Justified by Covenant

“Covenant: a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement” – Merriam-Webster Online

The piece of the above definition I hone in on is that of the “binding agreement”. This to me indicates that it is set and all parties are held to the agreement and it is not able to altered.

God has entered into two major covenants with man, the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. These covenants are binding agreements and were not to be altered by either party. Both covenants are still active today as they work together.

The Old Covenant was driven by the laws and rules established by God in preface to the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This was driven by keeping the laws and rules so as to stay in right standing with God. And even when there was not the right standing with God, there was the ability to offer an annual sacrifice to Him to regain favor and right standing.

That sacrifice was the transition to the New Covenant that was enacted upon the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross. The sacrifice of Jesus took the place of the annual sacrifice to regain favor and right standing. I no longer “need” to sacrifice to God, I only need to repent and seek forgiveness for the sins I have and will commit.

“²⁴So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” — Galatians 3:24-26 (ESV)

There is still the need to follow the law, only the law I follow is that of God and not for the purpose of gaining something, but in obedience and because I have faith in Him. I follow God thanks to His promise to provide for me as he demonstrated with the death of Jesus for my sins as He was sinless. Thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus I am free from sin. Just as with the Old Covenant and the annual sacrifice, I am good to go as relates to being justified, only I will now rely on God and not the law to be sanctified and maintained in my faith. I have salvation from that sin and no longer have to present to God other than my obedience to Him.

It is the promise of the covenant that keeps me in right standing with God. I have been justified by faith, and that faith is due to the covenant that God has with me. The unwavering promise that is binding and unchangeable. I know what I have in God and know that He will always be here with me and I have nothing left to do to gain His favor. I only have a lot to do because of His favor.

How are you looking to be justified? Are you continuing to follow the law in hopes that it will do it for you? What if you followed God and knew that you are justified and that His promises will not waver or be changed?

Justified to do What is Right and NOT Just What is Written

I am justified by my faith in God, not by the laws and rules that I follow. One might think that it is the other way as in the world, as a follower of Christ, I will follow the law. But, I follow the law as it aligns with the doing what is right and in the name of the LORD.

In my role as a training professional, I come across a lot of procedures and rules and processes that are designed to get us through a particular situation and not have to wonder whether we are doing things right. Well, those processes do not account for all situations and when one of those comes up, when there is not clear directions as to what or how to proceed, there is chaos. Those that encounter those situations are paralyzed by the idea that there is no clear direction on what to do.

“¹⁰For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.’” — Galatians 3:10 (ESV)

Those who rely on being told what to do and how to proceed are bound by that process always. I have to remember that it is knowing the greater plan and understanding the idea that I have to think and apply principles as opposed to apply laws and rules and processes and procedures. This is where knowing what is right and applying that to the situation makes all the difference in the completion of the tasks and sitting paralyzed. I am not cursed by the law and only being able to do that which is written, I am free to apply that which is right thanks to the freedom given by knowing.

“¹¹Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” — Galatians 3:11 (ESV)

Now, I have to confess that our freedom of knowing, does not give us the freedom to do what we want, when we want. I still have to apply my faith to all situations. The thing is that I am not ruled by the law of man. I follow the laws of man not to gain something, but rather because it is right under the justification I have received thanks to my faith in God.

The law of man does not always align with the law of God. When that does occur, it is the law of God that I will follow as that is what is right. I have to remember that it is what is right that falls into the following of Christ, and not just that which is written down. A good amount of the time what is right is what is written, but when there are situations where there may not be something written, I have to lean on that which I know to be right thanks to the justification I have gained through my faith in God.

What do you do when you don’t know what to do? Are you paralyzed with the not knowing because someone or the law has not told you? What if you followed Christ instead of the law and rules and allowed your knowing of what is right to guide you?

Still a Sinner Yes, but Justified

I have and will continue to tell all that I am a sinner. There is nothing that will change that fact. I am a sinner. I have accepted Christ as my savior and I strive to do the will of God at all times, yet I am still a sinner. There is nothing in God’s Word that indicates that I am anything but a sinner.

“¹⁷But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!” — Galatians 2:17 (ESV)

I am not found to be a sinner, I have always been one. Even in that, Christ does not turn away from me. I have been justified by my faith and yet I am still a sinner. Christ does not serve sin, He serves me. He knows that I am a sinner and yet he accepts me in spite of that sin. Christ gave me the offer of salvation, I took the offer freely given and I am justified through my faith in knowing that He loves and protects me always.

No matter the work I do in this world, that work does nothing for my justification in the eyes of God. I have to accept Him and know that He has saved me from my sins of old and those that are yet to come.

“¹⁶yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” — Galatians 2:16 (ESV)

I am a still a sinner, yet I am justified by my faith in Christ Jesus and His love and sacrifice for me.

What are you beliefs as relates to your status as a sinner? Are you even aware of your sin and are you trying to find justification in the world? What if you accepted your sin and Christ as your savior and allowed Him into your life so that even though you are still a sinner, you can be justified through you faith in Christ?

Can’t We as Christians Resolve with Christians

This morning as I was reading and studying, I was reminded that as Christ followers, we are to resolve our differences with other Christ followers with them and not through the law of man. We are all family members and should deal with matters between one another within the family and not involve outsiders. When I have a difference with a brother or sister in Christ I am to go to them and work to resolve as opposed to working through the law of man.

“⁴So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? ⁵I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, ⁶but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?” — 1 Corinthians 6:4-6 (ESV)

How often have I seen that one family member takes things outside to a third party to involve them in the dealings of the family. In the case of brothers and sisters in Christ, it is no different. I am to go to my brother or sister and work with them in the name of Christ to resolve. And as brothers and sisters, an agreement should be found for all of us are to work for Christ and not for ourselves.

“¹¹And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11 (ESV)

We are justified by Christ and that gives us the ability to work for His glory and not our own. I know that I have to be reminded that it is He not me that matters. In that I am willing to make concessions to my brothers and sisters and they should be willing to do the same in order to resolve our differences and put God before one another.

There is little if no reason for me to involve man in the affairs of my Christian family. I have to remember that all of me is dedicated to Christ and when working with other Christians, I should work for the LORD in resolving and think of how to impact His work and not my own. I have been justified by Christ and so has my brother or sister in Christ and therefor our actions should not be judged by the law of man, only the law of God. My brothers and sisters are my family and we are able to take care of things in the family and not involve the world.

What differences are getting in the way of your relationships with your brothers and sisters? Are you tending to bring those and work to resolve them through the law of man? What if you kept those things in the family and worked to resolve in the name of Christ, under the law of God for His glory and not your own gain?

Which Comes First, Heart or Mouth

Which is it? Do I have to confess with my mouth before I believe in my heart or am I able to believe and then say it. Well, that seems to be a bit of a conundrum. Both are important, although their order of importance is not.

“¹⁰For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” — Romans 10:10 (ESV)

Notice in the above from Paul to the Romans, he does not indicate which is first, only that each has its own part in the process. There is also that one can believe, yet needs to profess to all allowed so that all will know and celebrate with as well as provide guidance and support for this new believer. I don’t believe there is a first or second, only that both need to happen.

When we say something, there are always going to be those that will not believe and frankly, I do not have to believe something to say it. I can say that gold has no value, when in fact I know that it does. Those are the lies that come from us as man. I am a sinner and lies come easy to me. So saying something does not make it true.

On the other hand, believing and not saying does not do any better. I can believe and even act in the way of the Christian and the follower of Christ. Yet, being that the law of God supersedes the law of man, it may appear that I am in fact not following God as those that are not believers would not understand my actions only see them. Therefore, believing in my heart does not make it complete.

I have to believe and speak to indicated to myself, through the belief in my heart, and to others though my outward profession. I have to be complete. I have to openly let everyone know that I am accepting or have accepted Christ as my savior, and I have to privately believe in my heart so that God can see my true acceptance. These work together and one should be done in concert with the other.

As to which comes first, the heart or the mouth, for some it will be one, and for others it will be the other. Some will believe in their heart and then shout it from the rooftops that they have accepted Christ and believe in Him completely. Others will speak it and then hear it from their own lips and then believe in their hearts. I am not to say one should be first and the other second as each person is their own. What I will say is to echo the words of Paul here in his letter to the Romans:

“⁸But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” — Romans 10:8-9 (ESV)

What are your thoughts on the path, heart or mouth? Are you electing to do one over the other and struggling with the idea that you may have done things backward? What if you just did it your way and don’t worry with the order and only do them both, believe in your heart and confess with your mouth?

Chosen, Justified, and Glorified

I was chosen to receive salvation. I only needed to accept it. I was then justified as a result of my accepting salvation and repenting of my sins. And then I am glorified in the name of the LORD thanks to my justification which is thanks to my salvation.

“³⁰And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” — Romans 8:30 (ESV)

When I read the verse above, I see the word “predestined” and wonder of my salvation, what if I were not predestined. I then have to remember that salvation is available and should be presented to all. It is the free will of the individual to accept salvation. All are chosen to receive salvation, not just the righteous or the Baptist, or Catholics, or Presbyterians, or any specific religions. Jews and Gentiles are presented the Word of God and all have the chance to accept.

I have to remember that before my salvation I was no different than the rest of the world, a sinner without salvation. Now, I am a sinner still, but I have salvation and forgiveness and will spend eternity with Christ in heaven. I was chosen to receive salvation and with my acceptance of this free gift, I am justified in Christ. My sins, those I have committed and those I will commit will be wiped away thanks to the forgiving grace of God.

Now that I have been, and will continue to be justified, I know that I will be glorified in heaven when it is my time to be united with Christ. I will be glorifying Him and He will be glorifying me as I find myself in His physical presence in glory.

I was chosen to receive the gift of salvation from Christ. I chose to accept that gift of salvation and as a result was justified in Christ. With my justification I will be glorified again, thanks to my acceptance of the gift of salvation I was chosen to receive.

What does your life look like as relates to you being chosen to receive salvation? Are you waiting for something else to be offered? What if you accept the gift and be justified which will lead to glorification all as a result of being chosen to receive the gift of salvation?

Justified by His Blood

I have to have faith in God and that is what justifies me in spite of my sin. I will continue to sin as I am a sinner and thanks to the salvation that was given by Christ, I have been forgiven. But, where did that salvation come from. What was done to allow for me to believe and have salvation. Christ shed His blood on my behalf.

“⁶For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— ⁸but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” — Romans 5:6-9 (ESV)

I was born a sinner. I am a sinner. I will always be a sinner. Yet, Christ died for me. He shed His blood to atone for my sin. Yes, Jesus walked this world over 2000 years ago, and yet He accounted for me and all that I am. Christ took on all of my sin and washed it away when He shed His blood of the cross. That is what was done to allow for me to believe and have salvation.

Yes, I did not need for Christ to shed His blood and my faith in Him is certainly enough. Look at those of the Old Testament that believed and had faith in God even before Jesus came. Abraham, Moses, Noah, Solomon, David. All of them put their faith in God and all came before Jesus walked this world. Jesus came and died so, as noted in verse nine above, “much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God”. Jesus is better and made it better for me.

I owe a debt of thanks to Jesus. He provided me a way to be made whole in the eyes of God and then made it even better with the shedding of His blood on my behalf. I have been justified by the blood of Jesus and my sins have been washed away.

Having faith true to be justified, what is/was done to take it up a notch? Are you still living your life like a sinner thinking, “I believe and have faith so I am good”? What if you took a step back and understood that you have faith thanks to God and it is better thanks to the shed blood of Christ?

Believe and Be Justified

There are no works that I have to do in order to be justified. I cannot “win” God over by extraordinary gestures. I cannot buy my way to justification with a load of money. Being famous (not that I am) does me no go in the eyes of God. It is only my belief in Him that allows me to be justified. In fact, my justification thanks to belief in Him is really in spite of all that I might do or have.

“³For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’ ²For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.” — Romans 4:3&2 (ESV)

All that Abraham had was of nothing in the eyes of God. Abraham could have been boasting to all that he had and did in the world and where the world may have been impressed, he would not and did not impress God. It was through his belief in God that Abraham was counted as righteous and for which God justified him.

I am the same. It is not what I do or what I have that makes me who I am in the eyes of God. It is my belief in Him and only my belief in Him. Yes, I do have work to do in His name and that should not be counted out, but it is in His name only after my belief and faith in Him. I do the works, as I have studied and written before, because of my justification not to earn it.

What are you doing to be justified by God? Are you out there working yourself ragged to “earn” your justification in the eyes of God? What if you simply believed in Him and turned your faith to Him and then did the works because of your justification?

Justified by Faith, Not Works

I know, I just recently wrote “Doers are Those Justified”, so how does all of this fit. Well, what I wrote in the first paragraph is more indicative of what is meant: “It is NOT about the works, although the works are an indicator.” It is not what you do that is justified, I do the works because I am justified. My being justified comes through the gift of God through Jesus Christ.

“²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” — Romans 3:23-24 (ESV)

I have to remember that it is not what I do that justifies me. My faith in Him and His salvation for me is what justifies me in His sight, and that is what matters.

“²⁸For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” — Romans 3:28 (ESV)

I am justified in spite of my works. Once I have have accepted Christ as my Savior, I am justified regardless of my past and in spite of my future. The LORD gifts salvation and justification to me at that moment. I am then to follow Him and in doing so, will do the work He has for me. I will do the work, not to gain favor, but because I have been given favor already. I am now in the position to do the work of God within the boundaries of the law and not because of the boundaries of the law. I do not have some cornering on the law and do not have the right to go outside the boundaries, I will do that which is right, because it is right.

“³¹Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” — Romans 3:31 (ESV)

It is my faith in Jesus Christ that justifies me. I have been given the opportunity to be free from the sins of my past and those sins I will commit in the future. Where the sins of the future have been forgiven already, I am less likely to commit conscious sin thanks to the salvation I have received and will do the work of the LORD thanks to my salvation and justification. I will no longer do the work in hopes of justification.

What works are you doing? Are you doing them to gain some kind of favor with God? What if you simply accepted the salvation given, knowing that it is enough and then did works because of your justification as opposed to gain it?

Justified, Yes, But Now We Know Sin

“²⁰For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” — Romans 3:20 (ESV)

I have been justified by the works of the LORD and have been and will be held accountable to the sins I have and will commit as I continue in this world. And that is the thing, I have and will continue to commit sins. And to go along with those sins, I have to continue repenting and seeking forgiveness for those sins I know of and even those that I am unaware.

Just because I have been justified does not mean that I am out of the woods as relates to accountability. It does not mean that I can just do whatever I want and not have to worry with pleasing or displeasing God. I am still a sinner, and even more importantly I now know of sin and that makes me even more accountable. I now know right from wrong and my sin is a choice at each instance. I now choose to sin.

As a small child, I was given certain liberties to knowing right from wrong. I did not know that taking something from the store was a crime and sin because I did not know the law. I did not know that lying was a sin as someone had not explained it to me yet and I did not understand the concept. But now that I am older (Ha Ha), I do know and if I do indeed take something from the store or tell a lie, I choose to do so and will be held accountable to that choice. The same holds true for the other sins in my life.

As a Christian and child of God, I now am aware of my sin and am held accountable to knowing when I am about to or have sinned. I have the knowledge and it is up to me to use that knowledge each and every moment of the day. I know what is right and what is wrong in the eyes of the LORD and I am responsible to abide by His Word each and every time.

How do I know? I have to study His Word each day. I have to dig into and work to understand what it is to abide in the LORD. He tells me in His Word and it is my duty to read study and understand so that I can abide in Him at all times.

Am I going to sin, yes, I am a sinner and just because I have been given and accepted salvation does not absolve me of what I am. I do however have a better knowledge of what I am doing and when I work to align myself with His teachings and doing as instructed by Him, I will find myself sinning less and those sins I do commit will impact others less. I will know I have sinned as some point in the day and I will know to ask God again to forgive me of those sins I have committed.

What knowledge do you have of right and wrong? Are you continuing to actively sin even though you know? What if you were to get into God’s Word and understand so that you would have a better chance to avoid sin?