“In The Beginning…”

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2. “In The Beginning…” Lessons About Life Revealed In The Scripture’s First Book

3. “In The Beginning…” Justification By FaithGen 15, 17, 22 Presenter: Jeff Smith

4. …who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification. Romans 4:24b-25

5. Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

6. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. Romans 5:9

7. Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

8. And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

9. Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Galatians 3:7-9

10. Justification By Faith Introduction • “Justification” is a very important N.T. doctrine • At the very core of the gospel of Christ • To be saved, one must be “justified” • Our purpose Ù to properly understand “justification by grace through faith”

11. Justification By Faith Definition Of “Justification” • Term = “to be pronounced free of guilt” • A legal term in N.T. Greek • One who has been declared innocent or acquitted of guilt • The Scripture presents only 2 ways of how a man may be “justified”

12. IMPOSSIBLE !! Justification By Faith Definition Of “Justification” • How a man may be “justified”… • If he has not sinned • He has never violated God’s law…he has kept the law of God perfectly • He could truthfully say to God… “You owe me salvation!” Rom 4:1-4

13. Justification By Faith Definition Of “Justification” • How a man may be “justified”… • If he has not sinned • Not saying man is born in sin or that he has to sin • But he does sin Rom 3:9, 20, 23 1 Jn 1:8, 10

14. Justification By Faith Definition Of “Justification” • How a man may be “justified”… • If he has sinned • He has violated God’s law…he has not kept the law of God perfectly • How could such a “guilty” man be declared “not guilty” (innocent)?

15. Justification By Faith Definition Of “Justification” • How a man may be “justified”… • If he has sinned • God is willing to show mercy, forgive his transgressions and sins • God will forgive if man is willing to show faith & repentance Rom 4:5-8

16. Justification By Faith Definition Of “Justification” • How a man may be “justified”… • If he has not sinned • He has kept God’s law perfectly • If he has sinned • He needs God’s mercy & forgiveness X 4

17. Justification By Faith Definition Of “Justification” • God wants man to have enough faith in Him that when He commands something to be done, man trusts Him and obeys (spiritually, socially, morally, etc.) • This has always been the kind of faith God desires in man

18. Justification By Faith Illustration Of “Justification” • Perhaps the best way to understand this concept is to see it in someone’s life • Abraham = a great example to study Rom 4:23-25 15:4 • He illustrates how justification & faith are connected Rom 5:1 Gal 3:8, 24

19. Justification By Faith Illustration Of “Justification” • Before examining Abraham, we must define 1 more important N.T. term • The term is “reckoned”Rom 4:3 • Other translations have “counted” or “accounted” or “credited”

20. A Greek accounting term logidzomai To put to one’s account “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” In His “ledger,” God credits righteousness to those who display the faith He demands. Rom 1:17

21. Justification By Faith Illustration Of “Justification” • When Abraham displayed faith in what God said, God made a “credit entry” into His “ledger” on Abraham’s behalf • This was how Abraham (a sinner) was “justified” (declared innocent) • God’s grace + Abraham’s faith

22. Passage Event In Abraham’s Life Age Gen 12:4 Left Haran Heb 11:8 75 4 Gen 15:1-6 Told of his “numberless seed” ?? Gen 16:16 Ishmael is born 86 Gen 17:1-5 Rom 4:17ff 4 Isaac is promised 99 4 Gen 22:1-19 Jas 2:21-23 Isaac is sacrificed ??

23. Justification By Faith Illustration Of “Justification” • Abraham’s faith was displayed over his lifetime (not just a “1-time” act of faith) • Calvinism teaches man must have an “experience of faith” (1-time act) • This is error…not taught in the Scripture

24. The Faith That Saves Is The Faith That Obeys Justification By Faith Illustration Of “Justification” • Abraham displayed this faith even… • …in difficult situations • …when facing the unknown • Abraham shows the following to be true

25. Justification By Faith Conclusion • Consider Gal 3:6-9, 22-29 • Abraham = the “father of the faithful” • His was the kind of faith that gave him credit for righteousness in God’s “ledger” • Even though he was a sinner, he was “justified by grace through faith”

26. Justification By Faith Conclusion • Consider Rom 4:2-5 and Jas 2:21-22 • Abraham justified by faith • Abraham justified by works • Which way is it?? • Faith that unites belief w/ obedient action when God has commanded something BOTH

27. Justification By Faith Conclusion • You can be like Abraham…a “justified” believer whose faith is given “credit” in God’s ledger • Even in situations that are difficult or when facing the unknown

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