HOW CAN A SINNER BE JUSTIFIED?

Job asked the age old question, “How should a man be just with God?” (Job 9:2) No man could ever answer that question correctly so God gave us the answer in His Word.

No sinner can be justified by trying to keep the law. “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Rom. 3:20)

Sinners are justified by God. “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.” (Rom. 8:33)

Sinners are justified by Christ. “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:38-39)

Sinners are justified by God’s grace. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24)

Sinners are justified through faith in Christ. “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Rom. 3:28) “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith.” (Gal. 3:11)

Pastor

ALL OF GRACE

I am not one of God’s elect because of some­thing good God saw in me. There never was, is not now, and never will be any good in our flesh. “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing.” Paul said he knew it. The problem with most religious folks is they don’t know it and until they do, they will continue to brag and boast of what they have done for God.

I am not one of God’s elect because of some­thing God saw I would do. Left to my own will, I would have continued in darkness and even now would depart from God.

I am not one of God’s elect because God needed me. It bothers me when we leave the impression with anyone that God or the church of the Lord Jesus can profit any way from our presence, influence, or gifts. When will we ever learn that we are receivers and beggars? There is not one ounce of goodness in any son of Adam that could be used to commend one’s self to God. “What has thou that thou did not receive?”

By the grace of God, I am what I am. It was grace that set me apart before time was. It was His Grace that made me an object of His love. It was His grace that laid hold of me when I was in the pit and brought me to the Lord Jesus. And if it be my lot to continue in the faith, to grow in faith and love, to die in hope, and be raised in Glory, it will be all of grace. Thanks be unto Him who alone is worthy of glory and honor.

“Here I raise my Ebenezer,
Hither by Thy help I’m come;
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home.”

Pastor Don Bell

I grow tired and weary of hearing about all that religious men and women supposedly sacrifice to and for God. The Lord Jesus said, “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Matthew 9:13) In the matter of salvation, God doesn’t accept the personal sacrifice of men and women who in their flesh provide a so-called righteous work. The only thing that God will accept is the sacrifice and righteous work of Christ, the believer’s Substitute, and it is “in Christ,” that God has mercy and accepts Christ’s righteousness as the only sacrifice for sin.