Justification by the Blood

 

Justification by the Blood

Rom. 5:9

 

          I love the doctrine of Justification.  Paul was a great expositor of it.  In this verse we are told that we were justified by the blood.  This, of course refers to the blood of Christ.  Justification and acquittal are not the same thing  Sometimes justification is explained as God's acquittal, but that is not so.  In Nahum 1:3 we are told that God will not at all acquit the wicked.  Acquittal means found not guilty.  No seed of Adam's race can ever claim that, for we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.  Justification, on the other hand, takes the guilty sinner and declares him forgiven.  It is an act of imputation.  Just as all of the sins of all of God's elect were imputed to Jesus, when He died for them; likewise in justification all of the righteousness of Christ is imputed to every believer. 

          In our text being saved is stated as much more, and it is said that it is future.  Just what does it mean to be saved?  First it means that every elect sinner, dead in trespasses and sins, shall be quickened, made alive spiritually in the new birth.  It means that every elect sinner will be justified, sins forgiven.  It means that every elect sinner was sanctified in election before the world began, and the Holy Spirit is daily working in him to will and to do according to the good pleasure of God.  This salvation will not be complete until our Great Redeemer has brought every elect soul home to Glory and made us like Christ.           

          Our text states that we are saved from wrath through Him.  That is the fires of Hell and the Lake of Fire will never engulf the saved person.  Throughout our lives our Lord is chastening us to bring us to glorification.  See Heb. 12:6-8.  "Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?   Heb 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."   I even believe we shall be saved from the Great Tribulation, 1 Thess. 5:9, " For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,"