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Sunday, February 5, 2012

Becoming in experience who I am in position

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

Quick Review of Justification by Faith Alone
When God credits you with the life and accomplishment of Jesus Christ at the moment of saving faith, we refer to this as imputation (work of another credited to you).  God's declaration of no longer being mad at you and Him fully accepting you as fit for relationship with Him is what we call "justification".  Being that the declaration is received by "faith alone" and cannot be achieved by human effort, we term the means of justification to be: "justification by faith alone".  Thus justification as a whole is when God declares me to be: "just-as-if-I-never-sinned" and imputes or credits to me the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  

The Benefits of Justification by Faith Alone - Becoming in experience what God declares me to be already in position
In Romans 5:1-8 lists for us the experiencial and spiritual benefits that flow from being made right with God through Christ by faith:

1. Peace with God.  Romans 5:1

2. Accessibility to God. Romans 5:2

3. Constant resource for joy. Romans 5:2

4. Confidence to get through trials. Romans 5:3

5. Unending Hope. Romans 5:4

6. God's love operating in our hearts. Romans 5:5

7. God the Holy Spirit working in us and through us. Romans 5:5

Why the benefits of justification are important to know
Does justification only deal with my legal position before God?  Out of God's one-time declaration of our new position in justification begins the upward and onward experience of the Christian life.  When God declares His word of justification, it gives me the basis for having a peace of mind, hope and joy.  Because God places upon me at justification "the robe of Christ's righteousess", I have all the rights and privileges of sonship and relationship.  The Holy Spirit gives me power to live the Christian life and the ability to understand the Bible. (1 John 2:20,27)  The growing, ongoing experience of the Christian walk (called "sanctification") is distinct but connected to God's one-time declaration of my innocence in Justification.