary

In Romans 8:33-34, we delve into the profound assurance of the final perseverance of the saints. The Apostle Paul, in his characteristic manner, presents a series of challenges to affirm the doctrine that those justified by God are eternally secure. He poses two critical questions: Who can bring a charge against God's elect? Who can condemn them? These questions are not merely rhetorical; they are hammer strokes demolishing any conceivable objection to the believer's eternal security.

Paul's method is to substantiate his propositions with robust argumentation. He emphasizes that God is the one who justifies, and Christ, who died and rose again, is at the right hand of God, interceding for us. This divine justification is not a mere acquittal; it is a declaration of righteousness, a status that cannot be revoked. The believer's relationship with God is framed in legal terms, underscoring the covenantal nature of God's dealings with humanity.

The Apostle's argument is that since God is the lawgiver, judge, and justifier, no charge can stand against those He has chosen. The law, which once condemned, is now satisfied in Christ. The believer is not only pardoned but is clothed in the righteousness of Christ, making any accusation null and void. This assurance is not based on human merit but on the finished work of Christ, which is why the doctrine of justification by faith alone is central to the Christian faith.

Understanding this doctrine is crucial for spiritual security and joy. It is the foundation upon which the believer stands, providing the confidence to face any accusation from the adversary. The Protestant Reformation hinged on this truth, emphasizing that justification is by faith alone, apart from works. This assurance is not just a theological concept but a living reality that empowers believers to live in the freedom and joy of their salvation.

Key Takeaways:

- The Assurance of Justification: Justification is not merely a pardon but a declaration of righteousness. It is a legal standing before God, secured by Christ's atoning work, ensuring that no charge can stand against God's elect. This assurance is foundational for the believer's confidence and joy. [40:04]

- The Role of Christ in Judgment: Christ, as the appointed judge, ensures that believers are not condemned. His resurrection and intercession affirm that the believer's justification is secure, highlighting the importance of understanding Christ's role in our salvation. [12:18]

- The Legal Framework of Salvation: God's relationship with humanity is framed in legal terms, emphasizing the covenantal nature of His dealings. This legal framework assures believers that their justification is based on God's law, which has been fully satisfied in Christ. [30:10]

- The Finality of Justification: Justification is a once-and-for-all act, not subject to repetition. It provides a permanent status of righteousness before God, underscoring the believer's eternal security and the impossibility of falling from grace. [42:02]

- The Importance of Doctrine: Understanding the doctrine of justification by faith alone is crucial for spiritual stability. It is the key to standing firm against accusations and experiencing the fullness of salvation, as emphasized by the Reformation. [48:42]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction to Romans 8:33-34
- [01:07] - The Apostle's Method of Argumentation
- [02:07] - The Challenges to Final Perseverance
- [03:23] - The Assurance of God's Love
- [04:19] - The Possibility of Condemnation
- [06:00] - The Relationship of Terms
- [09:07] - The Symmetry of Paul's Statements
- [12:18] - Christ as Judge
- [17:36] - The Meaning of God's Elect
- [21:05] - The Legal Picture of Justification
- [27:44] - God the Justifier
- [32:11] - The Legal Framework of Accusation
- [40:04] - The Fullness of Justification
- [48:42] - The Importance of Doctrine

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 8:33-34
- John 5:26-27
- 2 Corinthians 5:10

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Observation Questions:

1. In Romans 8:33-34, what are the two questions Paul poses, and how do they relate to the assurance of the believer's eternal security? [00:31]

2. How does the sermon describe the role of God in the justification of believers, and what legal imagery is used to explain this concept? [22:28]

3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Christ's resurrection and intercession in the context of judgment? [12:18]

4. What does the term "God's elect" mean in the context of Romans 8, and how does it relate to the assurance of salvation? [18:14]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon explain the relationship between God's law and the believer's justification? What implications does this have for understanding salvation? [30:10]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that understanding the doctrine of justification by faith alone is crucial for spiritual security and joy? [48:42]

3. How does the sermon address potential accusations from the adversary, and what is the believer's defense against such charges? [50:04]

4. What role does the Protestant Reformation play in the sermon’s discussion of justification by faith alone, and why is this historical context important? [51:01]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt accused or condemned. How can the assurance of justification by faith alone change your perspective in similar situations? [50:04]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding doctrine for spiritual stability. What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of key Christian doctrines, such as justification by faith? [48:42]

3. How can the legal framework of salvation, as described in the sermon, influence the way you view your relationship with God and others? [30:10]

4. Consider the role of Christ as both judge and intercessor. How does this dual role provide comfort and assurance in your daily walk with God? [12:18]

5. The sermon highlights the finality of justification. How does this understanding impact your confidence in your salvation and your ability to live out your faith boldly? [42:02]

6. In what ways can you remind yourself of your identity as one of "God's elect" in moments of doubt or spiritual struggle? [18:14]

7. How can the historical context of the Protestant Reformation and its emphasis on justification by faith alone inspire you to stand firm in your faith today? [51:01]

Devotional

Day 1: The Unshakable Assurance of Justification
Justification is not merely a pardon but a declaration of righteousness. It is a legal standing before God, secured by Christ's atoning work, ensuring that no charge can stand against God's elect. This assurance is foundational for the believer's confidence and joy. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that God is the one who justifies, and this divine justification is a declaration of righteousness that cannot be revoked. The believer's relationship with God is framed in legal terms, underscoring the covenantal nature of God's dealings with humanity. This assurance is not based on human merit but on the finished work of Christ, which is why the doctrine of justification by faith alone is central to the Christian faith. [40:04]

Isaiah 50:8-9 (ESV): "He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up."

Reflection: Consider a time when you felt accused or condemned. How does the assurance of your justification in Christ change your perspective on that situation today?


Day 2: Christ's Role as the Righteous Judge
Christ, as the appointed judge, ensures that believers are not condemned. His resurrection and intercession affirm that the believer's justification is secure, highlighting the importance of understanding Christ's role in our salvation. The Apostle Paul presents Christ as the one who died, was raised, and now intercedes for us at the right hand of God. This intercession is a continuous reminder of the believer's secure standing before God, as Christ's work is complete and sufficient. Understanding Christ's role in judgment provides believers with the confidence to face any accusation from the adversary, knowing that their justification is upheld by the highest authority. [12:18]

Hebrews 7:24-25 (ESV): "But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."

Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself daily of Christ's intercession for you, especially when you feel unworthy or condemned?


Day 3: The Legal Framework of Salvation
God's relationship with humanity is framed in legal terms, emphasizing the covenantal nature of His dealings. This legal framework assures believers that their justification is based on God's law, which has been fully satisfied in Christ. The Apostle Paul uses legal language to describe the believer's standing before God, highlighting that God is the lawgiver, judge, and justifier. The law, which once condemned, is now satisfied in Christ, and the believer is clothed in His righteousness. This legal assurance provides a solid foundation for the believer's faith, knowing that their justification is not subject to human failure but is secured by divine decree. [30:10]

Zechariah 3:1-4 (ESV): "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, 'The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?' Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Remove the filthy garments from him.' And to him he said, 'Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.'"

Reflection: How does understanding the legal framework of your salvation change the way you view your relationship with God today?


Day 4: The Finality of Justification
Justification is a once-and-for-all act, not subject to repetition. It provides a permanent status of righteousness before God, underscoring the believer's eternal security and the impossibility of falling from grace. The Apostle Paul argues that since God is the one who justifies, no charge can stand against those He has chosen. This finality of justification assures believers that their status before God is unchangeable, providing them with the confidence to live in the freedom and joy of their salvation. The believer's righteousness is not based on their own merit but on the finished work of Christ, which is why this doctrine is central to the Christian faith. [42:02]

Hebrews 10:14 (ESV): "For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified."

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you struggle with feeling secure in your faith. How does the finality of your justification in Christ bring peace to that area?


Day 5: The Importance of Doctrine
Understanding the doctrine of justification by faith alone is crucial for spiritual stability. It is the key to standing firm against accusations and experiencing the fullness of salvation, as emphasized by the Reformation. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that this assurance is not just a theological concept but a living reality that empowers believers to live in the freedom and joy of their salvation. The Protestant Reformation hinged on this truth, highlighting the importance of understanding and embracing the doctrine of justification by faith alone. This understanding provides believers with the confidence to face any challenge, knowing that their salvation is secure in Christ. [48:42]

Galatians 2:16 (ESV): "Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified."

Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of the doctrine of justification by faith alone, and how might this understanding impact your daily walk with Christ?

Quotes


The Apostle is never content merely with making a statement; he always gives us a proof. He was a great Pastor as well as a great evangelist. He was anxious to help these Christian people, and his method of doing that is, as I say, to support and to substantiate what he lays down as a proposition, and he does so by means of argumentation. [00:01:19]

The doctrine is the final perseverance of the saints, that all who are Justified are already glorified and will inevitably arrive at that ultimate complete and perfect salvation. So he takes up this question: is it the case that there is no possibility whatsoever of nothing ever arising that can again bring us into condemnation and leave us in a position that we are finally outside the love of God and outside his great salvation? [00:04:40]

God is the justifier always, and that's the answer to anybody bringing a charge against us. But when you talk about condemnation, you are in a sense, of course, still in the realm of justification, but the main idea is that of judgment. And here I want to show that it is entirely appropriate to speak of the Lord Jesus Christ as a judge. [00:11:52]

Christians are those whom God has chosen before him. We are God's elect. The Apostle's object in doing this, we shall see in a moment, it's a part of the whole great argument for Assurance of Salvation and for an absolute certainty of the final perseverance of the Saints. [00:20:06]

The Apostle implies that argument very frequently. He makes a thing look quite ridiculous, impossible. He laughs it out of court. Notice it, verse 31: if God be father, who can be against us? The thing is foolish, it's ridiculous, it's quite impossible. Well, we've got the same thing here. [00:27:29]

God's relationship with men is always a legal one. We've got to start with that. The whole argument is essentially a legal one. God has chosen to deal with men and to have relationships with men in that particular way. Well, there's statement number one. Secondly, God himself has made and constructed and fashioned the law which governs this, his relationship with men. [00:29:47]

Justification is once and forever. It is God's statement. He knows the end from the beginning, and once he pronounces the man just, he is forever just and righteous in the sight of God. It isn't the thing that has to go on being repeated; it's once and forever. Justification is characterized by that. [00:42:14]

The Apostle says the same thing exactly in 2 Corinthians 5:21: Heath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. This is justification. It is a Judicial act on the part of God in which he pronounces that because of what he has done in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. [00:40:06]

The importance of understanding the doctrine of justification by faith only. There is no type of Christian that I regard as so utterly foolish and bited as the type of Christian who says, I'm not interested in Doctrine, I've got an experience. Fool that you are, the devil will soon shake you and your experience. [00:48:27]

Stand on justification by faith only. It's the only ground on which you can stand, and we must learn to do this. This is the final answer to the devil: it is God the justifier. Don't you see now how the Protestant Reformation ever came into being? Don't you understand now the thrill that Martin Luther had when he discovered this? [00:50:39]

We are meant to enjoy complete assurance and absolute certainty about our ultimate final Destiny. We are meant to be able to say without any doubt or hesitation who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect, which is what I am, and the answer is no one, nothing. [00:52:00]

Because it is God himself, the judge, the lawgiver, who has found a way to satisfy his own law and his own holy nature and his own Justice and righteousness in his only begotten son, and who has himself declared that because I believe in Jesus, I am just and Justified in his sight. [00:52:27]

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Transcript
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