|
Today's Bible Study Lesson
“Justification through Faith”
Aim: Identify
the
relationship between faith in Christ and justification in the sight
of God,
Repent
of
personal failures to obtain the peace that God gives, and Celebrate
our
justification through faith in Christ.
Background: Romans
5:1-11
Bible Lesson:
Romans
5:1-11
Memory
Verse:
“Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ:” [Romans 5:1 KJV
Some
Highlights:
-
Before
beginning our study, here are a few definitions: justification
–
declaring or making righteous in the sight of God; atonement
– reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus Christ; faith
– strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on
spiritual apprehension rather proof. (“Now faith is the substance
of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews
11:1 KJV)
-
Romans
Chapter 5 opens with “Therefore,” which reflects back to Romans
Chapter 4, Paul’s teaching on a person’s justification by God
through faith. This justification means that through faith we are
made right with God. In other words, it is now possible to restore
humankind’s
relationship with God as it was initially in the Garden of Eden with
Adam and Eve and God before Satan led Eve and Adam into disobedience
of God’s Law.
-
The
first benefit of justification is peace with God through
Jesus Christ’s eternal sacrifice on the Cross at
Calvary for our sins. Peace with God represents a restored
relationship with the absence of humankind’s
past transgressions. Because of the faith that God gives to us to
trust in Jesus Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection we are
elevated to a position or standing for which we have not earned, but
that
has
been granted to us through God’s Grace. We can with confidence and
joy look forward to sharing God’s Glory, both now and in our
eternal future.
-
Now
when we encounter problems, hardships, and trials, we are not alone,
God is with us to either solve or remove them and to provide what is
needed to endure them. Our endurance of such difficulties
strengthens our character (our inner resolve), as our character is
strengthened our hope (expectant assurance) of salvation
(deliverance from the difficulty and to eternal deliverance). Our
hope in God will not lead to disappointment as some times is
the case with
hope in man. The Holy Spirit which God has given to indwell in all
Christians fills our heart with the Love of God constantly reminds
us that God Cares about us.
-
Romans
Chapter 5, verse 6 changes gears and reminds us that in God’s
Perfect Timing, Christ came to die in our place for our sins, not
when we
had repented, but while we were yet in our sinful state. Note that
Paul uses the phrase “us sinners”, which includes himself in the
magnanimous gift to humankind.
-
Paul
further explains that it would be difficult to find someone willing
to die for another with whom they were in good relationship. It
might be possible to find someone to sacrifice one’s life for
someone whose reputation was of high quality. But God’s Generous
Love was shown by sending His Only Begotten Son to die in our place
when were yet sinners and not yet sinners save by God Grace!
-
Romans
Chapter 5, verse 9 reverts back to the blood which was part of the
sacrifices offered on the alter in the Old Testament. It is clear
that the Blood of Christ did not just
cover
our sins with the expectation of future acts, but it cleansed us as
sinners from our sins and saved us from the wages of sin which is
death and instead provided us with the Gift of God which is Eternal
Life.
-
The
restoration of friendship with God was provided by Jesus’ death
while we
were
still enemies of God. God
does not allow evil in His presence. (Remember that Lucifer and his
angelic followers were expelled from heaven Luke
10:18)
-
We
as Christians now have something to celebrate, a new wonderful
relationship with God, because Jesus paid it all with His Life for
our lives and
now humankind
can be called friends of God. But this is only possible to those
who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!
Take
Aways:
-
Through
faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior any man or woman can
inherit Eternal Life.
-
Justification
only comes through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior
-
Christians
will experience trials and tribulations just as those who are
unsaved, but the difference is we have the indwelling of the Holy
Spirit who will carry us through whether it is to a solution on this
side or on the other side with God.
Bible
Verses to Keep in Mind:
“For all have sinned, and come
short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23 KJV
“For as in Adam all die, so in
Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22 NIV
“And when the scribes and
Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his
disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and
sinners? When Jesus heard [it], he saith unto them, They that are
whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came
not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Mark 2:16-17
KJV
“Therefore, if anyone [is] in
Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold,
all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
“Be careful for nothing; but in
every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth
all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 KJV
“Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect
peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in
thee.” Isaiah 26:3 KJV
|
