Justified by faith

The narrative of Abraham’s faith and the fact that it was imputed unto him for righteousness was written so that we might have the same kind of faith as he did, and similarly know what it is to be reckoned righteous. As Abraham believed the God of resurrection, so do those who believe ‘on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead’, v. 24. When our Lord was delivered up for our offences He accomplished everything that was necessary for our justification. Thereafter, He was raised again by God and those who believe are justified in that risen Man.

The happy results are varied and abundant. No longer is the believer under judgement, for he has peace with God. All guilt has been removed, for God has acquitted the believer and has declared him to be righteous before Him. Further, he has a standing in grace and rejoices as he considers that the hope lying before him embraces all that is connected with the glory of God. This impacts upon his daily life as he rejoices in the midst of tribulations, because their outcome will be patience, experience, and hope. We have the Holy Spirit given unto us and He has shed abroad in our hearts the love of God.

What love is this! When we were without strength Christ died for the ungodly, v. 6. When we were sinners Christ died for us, v. 8. When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, v. 10. His love surpasses human love, for whereas a man might dare to die for a good man and, with difficulty, for a righteous man, who but Christ has died for the ungodly, for sinners, and for those who were enemies?

Accordingly, we are justified by His blood, reconciled by His death, and saved by His present risen life, vv. 9-10. His blood has met the claims of the righteous throne of God; in His death He has dealt with the man He represented there, in all his offensiveness before God, so that God may now reconcile him to Himself; and in His life we are saved from everything that would rob us of what we have.

What grace we have known! Our guilt has been removed; our present standing is in grace; our future hope is the glory of God.