Justification

Adam’s disobedience brought condemnation death to all humanity, Christ’s obedience offers justification to all.

According to Paul, Adam brought sin and death into the world through his actions, but Jesus died for sin in order to offer God’s free gift of grace to believers. He asserts that just as Adam’s disobedience brought condemnation to all humanity, Christ’s obedience offers justification and life to those who trust in Him.This parallel between Adam and Christ underscores the transformative power of faith, as believers are redeemed through Christ’s sacrifice, gaining eternal life and liberation from sin. In other words, redemption is not merely a future promise but a present reality for believers, as they experience a renewed relationship with God and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Through faith in Christ, they are empowered to live victoriously over sin and embrace the abundant life that He offers.

Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God,”(Romans 5:1-2).

During the Christian life, justification refers to the status of a person before God in terms of his legal standing. To put it another way: The Christian life justification refers to God declaring a person to be righteous by declaring him or her righteous (justified) and the continued process of sanctification by the Holy Spirit. This growth in righteousness is a lifelong journey that continues until the believer’s death or Christ’s return. As believers persevere in faith, they experience the transformative power of God’s grace, which enables them to overcome sin and live a life that honors Him.

 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”(Romans 5:6-8).

This declaration of righteousness is not based on personal merit but on faith in Jesus Christ. An act of legal righteousness has been conferred upon a sinner through the sacrifice of Jesus, which essentially removes their guilt of sin and grants them a right standing before God due to the sacrifice of Jesus. This justification is a gift of grace, not earned by works but received through faith. As believers continue to trust in Christ, the Holy Spirit works within them, progressively transforming their character to reflect God’s holiness. This ongoing process of sanctification deepens their relationship with God and aligns their lives more closely with His will, “(Romans 5:10-11)”.

 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Ultimately, the process of justification is a once-and-for-all declaration, not based on our works but solely on Christ’s atoning work. It signifies a restored relationship with God, enabling believers to live in the freedom of His grace and grow in holiness through the ongoing process of sanctification. This work of the Holy Spirit empowers believers to live out their faith in tangible ways, demonstrating God’s love and truth to the world around them. Through this transformative journey, Christians are called to be a light in the darkness, reflecting Christ’s love and grace to others.

Adam and Eve left their sins behind for all those who were born after them. Their disobedience introduced sin into the world, leading to a separation between humanity and God.

” Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law,”(Romans 5:12-13).

As mentioned in Genesis 1:25, one man, Adam, was created from dust by God Himself from the very beginning of creation. Paul emphasizes that through, one man-Adam, sin and death spread to all humanity, which is what led to the fall of mankind,”(Romans 5:12)”When Adam and Eve did exactly what they were told not to do, sin entered into the world, and they were both punished for it because of it,  (Genesis 1:27).There is only one restriction that God placed on Adam when he placed him in the garden of Eden: he was not permitted to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:15-17).Consequently, every human being is born with a sinful nature, which separates them from God. The consequences of Eve and Adam’s sin, namely death, have affected all people on earth since they are considered to have inherited this sinful nature from him; essentially, the result of Eve and Adam’s sin affects everyone on earth through physical death.-This sinful nature is inherited by all of Adam and Eve’s descendants, leading to a perpetual cycle of sin and death. However, through faith in Jesus Christ, believers can overcome this inherited sin and attain eternal life, breaking the cycle initiated by Adam and Eve’s disobedience. This redemption is made possible through Christ’s sacrifice, which atones for humanity’s sins and offers a path to reconciliation with God. By embracing this faith, individuals can transcend the limitations of their inherited sinful nature and achieve spiritual renewal.

As a result of Adam’s sin, we die; as a result of Jesus’ salvation, we live, I believe that Jesus defeat sin on his own. 

”Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many,”(Romans 5:14-15).

Due to Eve and Adam’s disobedience, sin entered the world, affecting all people and resulting in their death as a result of it. Having been obedient and willing to pay the price for the sins of the world, Jesus Christ offers the possibility of righteousness and eternal life to all who believe. Throughout the letter, Paul emphasizes how one specific human being (Eve and Adam) had a profound impact on the entire human race, much like how the actions of one person (Christ) will bring salvation to many people. There is no doubt that this passage illustrates that God’s grace, given through the sacrifice of Christ, is greater than the sin that Eve and Adam brings into the world.

In essence, we can all agree that each and every one of us is, by birthright of our being, a product of the first Eve and Adam, and as humans, we are all born under the condemnation of death by our very natures. Historically, it is thought that the sin of Eve and Adam overtook the human race as a result of his disobedience and trespass. Therefore, the triumph of grace is also based on the obedience and righteousness of Jesus Christ as he triumphed over sin. However, through faith in Jesus Christ and His redemptive work on the cross, believers can overcome the power of sin and experience spiritual rebirth, leading to eternal life with God. This redemption is not merely a reversal of the Fall but a restoration to a state of grace far exceeding what was lost. Through Christ, humanity is offered a renewed relationship with God, characterized by love, mercy, and eternal life. This divine grace empowers them to overcome sin and live righteously, fulfilling their God-given purpose and destiny.

By paying for our sin, Jesus has made it possible for everyone who believes to reign with Him forever.

”And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ,”(Romans 5:16-17)

Throughout his reflections, Paul compares the consequences of men’s most significant choices made at various points in the emergence of humankind. In the beginning, Adam was responsible for introducing sin into the world in which sin did not exist. As a result of his decision to break God’s command, all subsequent generations were born into sin. Therefore, all people suffered under judgment for their sin and were subject to God’s condemnation. After thousands of years of sinning and breaking God’s law, Jesus was born as a man thousands of years later. It was He who chose to become the source of God’s free gift of grace. 

Conversely, Jesus Christ, through his obedience and sacrifice, offers humanity an abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness. This gift allows believers to overcome the power of sin and death, enabling them to reign in life and fulfill their divine purpose. Through faith in Jesus Christ, individuals are justified and reconciled with God, experiencing a renewed relationship and eternal life. By embracing this gift, believers can live victoriously, embodying the transformative power of grace and righteousness in their daily lives. Consequently, they are empowered to reflect God’s love and truth to the world, furthering His kingdom on earth. Although the fact that we are co-heirs of Christ has already been established, Paul’s portion of Scripture points to a future time when Christ’s kingdom will be established in full force on earth and that believers will share in His reign, experiencing the fullness of God’s promises and the ultimate triumph over sin and death. This future reign will be marked by the complete fulfillment of God’s promises, where believers will experience the ultimate triumph over sin and death, living in eternal victory and glory with Christ.

While Adam’s disobedience brought condemnation and death to the whole world, Christ’s obedience brings salvation and justification to all who believe in Him.

 Therefore, as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous,”(“(Romans 5:18 -19)”

Since all humanity has sinned, we all face God’s judgment and the same outcome: judgment and condemnation. In this statement, Paul encapsulates the ideas that he has been discussing since the beginning, namely the idea that one trespass, one sin, led to the condemnation of all mankind. It was Adam’s sin in that he disobeyed God’s command not to eat from one specific tree. In doing so, he introduced sin and death into the world, where they firmly took hold in everyone who follows.

A “act of righteousness,” on the other hand, leads to the opportunity for everyone in the world to receive the possibility of justification through the death of Jesus on the cross to pay the penalty for human sin. Furthermore, this act of righteousness that Jesus made was his death on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of the entire world. Paul has made the case throughout the entire book of Romans that those who, by faith, accept this free gift of God’s grace are declared righteous by God, they are justified. This justification is not earned through personal merit but freely given, signifying a restored relationship with God. Consequently, believers are no longer under condemnation but are granted eternal life, embodying the transformative power of Christ’s sacrifice and the boundless reach of God’s grace. 

All humanity was condemned by Adam’s disobedience, but justification is offered by Christ’s obedience in the place of condemnation. This act of righteousness not only offers justification but also serves as a beacon of hope, illustrating that through faith, humanity can overcome the legacy of sin and embrace a renewed relationship with God. Through this justification, believers are reconciled with God, experiencing His love and mercy. They are empowered to live a life that reflects Christ’s teachings and share the message of salvation with others, perpetuating the transformative impact of Christ’s sacrifice.

God’s grace is needed to cover the depth of our sins.

Regardless of how deep our sins go, God’s grace is the only thing that will be able to cover them. Without it, we are left to grapple with our transgressions alone, unable to attain true redemption. This grace is a testament to divine mercy, offering us a path to forgiveness and spiritual renewal. It is through this unmerited favor that we find the strength to overcome our flaws and embrace a life of righteousness. Embracing God’s grace allows us to experience profound transformation and a deeper connection with the Almighty.

” Moreover, the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord,”(Romans 5:20-21).

As soon as God gave us actual commands on what we should and shouldn’t do in this life, we began to move away from simply being sinners by birth and become actual transgressors. Their sin and our sin had now been criminalized on a whole new level as a result of God’s commands. We were now all living in open rebellion. This realization of our transgressions highlights the depth of our need for God’s grace. It underscores the significance of Christ’s sacrifice, offering us a path to redemption and eternal life.

In that light, sin more than ever increased. It’s not necessarily that people started committing sins in greater numbers. Instead, it is that we began to be counted as rebels against God’s will as individuals in rebellion against His commandments. Consequently, it became a more overt disobedience to God In fact, as Paul explains in his astounding assertion, God gave the law Moises and then to the Israelites to distinguish between the trespass and the offense; He wanted it to be abundantly clear just how sinful humans were.This clear distinction between trespass and offense highlights the pervasive nature of sin and the necessity of divine intervention. Through Christ’s sacrifice, we find redemption, transcending our rebellious nature and embracing a path to eternal life.

Another extraordinary statement follows from Paul, however, as human sin increased, grace significantly increased, and God’s grace abounded even more. This rational explanation makes perfect sense, but it still amazes us that God’s grace is able to give good to us despite our sinfulness. As soon as God gave us actual commands on what we should and shouldn’t do in this life, we began to move away from simply being sinners by birth and become actual transgressors. Their sin and our sin had now been criminalized on a whole new level as a result of God’s commands. We were now all living in open rebellion. This realization of our transgressions highlights the depth of our need for God’s grace. It underscores the significance of Christ’s sacrifice, offering us a path to redemption and eternal life.

Paul argues that God’s grace is the supreme authority and ruler in the universe. It reigns over sin and death, and has the power to make us righteous by declaring us righteous as sinners who, through faith, accept his grace-gift of the death of Jesus on the cross as payment for our sins. Therefore, despite the pervasive nature of sin, God’s grace remains more powerful, offering hope and salvation to all who seek it. This divine grace not only forgives but also transforms, enabling believers to live in a way that honors God and reflects His love. Our most arduous battle as Christians is to overcome unbelief in the truth that God’s grace and the l blood of the Lamb are more powerful than the sum total and quantity of our sins,”(Romans 10:2-4)”The tendency in our natural selves to try and gain God’s approval from him and to prove our own righteousness to him is one of our most distorted characteristics. This is almost always a product of our self-righteous attitude, and it is ultimately a rejection of God’s grace and a rejection of the Righteous One as well. When we accept God’s grace and forgiveness (despite the fact that we do not deserve it), it is only through His grace that we can become free of the cycle of sin and condemnation that we were bound by and condemned by. Having faith in Christ’s blood, not our good works, is the only thing that God accepts for forgiveness; without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness,”(Hebrews 9:11-28)””This is something we must fully embrace in order to know what it means to be forgiven and to be at peace with God, and when we do, we immediately experience the blessedness of being forgiven.

 The moment we grasp the fact that we already have a complete relationship with Christ (because Christ has justified us) and that ALL we need to be clean of is the sin we have walked in, then grace will begin to work both peace and obedience within us. This realization allows us to walk in the freedom and confidence of our forgiven state, fostering a deeper connection with God and a more steadfast commitment to living out His will in our daily lives. As we focus on Christ’s finished work, our identity as redeemed children of God becomes clearer, empowering us to live in the freedom and victory He has secured for us. 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for being the source of all power, authority, and dominion in this world, (Philippians 2:10). Thank you, God! You have already provided a way for us to be reconciled to you, heavenly Father, As your greatest act of love, when you chose to come down and become flesh in order to save the world, you have sent your only son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross and bear the penalty of our sins for u,”( 1  Peter 2:24)”. Lord, we are full of gratitude for the mercy that you have bestowed upon us through the resurrection of your son Jesus Christ, and we have been declared righteous and forgiven by you, Lord God, owing to your infinite grace and mercy. 

Through our faith in Jesus Christ and the acceptance of Him as our Lord and Savior makes us just before you Most High God. Lord, we are forgiven, and we are free from our sins when we accept Him as our Lord and Saviour.  Thank you, Lord, we understand that salvation is not something we can earn or deserve, but rather is a gift from you, our heavenly Father,”(Ephesians 2:8)”. By faith in Jesus Christ, we have the assurance that we are justified before you, Lord God, and are at peace with him. Heavenly Father, thank you for justifying us through faith in Jesus Christ, and not by our works. We acknowledge that we are sinners and do not deserve your love and forgiveness. But because of your great Love and mercy, we have been made righteous and have peace with you.

“Lord Jesus Christ, you save us by grace alone; if one should be saved by reason of the deeds of oneself, then that would not be a gift, but merely a task on our part. Lord, faith replaces our deeds, for we are certain that there will be none to justify through our actions. Our faith is our reason for overcoming; it’s what makes us justified; it’s what makes us partakers of God’s glory throughout eternity as we live our hope,”(1Peter 4:13)”. Our faith is our reason for overcoming; it’s what makes us justified; it’s what makes us partakers of God’s glory throughout eternity as we live our hope. Thank you, Lord. It is the cornerstone of our perseverance, the source of our strength, and the foundation of our eternal faith in God. Through faith, we are empowered to rise above challenges and embrace the promise of everlasting life. And we pray this, For God Be All Glory, Forever, Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

By: Elda Sullins.

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