The Benefits of Our Justification

The Benefits of Our Justification

 

By Dean E. Boelt

We shall speak here of the great benefits of our justification in Christ. "Therefore, being justified by faith [cf. Rom. 4:20-25], we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," (Rom. 5:1). The following considerations are some of the rich spiritual blessings which result from this state of our justification by God.

 

The Access into Grace. At the head of Paul's list of the benefits is that of "access by faith into this grace wherein we stand" before God, it was pointed out (v. 2). The grace of reference is that of acceptance by God on the basis of what Christ has done for us, rather than upon that of what we have done for God, as was the proffered means of acceptance, or justification, under the law. In Christ, we live unto God, and hold our status as His dear children, vicariously—"through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 5:11; cf. Eph. 1:6). That is what is fundamentally involved in grace, as distinguished from law. In this grace we "stand," and with all trustful confidence, since God has repeatedly assured us it is solidly firm ground upon which to appear before Him, and continue in His Presence (Heb. 4:14-16; 10:19-22).

 

The Triumph in Tribulation. A second benefit of our justification is that of triumph in tribulation, rather than defeat therein, it was observed. "We glory in tribulations" it is declared (v. 3). This is not done because of the sheer joy of suffering, but out of consideration of its good fruitage when patiently endured (vv. 4-5). Scripture makes it clear that we shall "through much tribulation" enter the eternal kingdom (Acts 14:22), since God has "appointed" His children "thereunto" (I Thess. 3:3). Hence, in our single-hearted desire for, and quest of, the happy end, we are enabled, by the Spirit, to "glory" in it and them (cf. Jas. 1:2-4; 5:7-11). Only those, of course, who are fully conscious of their complete justification in Christ can so glory.

 

The Climactic Joy in God. Having "received the atonement"—reconciliation or justification— we joy [rejoice] in God through our Lord Jesus Christ." To know God in a state of reconciliation to Him—as the loving Savior and Father which He veritably is—is the acme of human joy. Full persuasion of such a state is conducive to this joy and certainly issues in it, as one "follows on to know the Lord" in the beauty of His Person and the riches of His grace (Hos. 6:3).

 

It is no wonder that Jesus denominated such knowledge "life" (Jn. 17:3). It is also "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 14:17, ASV). Something is heard today of the joy of serving God. But, comparatively little of the even greater bliss of knowing Him and basking in His divine presence as a dear child in Christ.

 

Some of those on the other side of the cross, without realized justification, put most of us to shame in this matter. Abraham "rejoiced" to see Christ's day—afar off—"and he saw it, and was glad" (Jn. 8:56). "God is my salvation," exclaimed Isaiah. Therefore, with joy shall we draw water out of the wells of [His] salvation" (Isa. 12:1-3).

Although material blessings should be withheld from him, "Yet," said Habakkuk. "I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation" (Hab. 3:17-18; cf. Ps. 20:5; 33:20-21).

 

For those who have a lively consciousness of reconciliation to Him through Christ, there is great joy in God Himself (cf. Ps. 16:11). But the experience of it will be in direct proportion to one's acute awareness of his justification in Christ, and so of his full acceptance by God. Thus, the Apostle exhorts the church, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice" (Phil. 4:4; cf. ch. 3:1).

 

The Hope of His Glory. Our joy in God has its zenith in our hope of His glory, i.e., of His glorious manifestation and vindication at the coming of Christ. That is the ultimate joy set before us, and that for which "the whole creation," together with us, groans and travails "in pain" and in breathless anticipation (Rom. 8:19, 22). Then—ah, then!— "when that which is perfect is come" (I Cor. 13:10)—"we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is" (I Jn. 3:1-2; Ps. 17:15).

 

The Table Pertinence. Since the weekly gathering of the saints at the Lord's table is in both spiritual recognition of their justification in Christ and testimony of their expectancy of His coming, the pertinence of these considerations thereto is evident.  Let us, therefore, eat the body of the Lord and drink His blood in commemoration of His having brought us to God (I Pet. 3:18), and so of our complete acceptance by the Father in Him, thus proclaiming the Lord's death "till He come" (I Cor. 11:26, ASV). –Noted and recorded by Fred O. Blakely