Justification by Faith (Romans 5:1)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
27 November 2024
What is justification by faith in the Bible? It is a declaration by God that a person is accounted as righteous.
The declaration is gracious. No one is righteous by nature. We are fallen people but God graciously declares us righteous.
The declaration is judicial. The moral law of God has been broken by everyone. Justification is a legal declaration that we have been pardoned.
The declaration is final. It is not continually repeated. Once justified; forever justified.
Because of justification by faith we have peace with God. Once we were at enmity with God, but now we have peace. There is no longer any condemnation from God toward believers.
Justification is possible through our Lord Jesus Christ. He and he alone makes it possible for God to reckon people as righteous and for such people to live lives that please him.
He shed his blood to satisfy the requirement of God. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
He died once and for all. There is no need for Jesus to die again. The Holy Communion is an act of remembrance, not a fresh offering of Jesus' death.
His death is effective for it has appeased the righteous anger of a holy God. People who trust in Jesus can be certain of the efficacy of Christ’s blood.
His death has lasting benefit. Jesus lives forever as our Mediator interceding for us. He shed his blood; we reap the blessing.
By his resurrection he gives us hope beyond death. Consider your mortality. What greater hope is there than the hope of resurrection and everlasting life?
If you know you are separated from your Creator because of your sin now is the time to get things right.
Believe in Jesus. He died as a substitute for sinners. You cannot be justified by your works. You are justified by trusting in Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.
Love Jesus. If someone has saved you from death the heart-felt response should be to love that person. If Jesus has saved you; love him.
Serve Jesus. He came to this world to serve as the Saviour. We are now his servants to serve God and people.
Today is Reformation Sunday when as a Church we commemorate the Protestant Reformation.
What was the Reformation fundamentally about? It was about the Bible being the sole authority in matters of faith. It is not a matter of the Bible plus other authorities, but the Bible being the sole pauthority.
Our country is desperately in need of a foundation for ethics, morals and wider issues. Martin Luther returned people to the authority of the Bible. We need such a return today.