Bob Cassell, Messenger
In order for any person to enter Heaven there must be a righteous basis for entrance into this eternal and perfect abode.
Pursuant to Romans 3:26, “God is just and the justifier of the one who believes in Jesus Christ.” But what must be done for God to justify any imperfect human being? Absolute perfection is required!
“And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination or makes a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).
This is a very high standard and all of humanity falls short of these requirements. The word of God, in the original languages, translated “justify” is also translated “righteousness.” Therefore, justification is closely related to righteousness. Consider this statement since the words are so closely defined.
Justification is the act. Righteousness is the result.
In order for any human to come into the presence of God they must have an absolute and righteous position or standing in His sight. Any unrighteousness that remains in humankind will prevent that person from living in the presence of God.
When God justifies a person, He provides that individual with the necessary righteousness to stand before Himself forever. This is what God does and is impossible for any Human being.
Justification is not the same as a pardon or the forgiveness of sin. A pardon looks at the penalty that is due because of the transgression. It is negative. Justification gives individuals what is needed to stand before God. It is positive.
I will share a story that occurred many years ago that will illustrate the difference between a pardon and a justification.
A highly talented Jewish soldier advanced rapidly through the ranks all the way to the general staff of the French Army. Shortly after his highest promotion he was arrested and charged with selling military secrets to Germany. After a guilty verdict he was dismissed from the army and committed to a French penal colony on Devil’s Island. As a result of strong public protest, he was retried but was again declared guilty. Due to further public dissatisfaction with the result of the trial the President of France issued a pardon. But close friends of this soldier were not satisfied with a mere pardon, and in a third trial this man was completely vindicated and given an advanced rank of major and the covenanted Legion of Honor medal.
When this soldier was pardoned the penalty of the crime was remitted and he returned to his family and friends, but the stigma of being labeled a traitor haunted him. There was a third trial and as a result of the innocent verdict he was vindicated, promoted, and received the Legion of Honor medal. He was then justified before the whole world. He received a standing or position of perfect righteousness and in addition was given recognition that comes only to those who have served and brought honor to their country.
This is exactly what occurs when God justifies the individual who sincerely believe in Jesus Christ. The remarkable difference is that this soldier was clearly innocent, falsely accused, and convicted, while those God justifies are truly and indeed guilty of the gross sin of unbelief in Jesus Christ and deserve the penalty of spiritual death which is separation from God forever in a burning hell.
Because humans are sinful and guilty, it is necessary for God, in justifying a person, first to pardon and forgive all sins.
God’s forgiveness in saving a person pertains to the forgiveness of “all trespasses” (Col. 2:13).
It is a judicial forgiveness wherein the believer is declared to be free from all trespasses. It is accomplished once and for all when the unsaved one comes to the cross and believes in Jesus Christ.
God never treats sin lightly, and you may be sure His forgiveness is not a simple act of leniency in remitting the penalty that occurs when humans forgive someone.
God forgives only because the penalty has been paid in full by another … Jesus Christ the unique savior.
“For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). And because “without the shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb.9:22).
God’s forgiveness demands redemption. Redemption occurs because the purchase price has been paid in full by Jesus Christ which permits release of those who are enslaved in the slave market of sin.
Forgiveness by God is “for Christ’s sake” (Eph. 4:32). This amazing forgiveness can only occur because God’s Justice has been satisfied. Righteousness demands Justice and Justice fully satisfies the righteousness of God.
Because Christ died and paid the full penalty for sin, it would be unrighteous of God not to forgive the individual who accepts Jesus Christ as the propitiation for their sins. For example, if a criminal judge levied a stern fine against the accused and a third party paid that fine in full, it would be unjust after the penalty had been paid to penalize the person who had originally been found guilty.
The forgiveness of God certainly involves his righteousness and justice, but it also is “according to the riches of His grace” (Eph.1: 7). This richness is because it was the love of God that sent His Son into the world, and it was the grace of God that He tasted death for every person (Heb.2:9).
Please notice, it is not only according to grace but according to the “richness of His grace.” There is no qualifying or limited forgiveness by God. It is totally free and completely full. This is a very important point to realize.
All sacrifices in the Old Testament were for the atonement for sin. To atone means to cover but does not entirely do away with the sin. If a thanksgiving dinner is prepared, and the table is set and covered by a beautiful white linen table cloth and someone spills gravy on the tablecloth, the hostess may cover that stain with a temporary covering or napkin until it can be made perfectly clean by a subsequent thorough washing. Likewise, the sacrifices of the Old Testament were for an atonement (covering) for sin.
To atone does not mean to do away with; it means only to cover. By these sacrifices no one could be made perfect; they were not enough; they were not effacious… they were not successful in obtaining the required results. Therefore, these sacrifices were repeated over and over again because they could only remind the individual that the sin was not fully paid for by the price of perfect redemption.
“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin” (Heb. 10:4).
GOOD NEWS! But the Lamb of God takes away sin totally (John 1:29). And those who are sanctified, once for all, by His sacrifice are perfected forever!
“We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. For by one offering He has perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:10,14).
This amazing work of God is complete and without blemish and provides judicial forgiveness of sin which gives the believer in Christ a perfect standing before God that is as perfect as Christ’s righteousness is perfect.
Judicial forgiveness is a complete forgiveness of all sins and is once and for all. It is to have the benefits of the righteousness of Christ which continue forever. This righteousness continues because of what Christ has done perfectly and completely and is not from the frail and imperfect efforts of humankind… it is from Him and to you, not from you, to him, to you or by means of you.
From this information it is clear that… when God deals with the sin problem of the unsaved, he does not ask that individual to put away his sins and live right for the rest of his life. That would be impossible for anyone, and besides the whole problem of past sins would be unresolved.
No, this is not right or reasonable as Christ has completely forgiven all sins because he fully paid the penalty for those sins by means of his perfect and effacious sacrifice on the cross.
What God requires for the unsaved is for them to realize the need for a Savior and accept Jesus Christ as the one who paid the penalty for all sins. That is absolutely all anyone can do to receive God’s judicial forgiveness and to immediately possess eternal life.
“But as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12).
Accept what Jesus Christ has done for you in paying for all sin perfectly and completely and not what you are doing that is imperfect, incomplete, and impossible.
Look away from yourself and steadfastly to him who has accomplished all that God requires to save your condemned and eternal soul.
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
“For by Grace are you saved by means of faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT OF GOD: not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph. 2:8,9).
This gift of eternal life cannot be received as a result of man’s performances, it can only be accepted by faith in Jesus Christ. To work for His perfect salvation is to offer a human behavior that is viewed by God as filthy rags and is totally unacceptable.
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses (not some but all) are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).
