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Join me as I do a refresh of basic doctrinal topics of the gospel, these are personal study notes. KJV is used for Bible references. I've added an audio narration for convenience.
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I was justified (Romans 3:24, 1 Corinthians 6:11)

Romans 3:24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

1 Corinthians 6:11. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

  • In God's eyes, how many righteous men are there? None. The answer is in Romans 3:10. As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.

  • Who is the only Righteous One? Jesus Christ. Let's see 1 John 2:1 and 1 Peter 3:18 for answers. (My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous... For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit).

  • With this in mind, who do you think is God's righteous servant in Isaiah 53:11? Let's see. (He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities). The answer is Jesus Christ.

  • Who suffererd for unrighteous men and women according to Isaiah 53:11? Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

  • In this passage, what 2 verses describe the way some of the Corinthians believers lived before they were saved? Verses 9 and 10.
  • What verse describes what God did for them the moment they were saved? Verse 11. (And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God).
  • Not only were they washed and sanctified, but they were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of God. The word justify means to declare or to consider righteous.
  • According to Romans 4:5, what kind of people is God able to justify? God is able to justify the ungodly. (But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness).
  • Is God able to justify a wicked publican or tax collector? Yes. Let's confirm our answer (Luke 18:13-14. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted).
  • Is God able to justify unrighteous men and women? Yes. Let's check our answer. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God).

Romans 5:1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

  • As justified believers, what is it we have with God? Peace. This means that we are no longer God's enemies.
  • According to Romans 5:10, what were we before we were saved? we were enemies with God. (Romans 5:10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life).
  • Although we are not righteous in ourselves, when a person believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, God sees him as righteous in Christ. We are righteous because we are in God's righteous Son. (1 Corinthians 1:30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption). Because God sees us in His Son, we are righteous.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:21. For He (God) hath made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, Who (Christ) knew no sin, that (in order that) we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. God reckons (counts, considers) the righteousness of Christ as belonging to the believing sinner. Thus we read in Romans 4:3. Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
  • What does the word it refer to in verse 3? it refers to the believing sinner's faith. The answer is in verse 5. (But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness).

So here's what happened:

  1. God judges Christ, and justifies the believing sinner. (1 Corinthians 15:3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures).
  2. Jesus takes my penalty. (1 Peter 3:18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit). (Romans 5:1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ).
  3. I receive His righteousness. (2 Corinthians 5:21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him).

Romans 5:9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

  • If Christ had not died on the cross, do you think it would have been possible for you to be justified? The answer is No.
  • But because Christ did die for us, according to Romans 5:6-11, God is free to be gracious to us and to put on our accoutn the very righteousness of Christ.
  • We are no longer guilty, condemned sinners because we are now in Christ.

God, the Perfect Judge, looks on the sinner who now believes in Christ, and says: The verdict is: not guilty. The Righteous Judge now says: You are righteous in My righteous Son and you are no longer under condemnation.

  • Romans 8:1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
  • John 5:24. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

In the next lesson, we will learn about the kind of life the believer is supposed to live, now that God has justified him by His grace.