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
