JUSTIFIED Sunday service – May 21,2023
What does it mean to be JUSTIFIED?
jus·ti·fied
- 1. having, done for, or marked by a good or legitimate reason.
“the doctors were justified in treating her” - 2. THEOLOGY
declared or made righteous in the sight of God.
From Strong’s concordance:
dikaioó: to show to be righteous, declare righteous
Original Word: δικαιόω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: dikaioó
Phonetic Spelling: (dik-ah-yo’-o)
Definition: to show to be righteous, declare righteous
Usage: I make righteous, defend the cause of, plead for the righteousness (innocence) of, acquit, justify; hence: I regard as righteous.
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Why is humbling oneself a catalyst for exaltation? The reverse?
How does this communicate justification is not of ourselves?
What does scripture say happens when we try to justify ourselves?
How is the Pharisee humbled? How is the tax collector exalted? How does this subvert our expectations of often who “should” be humbled and who “should” be exalted?
How does self exaltation appear to an onlooker? How does humility appear to an onlooker? Is it even about appearance or something more inward?
Why is false humility dangerous here? (another form of self exaltation?)
God calls the bluff by honoring what we speak and holding us to it, what is then truly true about what we are able to claim in His presence?
Before knowing Him?
Now as a Saint? Is there any difference?
Romans 3:21-31
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Can we think about justification in the context of union, family and even marriage?
What is the difference between condemnation and justification?
What are some problems when humans try to maintain a standard of holiness by our own strength, or when we try to set our own boundary lines or semantics of the standard?
What are some characteristics of Holiness?
Are people even capable of conceptualizing “perfection?”
Why is God showing Himself in scripture and in Life in 3 distinct persons (a community) while being completely One and unified in essence?
Does our idea of what is perfect have to do with serving the LORD, family, community, someone other than ourselves? Can we learn to see others not as separate but as part of a greater whole?
What implications does condemnation have on a group, community, family, or marriage?
What implications does justification have on a group, community, family or marriage?
How does authority and headship relate to covenantal covering and justification?
If the Law is perfect, then why do we need Jesus Christ
Why did Jesus have to die?
Why is righteousness only able to be received as a gift?
Why do people often seek to attain these standards by his or her own strength?
Why does righteousness as a gift bring transformation?
What is the difference between the righteousness of Adam in the garden and and the righteousness of Christ and subsequently the saints in the New Covenant?
Is the enemy impressed by a sinless man?
How does justification deflate the grip of the enemy?
How does justification relate to salvation, and sanctification? (how are we transformed by the renewing of the mind?) (deprogramming from lies and spiritual, mental, manipulation)
How does justification relate to communion and discerning the body?
Seeing others in the body as one with Christ and therefore one with us, so as to continually remind each member of the body of our inherited righteousness of Jesus Christ through justification – To employ and demonstrate the covering and favor of intimate union, to experience the transformative and healing power of mercy and forgiveness.