15th May 2025

15th May 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Romans 11v29)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Justification is a once and for all declaration by God that the sinner is righteous in His sight. He doesn’t declare us righteous because we are good and have impressed Him by our works. Instead, as the regenerated sinner calls upon Christ by faith, the Lord God declares that same sinner to be righteous. The sinner’s account is credited or imputed with the righteousness of Jesus.


But what happens to our justification when we stumble and fall? We know that actions have consequences - if we are caught speeding through Ballynahinch we can expect three points or perhaps a training course. Therefore, it stands to reason that when we sin against God something must happen to our justification. Does the Lord operate a points system whereby we have twelve points before He deletes our name from His Book? By no means.


The Christian is at the same time justified and sinful - this is our condition on this side of heaven. Thankfully, the Lord does not hold our sins against us nor does He revoke His declaration that He now counts us as righteous. Let me put it loudly and clearly - you cannot lose your justification.


Does this mean we are free to sin? Absolutely not! In response to the Gospel, the Christian walks in the fear of God. We do not fear Him as a tyrant but as a Father and so we seek to please and honour Him each day in the midst of our imperfect obedience. We are not to use our freedom in Christ to sin.


Instead, we understand that even when we do sin, the declaration of God remains secure. God cannot go back on His Word, He cannot lie and He cannot say one thing on a Monday and something entirely different on Tuesday. What does the Gospel do? It gives sinners a wonderful assurance that because of Jesus they are counted as righteous in God’s sight. He declares them to have a secure standing in the kingdom of God and this standing cannot be lost. It is exactly as Paul once said “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Romans 11v29). 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q84 What doth every sin deserve? Every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.
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