Pardon is a free forgiveness of past offenses. It has reference to those sins as forgiven and blotted out. Justification has respect to the law, and to God's future dealings with the sinner. It is an act by which God determines to treat him hereafter as righteous--as if he had not sinned.
The basis for this is the merit of the Lord Jesus Christ, merit that we can plead as if it were our own. He has taken our place and died in our stead; He has met the descending stroke of justice, which would have fallen on our own heads if He had not interposed." -Albert Barnes.
Simply put, Christians are justified by faith alone, their standing before God is not in any way related to personal merit. Good works and practical holiness do not provide the grounds for acceptance with God.
God receives as righteous those who believe, not because of any good thing He sees in them--not even because of His own sanctifying work in their lives--but solely on the basis of Christ's righteousness, which is reckoned to their account. "To the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness" (Romans 4:5). That is justification.
"For so it is: you stand before God as accepted as Christ is accepted: and notwithstanding the inbred sin and corruption of your heart, you are as dear to God as Christ is dear, and as accepted in the righteousness of Christ as Christ is accepted in his own obedience." -Charles H. Spurgeon
Have you ever considered how to explain to another person the process of being justified by faith? Too many people assume that the process involves going to church, learning to cite particular creeds or observing certain rituals. However, Paul teaches the Romans in Romans 4:1-8, how Abraham was justified (established as right before God and acquitted from guilt) by faith apart from works. When a person is justified they are freed from blame, absolved and declared guiltless.
John Walvoord, said: “In theology, justification is the judicial act of God declaring one to be righteous by imputation of righteousness to him. It is judicial not experiential, and all believers in Christ are equally justified."
Abraham became exonerated in the eyes of God as a result of being justified by faith. Someone has said when you are justified it is "Just as if you've never sinned." Paul shows that both Abraham and David recognized that they could not be justified by works or by keeping the commandments. Neither one of these spiritual giants rested on their own righteousness, but in the grace and mercy of God.
Paul wrote, "Abraham believed in and trusted in God and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living and right standing with God)." (Romans 4:3) Ask the Lord to help you pray with others showing them how to place their faith, reliance and trust in Christ’s righteousness to be justified in the eyes of God.
Contrary to some misconceptions, faith is not an abstract, intellectual acceptance of what we cannot see. Faith is the complete trust, reliance and dependence on God to do what we cannot do for ourselves. One man has said, "Faith is trusting God’s word and taking God’s way." Abraham’s faith made him acceptable to God. Many people spend much of their lives trying to be acceptable.
Saving faith makes a person acceptable through the righteousness of Christ. Ask the Lord to help you live more in light of the assurance that you are accepted in Christ’s love, grace and righteousness. When a person grows in faith they are able to fully realize that God is able to deliver them from any problem. Failure to believe in God’s power to rescue us from difficulties leads to fear, anger or disobedience.
Beloved, ask the Lord to help you grow in faith to a point where you can persuade others of God’s almighty power to deliver from any challenge. The truth of the scripture is a precious, unchangeable and powerful weapon that few learn how to utilize.
Scripture: Romans 5:1; Galatians 2:16; James 2:24; 1 John 1:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; Acts 13:39; Titus 3:5
Prayer: Dear Lord, with you I know you are always with me, surrounding me in your love. Amen
Have a blessed day!
Pamela
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