Today, acknowledging the baptism of our youngest member in our extended family, I share thoughts on the justification of sinners before GOD the Father that comes only through Jesus Christ, the Son. Christian believers each will be rewarded on the basis of their own works, however, believers are atoned for, sanctified, justified, and glorified before GOD only by the blood, deeds, faith, love, reverence, and spirit content that was in Jesus, rather than their own. The Savior will not say as many have done, “A man is right when he’s wrong…because….” The operations of sin within the living will not be approved or dismissed as harmless by divinity; and only the aspects of change and new life are justified such as confession, praise, prayer, prophesying, rebirth, repentance, thanksgiving, and sanctification. Also, having knowledge of righteousness through the law can not justify a repentant sinner. To have standing as correct before GOD by the terms of his law, a sinner must display the righteousness that indwells divinity. While justification speaks to demonstrating agreement with the principles and standards that serve as divine law, in fact, the accord and oneness sought is only by operations of the Holy Spirit within each believer. The Spirit is not divided or distributed to the members of the body of Christ such that one might say, I “have” or “possess” a piece of divinity. More correctly, the presence of the Spirit validates a divine claim of origin and ownership for the character, nature, existence, and life of each believer such that GOD may say, I have this man, this woman, or this child. It is written:
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3: 14-21, King James Version, KJV)
THE GOLDEN ARROW: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8: 1-9, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Damnation And The Cross? (03/06/2016); More On Divine Justification (02/08/2016); Justified Through Christ? (08/26/2015); Correct in Only Your Mind? (05/04/2015); Grace is Not Against Law (07/23/2014); Cruel and Offensive (07/24/2014); When Is A Law The LAW? (03/25/2014); Saul of Tarsus (03/26/2014)
Most Christian believers will agree that their lives and value as acceptable to GOD the Father have been established through the birth, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD. The carnal, material, and social elements used by the Savior are often taken to be the most important features used in purchasing and redeeming Creation. Included are exorcisms, expressions of kindness, forgiving, healing, miracles, prayer, suffering, and thanksgiving. The total dependence on Christ for the salvation of created beings and living creatures repeatedly becomes covered and obscured because sinners feel their salvation is on the basis of their own choices and the works they themselves successfully perform. Yes, Christ is thought to have determined the list of necessary works, and is accounted as the judge who decides whether or not the tasks have been “well done.” However, it is more correct to understand that actions, conditions, and life essence shared in exchange and interaction within the GODhead—that will always be inconceivable, unseen, and invisible to angels, mankind, or sacred beasts—are the true basis for mankind’s justification before divinity. Thus, men are not justified before GOD by their efforts to conform to what they imagine to have been the life of Jesus, by their own good works (i.e., acts displaying affection, generosity, kindness), by completing works required by the terms for covenant relationship (i.e., the Ten Commandments and other works of the law), or even by participating in institutional ceremonies, duties, rites, rituals and traditions. Men are in, from, and of Christ through the imparted, indwelling Spirit (we say, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit of Truth). To be justified before GOD in judgment, the spirit content of a sinner must continually convey a measure of the active presence, oneness without sameness, and multiple eternal purposes that exist as the divine fullness. Consider again the following:
(1.) Matthew 7: 21-23, King James Version (KJV): 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(2.) Romans 7: 5-10, KJV: 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
(3.) Galatians 2: 15-16, KJV: 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
(4.) Galatians 2: 20-21, KJV: 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
(5.) Romans 6: 1-4, KJV: 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
(6.) Romans 3: 19-26, KJV: 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 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. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (7.) Romans 8: 28-31, KJV: 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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