What the Bible Says about Justification, pt. 5

THE PRICE PAID FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION
The value of an object is often determined by the price paid for it. Some have prided themselves in valuable treasures or works of art they have bought or sold. But the highest price ever paid was the one paid by God to redeem us. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe in Him, would not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Paul declares in Romans 5:9, "Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." God has taken that which was priceless, the blood of His own dear Son, and purchased that which was completely valueless - mankind. Paul tells us in Romans 3:11 that "...they are together become unprofitable..." The Greek words for become unprofitable is achreioo (akh-ri-o'-o, to make useless, render unserviceable). There are those who cannot deal with the fact that man's condition had become so bad as to become unprofitable - useless. They like to profess that there is, somewhere in the heart of man a spark of goodness and that is why God sought to save man from eternal death. But if that is the case then God is a liar, as His word declares that "There is none that does righteousness, no, not one. There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable, there is none that does good, no not one" (Romans 3:10-12). God has redeemed man, not because of his goodness, but because of His unmerited favor - His grace. There is no other reason. Apart from God man is valueless -unprofitable - useless. It is only in a relationship with God through Christ that man finds real satisfaction, purpose and meaning for his life.

Someone has said, that if you were the only person that needed salvation, Jesus would of died for you. They evoke this as a tender emotion when, in fact, it is an indictment against your sins. What they are really saying is that your sins were so wicked that they alone would of required the death of the Son of God to atone for them. This should not make us glad, but rather we should be deeply ashamed and humbled.

The writer to the Hebrews, in the tenth chapter tells us that the blood sacrifices offered under the Jewish law could not deal with future sins. So that every year, on the day of atonement there was always a remembering of past sins. But, he declares, that Christ offered Himself "one sacrifice for sins forever..." (Hebrews 10:12), declaring that no further sacrifice would be required for forgiveness of sins. The night that Jesus was betrayed, He took the cup and said "...This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22:20). Jesus Christ has paid it all and the price He paid was His own blood. "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow."

CONCLUSION
The position of the Christian is one of justification - a state of acceptance with God, who, for Christ's sake, regards and treats the believer as righteous, and not as guilty. It has been secured by Jesus Christ to whom we owe justification, and all the blessings that are associated with it. It is through him that we "...have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2).

It is obtained by faith. Christ has done all that is necessary - we need only to receive, as a free gift the greatest of all blessings, indispensable to the new life. It is offered as the gracious gift of God. No question will ever be raised as to our fitness. The only question is as to God's faithfulness which is not only pledged, but is absolutely sure.

The result is peace. The war is over. The Christian has surrendered and ceases from his opposition to God's rightful authority in his life. It is a complete reversal of his former attitude and manner of life. The Christian takes God's will for his will, and the result is true peace and he rests confidently in the enjoyment of His favor, "being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:24).