Rom
3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom
3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus:
Rom
3:25 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;
Rom
3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be
just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
(Excerpt)
JUSTIFICATION
BY FAITH
Today a
controversy is raging within the Church -as desperate, as consequential as any
battle ever fought in human history. Carchemish, Arbella, Pydna, Waterloo, the
Marne, Dunkirk - even our own Lexington, Yorktown, and Gettysburg - all pale
into insignificance. In the realm of the spiritual, only the battle fought in
Gethsemane and continued through Calvary exceeds it. The controversy is
concerning righteousness by faith, which in turn involves the doctrines of the
incarnation, justification, sanctification, and the ultimate - the final
atonement. In this thought paper, we shall be primarily concerned with the
concept of justification, and what it means for the believer in Jesus Christ.
Before
entering into the study proper, we need to note certain literature which is
being published privately within the church which focuses the attention of the
laity upon this important controversy. In Australia two publications have been
released. One is by Mrs. Gillian Ford, wife of the head of the theological
department of Avondale College. (1) Three pages of parallel columns present
what Mrs. Ford considers "The True and False Gospels". Under the true
she states that "Righteousness by Faith is justification alone;" and
under what she considers to be false:- "Righteousness by faith is both
justification and sanctification. (2) (That there be no confusion in the mind
of the reader, the Adventist Laymen's Foundation considers the conclusions of
Mrs. Ford to be rank heresy.) Two doctors, also residing in Australia, have
replied in a limited edition of an analysis of the conflicting concepts in the
Seventh-day Adventist Church - Australian Division. (3) Here in America, Dr. Lloyd
Rosenvold and his wife have prepared a brochure on the Gospel, and in the
latest edition of this publication included a paper presented to the Biblical
Research Committee of the Australian Division by an Elder F. A. Basham in which
he challenged rightly the position of the theological department of Avondale
College. (4)
Justification
does involve an historical event in time. The Son of God died on the Cross of
Calvary. That public sacrifice will never again be repeated in the manner or
circumstances which surrounded that fateful Passion Week in the earthly life of
our Lord. The words of faith which Abraham spoke to his son Isaac as they
neared Moriah's height were fulfilled in the death of Jesus -God Himself did
provide the sacrifice. (5) As one meditates at the foot of the Cross, he is
impressed with one stupendous fact - Man cannot atone for himself. This is
humiliation most difficult for the mind and heart of man to grasp and accept.
Justification
is general and provides for all men everywhere under all conditions regardless
of individuality, circumstance, or disposition. This is true because all men
have sinned, and sin is sin regardless of degree. Paul summarizes it this
way: Therefore as by the offence of one,
judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of
one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. (6)
p 2
The
purpose of justification is also presented by Paul based in the fact that all
have sinned. He wrote: For all have sinned
and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through
the redemption that is in Jesus Christ: 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; to declare, I
say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier
of him which believeth in Jesus. (7)
This is
much more than a legal transaction based in a single historical event. Even as
I can crucify the Son of God afresh, (8) even so, the results and purposes of
Calvary are ever in the present. Justification is to be a present daily
experience to the one who is of the faith of Jesus. "I die daily"
declared Paul. Every living child of God will experience "a conversion to
God every day; and this conversion is not completed until he attains perfection
of Christian character." (10)
It should
be noted that the clause in verse 26 -"the justifier of him which
believeth in Jesus" -in the Greek text reads -"justifying the one who
is of the faith of Jesus." The participle -justifying -is in the present
tense signifying continuous action in what Paul calls the "now time".
Now is the day of salvation, and it shall continue to be until the close of all
human probation. The use of the noun to describe the believer, instead of the
verb as translated in the KJV, is a significant parallel to the use made by
John of the same in Revelation. Those who respond to the "everlasting
gospel" and are finally declared to be steadfast are those saints, who not
only keep the commandments of God, but who also keep "the faith of
Jesus." (11)
The faith
which is of and in Jesus justifies. And what was that faith? It was accepting
what God said and did as is, regardless whether He could see it or not. (l2)
This is simply the same faith as defined by Paul of which Jesus is the author
and finisher. (l3) Such a faith exercised by us gives us our title-deed. (14)
Since
justification is the act of God which justifies us from sin, what has God said
about this action on His part? "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
(15) There is just one simple condition -confession, a recognition that we are
sinners. The recognition of that forgiveness exceeds all human reasoning of
justice -"through the righteousness of Christ we shall stand before God
pardoned, as though we had never sinned." (16) "It is our privilege
to go to Jesus and be cleansed, and to stand before the law without shame or
remorse." (l7) It is most difficult for the human mind to accept the
results of justification, or the simple condition upon which it is based. But
God so states; I accept by faith and act accordingly.
In the
parable of the Prodigal Son we see justification from God's viewpoint, and how
we in our human reasoning view it. The runaway son was sitting in the midst of
swine when he finally came to himself and said that he would return to his
father's house. He prepared his speech. He would say - "I have sinned; I
am no more worthy to be called thy son, so make me a hired servant." So he
leaves the hog pen and starts the homeward journey. The father sees him a great
way off, and comes running to meet him. The prepared speech is given - except
the father does not let the last part escape the son's lips. The request of the
son to work his way back into the father's mercy is not recognized. All that
the father asks is the confession as a - sinner -the results follow -
"Bring forth the best [Greek -first] robe and put it on him." The
runaway boy is restored to his former position as if the days, and
p 3
months,
and years that intervened since he left home had not been. He is pardoned; he
is justified. (18) He stands before the Father as if he had never sinned. 0 the
height and depth of redeeming love!
There is
still another parable which illustrates justification. (19) "Two men went
up into the temple to pray." Both were professed believers in the true God
of Israel. They frequented the house of worship. Because of our present day
concepts, we fail to catch the significance of this parable. A
"Pharisee" and a "publican" in our mind today are different
than they were viewed in the days of Christ. The Pharisee of Christ's day was
the religionist, the one devoted to all the rules and regulations prescribed in
the law of Moses plus some of his own applications of these rules. He gave
alms; he prayed much. He was very pious, and was considered the really
"spiritual" in Israel. The publican was a man employed in the
government service of Rome. He didn't work for the church, nor was he connected
to one of the religious groups of his day who had "separated"
themselves from the world.
With this
background, let us now translate this lesson to our own day. The Pharisee
prayed -"I thank Thee that I am not as other men -I do not eat meat, nor
eggs, nor drink milk. I fast; I tithe; I use herbs; and drink teas." [If
there were women Pharisees, such might have added - "I wear my dresses
just so many inches from the floor."] But the Publican -all he could say
was -"God be merciful to me a sinner." AND what did Jesus say -
"I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the
other." Justification, and our standing before God is not based on how
many reforms I practice, nor how much I do to show my piety and spiritual
graces to reveal that I am not as other men. My acceptance with God is simply
that I confess myself a sinner, which in reality is one of the hardest things
for the proud, heart of man to do.
Let us
face up to the simple, plain teaching of Jesus. Even though I practice health
reform -and I do -and any and all of the other reforms which we could mention,
we are to admit -no matter how painful to our ego it is -"We are
unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." (20)
Doing what is our duty does not accrue merit, nor does it produce
justification. We are justified solely by the mercy of our Heavenly Father, and
the redemption that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. And this justification comes
on only one condition -our confession as a sinner.
Why are we
prone to be Pharisees? Because we want to atone for our sins. We want to be
hired servants and work our way back into the mercy and favor of God. This
cannot be! The very perversion of our human nature makes confession most
difficult. I have a three-year old grandson. He was helping me mix mud for some
rock laying here on the campus. He likes to pull the hoe back and forth through
the mixture. I had it at just the right consistency, and went about my work.
Jonathan also likes to play with water, and so proceeded to add some water when
my back was turned. The first time he did not add enough to effect the mixture;
but the second time was too much, so I reprimanded him. I told him that he
could use the hoe no longer. He went off and crawled under the house for
awhile. He did some thinking, and in a few minutes he came carrying some rocks
really too large for him to carry. He was going to help, and knowing what I
needed, he was going to win my approval so that he could, use the hoe again.
Now I dearly love him, and if he had only said - "Papa, [his name for me]
I am sorry; I did wrong" - I would have let him continue to use the hoe. I
would have made the adjustments to restore the consistency of the mixture,
because he couldn't do it! There was nothing that he could do to atone for his
overstepping.
Our Father
loves us more than I can ever love my grandson. He has, and had to make
p 4
the
restorations caused by sin -we cannot not -and so He says, "If you will
confess, I will justify; I will forgive." And when we stand at last in the
sight of an holy God without an intercessor, there will be no room to boast.
Who covered my past sins so that I could stand on vantage ground? Did I atone
because I practiced all the reforms? Who provided the power so that I could do
that which was my duty to do? Was it my strength and spiritual vitality? No! -
never can I boast, but only say:
Just as I
am without one plea
But that
Thy blood was shed for me,
And that
Thou bid'st me come to Thee,
0 Lamb of
God, I come, I come.
Charlotte
Elliott, 1836
(1)
Gillian Ford, The Soteriological
Implications of the Human Nature of Christ, Undated, 53 pages.
(2) Ibid., p. 9
(3)
John Clifford, M.D. & Russell R. Standish, M. D., Conflicting Concepts of Righteousness by Faith in the
Seventh-day Adventist Church - Australian Division, April, 1976, 161
pages.
(4)
Lloyd and Leola Rosenvo1d, The
Gospel of the Kingdom, Undated, 35 pages.
(5) Genesis
22:7-8
Gen
22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he
said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where
is the lamb for a burnt offering?
Gen
22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a
burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
(6)
Romans 5:18 Rom 5:18 Therefore as
by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by
the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of
life.
(7)
Romans 3:23-26
Rom
3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom
3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is
in Christ Jesus:
Rom
3:25 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;
Rom
3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be
just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
(8) Hebrews
6:6 Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance;
seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open
shame.
(9)
1 Corinthians 15:31 1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in
Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
(10)
Ellen G. White, Testimonies for
the Church, Vol. 2, p. 505
(11)
Revelation 14:12 Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are
they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
(12)
Matthew 11:25-26
Mat
11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord
of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and
prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Mat
11:26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
(13)
Hebrews 12:2 Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our
faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(14) Ellen
G. White, Messages to Young
People, p. 35
(15)
1 John 1:9 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(16) Ellen
G. White, Ms. 1, 1892. See Review, June
17, 1976, p. 9
(17) Ellen
G. White, Steps to Christ,
Chap.: "Faith and Acceptance", par. 7.
(18) Luke
15:17-24
Luk
15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my
father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
Luk
15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I
have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
Luk
15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy
hired servants.
Luk
15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great
way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck,
and kissed him.
Luk
15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven,
and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Luk
15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and
put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
Luk
15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and
be merry:
Luk
15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is
found. And they began to be merry.
(19) Luke
18:9-14
Luk
18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves
that they were righteous, and despised others:
Luk
18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and
the other a publican.
Luk
18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee,
that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as
this publican.
Luk
18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I
possess.
Luk
18:13 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.
Luk
18:14 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.
(20)
Luke 17:10 Luk 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those
things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done
that which was our duty to do.
A
QUESTION: Why is it essential that we know and experience what it means to
be justified by faith?
In Isaiah,
Chapter 6, the prophet tells of his own experience and call to service. (1) He
saw in vision the Lord sitting upon His throne, and the voices of the seraphims
crying - "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts." This vision of the
holiness of the Lord unnerved Isaiah, and he recognized himself as a man of
unclean lips dwelling in the midst of a people with unclean lips. Then a
remarkable thing happened upon his recognition of his undone condition. One of
the seraphims came with a live coal from off the altar, and touched his lips,
declaring - "Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken
away, and thy sin purged." The next thing he heard was the voice of the
Lord calling for a volunteer to represent Him to the people. Now Isaiah could
respond - "Here am I; send me."
We are
told that this "vision given to Isaiah represents the condition of God's
people in the last days. ...But if they, like Isaiah, will receive the
impression
p· 5
the Lord
designs shall be made upon the heart, if they will humble their souls before
God, there is hope for them. ...The work done for Isaiah will be performed in
them. God will respond to the petitions coming from the contrite heart."
(2) God's mouthpieces must be justified. They must know what justification by
faith means to them. How can one go forth and proclaim the loud cry -pointing
out sin with the consciousness of personal guilt and shame for his own sins?
But one who is justified stands before the law "without shame or
remorse." (3) Because of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, he stands
before God pardoned as though he had never sinned. (4) Without fear he can
respond to God's invitation - "Here am I; send me."
Consider
briefly Peter's experience. On the day of Pentecost, he openly charged the
House of Israel with the murder of the Son of God. He, who a few weeks before
had declared - "I know not this man" -now declared Him to be both
Lord and Christ. (5) As I read the account in Acts 2, I do not find where
anyone of the assembled group yelled back at Peter - "You cursed and swore
and denied the Son of God yourself." There was only one response, being
pricked in their hearts, they asked - "Men and brethren, what shall we
do?" (6) Why was it possible for Peter so to speak, and the reaction so to
be? Because Peter after the denial had gone out and wept bitterly. He knew by
experience what it meant to be justified.
Who shall
lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 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. (7)
"The
souls that turn to Him for refuge, Jesus lifts above the accusing and the
strife of tongues. No man or evil angel can impeach these souls. Christ unites
them to His own divine-human nature. They stand beside the great Sin-bearer, in
the light proceeding from the throne of God." (8)
Let me
tell you in all sincerity -the men and women who give the loud cry will be
those who know by experience that they have been justified. They will have an
experience with their great Sin-bearer which will set them above the strife of
tongues - unimpeachable because the live coal from off the altar has touched
their lips. Their iniquity is taken away, and their sin purged. In their mouths
will be found no guile for they will be without fault before the throne of God.
(1)
Isaiah 6:1-8
Isa
6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a
throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
Isa
6:2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he
covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did
fly.
Isa
6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD
of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Isa
6:4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and
the house was filled with smoke.
Isa
6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of
unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine
eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Isa
6:6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his
hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
Isa
6:7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy
lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
Isa
6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and
who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
(2)
Ellen G. White, Review &
Herald, December 22, 1896
(3)
See Footnote #17, p. 4
(4)
See Footnote #16, p. 4
(5) Acts
2:36 Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that
God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and
Christ.
(6)
Acts 2:21 Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call
on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
(7)
Romans 8:33-34
Rom
8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that
justifieth.
Rom
8:34 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.
(8)
Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages,
p. 568. (1976 Dec)
December
1976 -
"Watchman, What of the Night? " Thought Paper. Adventist Laymen's Foundation. (Excerpt)
