Justification in
Christ |
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Elder
Truman Keel |
Article of
Faith Number 5
We believe
that sinners are only justified in the sight of God by the
imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, which is unto all and
upon all that believe.
This Article seems to embrace several primary thoughts. It
first states it is possible to be justified but by one way
only. Secondly, it declares that the justification under
consideration is in the sight of God and not man. Thirdly,
it gives us the means by which we are justified. Fourthly,
it identifies those who the means is applied to and with the
fruits being their justification in the sight of God. Job
says in (Job 9:2) “I know it is so of a truth: but how
should man be just with God?” Job readily admits man can
be just with God.
By using the word only, the brethren, expressed their belief
that any and all other means of being justified in the sight
of God were excluded and eliminated. No other way exists.
(Acts 4:12) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for
there is none other name under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved.” There is only one source of
justification, which is necessary for heaven and immortal
glory.
(Job 9:20) “If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall
condemn me: if I say I am perfect, it shall also prove me
perverse.”
God is the offended deity and demands justice. The full
penalty must be paid. (Job 9:32) “For He is not a man, as
I am, that I should answer Him, and we should come together
in judgment.” You can’t negotiate with God. What ever
occurs in reconciling this matter, God is the offended one
and man the offender, and therefore God must be satisfied
with the results. (II Cor. 5:18) “And all things are of
God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and
hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”
God, being a holy and righteous God, and one that changes
not, required that the penalty of the offence be paid in
full. He required a perfect and righteous offering, His Son,
Jesus Christ. (Rom. 3:10) “As it is written, there is
none righteous, no, not one.” (Matt 5:20) “For I say
unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no
case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” If we ever shall
dwell with God in heaven, we must be in possession of
righteousness and seeing we have none of our own, it must
come from another source. It must exceed in quality and
quantity, that which the scribes and Pharisees claimed.
How shall we come in possession of righteousness? (Rom.
4:21-22) “And being fully persuaded, (Abraham) that, what He
(God) had promised, He was able to perform.” (V22) “And
therefore it was imputed to Him for righteousness.” It
was applied to His account of righteousness by the Lord. (V-
23) says, it was not written for his (Abraham’s) sake alone.
(24) “But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we
believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.”
This righteousness (not ours) shall be imputed (applied to
our account) to believers in God.
(Jer. 23:6) “In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel
shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be
called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” We have not
righteousness of our own, sufficient to justify us in the
sight of God, but the righteousness of Christ is deposited
(imputed) to our account. God will accept nothing less than
perfection and even the stars are not pure in His sight,
according to Job, chapter 25. (Rom. 4:6) “Even as David
also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God
imputeth righteousness without works.” Notice that no
works of man was required.
The brethren declare last of all, who they believe are the
recipients of this imputed righteousness. (Rom. 3:22)
clearly supports their beliefs. “Even the righteousness
of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon
all that believe: for there is no difference.” No
believers shall be without this righteousness. How do they
receive it? It is imputed to them.
I will close with two scriptures that seem to summarize our
subject. (Rom. 3:24) “Being justified (In His sight)
freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus.” (Rom. 8:33) “Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.”
Brethren, I am persuaded this Article of Faith is fully
supported by the scriptures, which is the canon stick by
which all theories, philosophies, and teachings are to be
measured by, and set forth a doctrinal principal,
(justification) which I believe most Primitive Baptist will
attest to its truth.
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