Gal. 2:15-21 - Justification (Part 1)

This post should have went up yesterday, but there were some technical difficulties.

Remedy Church Sermon Summary – 03/08/2009
Galatians 2:15-21 (Part 1)

This week at Remedy Church, Phud continued preaching through Paul’s letter to the Galatians (Yes, the teaching Pastor’s name is Phud), and we have reached Galatians 2:15-21. This is an exciting passage, because Paul directly discusses the doctrine of justification. Also, verse sixteen is considered by many scholars to be the theme verse for this epistle. In order to teach through the passage with any depth, he had to split this sermon into two weeks, so this week was Part 1. Here’s a basic outline:

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Justification: What does it mean to be declared righteous in Christ?

2 GOALS
1. To gain a better understanding of justification, especially the distinction between justification an sanctification, so that we will not become discouraged trying to earn or deserve justification.
2. Worship – this should be our response to the fact that something is being declared of us that simply isn’t true, namely our imputed righteousness.

Overview of the Doctrine of Justification
“Justification is an instantaneous legal act of God in which he (1) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us, and (2) declares us to be righteous in his sight.” (Grudem, Systematic Theology, 723)

Justification is the opposite of condemnation

“If justification is confused is confused with regeneration or sanctification, then the door is opened for perversion of the gospel at its center.” (John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied, 121)

“It is essential to the heart of of the gospel to insist that God declares us to be just or righteous not on the basis of our actual condition of righteousness or holiness, but rather on the basis of Christ’s perfect righteousness, which he thinks of as belonging to us." (Grudem, Systematic Theology, 727)

The First Insight into the Doctrine of Justification (1 of 4, but the other three will be next week)

1) We are not justified by works, but through the gift of faith in Jesus Christ alone, which only comes from God (15-16)

• Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 3:21-31
• Paul’s primary purpose for writing to these Galatian Christians is to straiten them out on this issue
  
  Romans 3:21-31
  a. Justification is a gift of God’s grace (24)
  - He did not have to justify anyone
  - God would have been justified condemning everyone, yet he decided to save some
  b. Our justification can only come from God (25-26)
  - Only God had stored up wrath against our sin, so only he could let us off the hook
  c. Justification should not cause boasting, but worship (27)
  - We did nothing, God did everything
• - The only right response to this doctrine is praise and thanksgiving
  d. Justification comes to us by our faith being put in Christ (29-30)
  - not by obeying; not by the law
  - There is only one way to salvation, and it is through Christ

Assessment

Do I live as one who has been declared to be righteous?

How does/can a person live like a justified sinner?

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At this point, I did not want Phud to stop preaching. I was hoping that he would decide to just stay until the afternoon to finish teaching the entire passage. But, that didn’t happen, and my three-year-old son was glad it didn’t happen.

I can’t wait for next week.

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