You Need To Understand This

I often laugh and say there are not many Greek or Hebrew words you need to know. Then I proceed to give one of those words you need to know and understand. People just smile.

An old joke in church life goes like this: “I don’t want any pastor who knows Greek or has been to the Holy Land.” What they mean, of course, is that they have heard a lot of Greek and more than they wanted to know about the Holy Land!

Today, I want to write about a word and a concept which is vital to you and your faith in Christ. This is the word “justification.” It obviously is a “church” word, but it is a very necessary church word. This word refers to our life-giving experience with God.

During this year (August 2013 through June 2014) I am teaching our men the fundamentals of the faith from Romans. This is a principle oriented study. Also, on Wednesdays I teach a verse by verse Bible study for adults of every age from Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. The doctrine of justification is at the heart of all five of these books.

John Stott, the great biblical expositor who recently passed away, described justification as “the good news that sinful men and women may be brought into acceptance with God, not because of their works, but through a simple act of trust in Jesus Christ” (John Stott, The Message of Galatians, 59).

Martin Luther, whom God used to open the Bible to the church, called justification “the truth of the gospel, It is also the principal article of all Christian doctrine, wherein the knowledge of all godliness consisteth. Most necessary it is, therefore, that we should know this article well . . .”

The first mention of justification in Galatians is in chapter 2 (you would be blessed to read Galatians 2:16-21). The verb is used three times in Galatians 2:16, once in 2:17, and as a noun in 2:21. Within this context Paul gave his famous testimony: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

I first learned this verse in the King James Version which reads “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”

Would you join with me in seeking to understand this important concept? Let God show you how to live in a way that is not I but Christ.

Tomorrow we will look at justification in more depth. Please be sure to check tomorrow’s post about this important teaching of our Lord.

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7 Responses

  1. Our Tuesday Morning Mens Bible Study this morning really opened my eyes and heart to justification. When I just sit and let it sink in to what all took place and how we are justified through Jesus Christ I have feelings of security and peace. Understanding and accepting the actions taken on our behalf is well, just awesome. Thanks Pastor.

  2. Hi Waylon! Ron and I both enjoy your blog so much. I am in a world Christianity class this year called “Perspectives” which you are proably familiar with. John Stott is one of the authors in our text. I keep his definition of “Justification” on my desk. So reading your blog this morning made me smile. On another note, we are prayerful about all that is going on at FBC Covington and excited how God is working and his flock is growing in the area. Blessings to you, Martha and your sweet family.

  3. Wow! Galatians 2:20 is my life verse. “Justification” and “justified” are keys, aren’t they? “Just-as-if-I’d-never-sinned” my boyhood preacher used to say. That about says it all. Great post.

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