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Christ’s Transferred Righteousness
Justification by faith does not mean that we are saved by
having faith in faith. The two-directional transfer of sin and righteousness
provides the basis or ground for our justification (being declared righteous by
God as a legal act). Our personal sins were transferred to Jesus’ account while
He suffered and died on the cross. Christ became legally responsible for my sin,
and he endured the just punishment I had earned, but He was the sinless,
spotless Lamb of God. Before this, however, Jesus lived a perfect life by completely
obeying all of God’s laws. All His righteous acts are transferred to the
believer’s record and life account after they deeply trust in Him. So, the
basis of a child of God’s justification is the work of Jesus on the earth and
on the cross. The means by which a sinner receives the benefits of Christ’s
saving work (which is both His sinless life and His sacrificial death) is by
faith in the person and work of the God-Man Jesus. There are truths to believe
about a Person to surrender to by an act of our will. This is a problem because
our wills are stubborn and rebellious. “No one can be justified apart from
faith, yet, no one is justified on the basis of his faith” (David Steele, 31).
Faith is the instrumental means (the channel) by which the Messiah and His
righteousness are appropriated by the sinner. Jesus saves us through His life
and work after we come to Him in faith, repentance, and surrender to His
Lordship. Faith is a gift from God and is not a human work.
I.
The blessings that result
from transferred righteousness, which follows saving faith vs. 1-5
A.
This is something that
happened to us — past action, passive
voice vs. 1
B.
We switched from being enemies
of God and His righteousness to being friends at peace with Him
1.
Those who break God’s laws
and love sin are rebels against His kingdom
2.
Because He is the Holy
Creator of the universe, man is in cosmic rebellion
3.
A holy God cannot have
fellowship with a sinner until the sinner is redeemed
4.
We are standing inside the
covenant fellowship by the grace of God, not by human performance
C.
The Lord Yeshu’a,
the Messiah, is the bridge between man and God vs. 1
D.
Access to the grace of God
comes through a living and active faith in the person and work of Jesus the
Messiah and Divine Lord (access to grace: a past event with continuing results)
1.
We began to stand in grace
after we embraced the Messiah by faith vs. 2
2.
We continue to stand in His
grace and His power vs. 2
3.
Grace includes God’s mercy,
love, acceptance, and the granting of the power and strength to change, the
gift of new affections and abilities vs. 2
E.
The promise and future
certainty of being able to enjoy the presence and glory of God
1.
The gracious covenant
relationship with God assures our final salvation vs. 2
2.
We like Moses, long to see
God’s glory, so we look forward to heaven vs. 2
F.
The God-given ability to
persevere through current tests and difficulties vs. 3-4
1.
We can rejoice in being
persecuted for the gospel and our association with Jesus
2.
Tribulation handled
properly brings perseverance, steadfastness, endurance, Christlikeness,
humility, patience, and integrity
3.
No pain, no gain! Pain is
God’s P.A. system turned up loud so we can hear it
4.
Tests and difficulties
responded to with faith and love build Christian character
5.
Notice the progression: “Endurance
produces character, and character produces hope” (proven character is
integrity)
6.
Those who have relied on
God in love and faith through dark valleys have found Jesus to be enough and
God to give and give grace, power, love and strength. Every genuine believer
who depends on Jesus will find their hopes realized
7.
Real believers are not disappointed;
make-believers are, because they have a mental assent towards a false Jesus who
cannot give them strength and grace
G.
The Holy Spirit indwells us
and brings God’s love to our inner core vs. 5
1.
We have evidence that we
are indwelt by the Holy Spirit — the fruit of the Spirit
2.
Faith, hope, and love, and
the greatest is love. God transforms haters into lovers
3. The believer is a special recipient of God’s love
II.
The basis of the
righteousness received by faith vs. 6-8
A.
The fact is that Jesus died
at the appointed time in plan of God for the ungodly
B.
The fact is that we were
helpless, powerless, unable, and spiritually dead
C.
The fact is that we were
not attractive, and we were not like God at all (ungodly)
D.
The fact is that God proved
His love for His people by the gift of His Son to die in their place while they
were still ungodly rebels, sinners, and not good in His sight at all
E. Salvation’s foundation is God’s grace and redemptive plan to pour out His wrath on Jesus in our place. Christ died for us. That is the basis of our justification
III.
The assurance that comes
because of justification received by means of faith vs. 9
A.
We are declared righteous based
on Jesus’ sacrificial death (through His blood)
B.
We receive the gift of
transferred righteousness by means of trusting in Jesus’ true person and work.
Faith is the empty hand that receives the gift of transferred righteousness
C.
Because Christ’s work has
been applied to our account, we are delivered from the wrath to come on sin and
sinners. Jesus’ death was utterly unique—a penal, wrath-bearing sacrifice
D.
Since believers have
already been reconciled to God and declared righteous by Him in court and because
Jesus died in their place and name (substitute) following their exercising
faith, how much more will they be delivered (saved) from the wrath to come by
Jesus? The answer: A lot more, it is a sure thing
IV.
The assurance of Jesus’
successful work of bringing all His sheep all the way home vs. 10-11
A.
Jesus’ death reconciled us;
it moved us from enemies to friends
B.
Wrath is over for the child
of God because they have been declared righteous (past tense, passive,
participle, referring to a historical event)
C.
The blood of His own Son
given for a sinner cannot be taken back
D.
Reconciliation: the act of
causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument,
disagreement, battle, war or fight
E.
If Jesus lived a holy life
in our place, died in our place, and rose again as our example, and this caused
us to move from an enemy to a friend, now that He is at the Father’s right hand
praying for us as our defense attorney, He will do even more to make sure that
He does not lose one sheep (John 10:23-30, 14:19, 17:1-24; Matt 28:18; Rom
8:11; Heb 7:25; 1 Cor 15:23; Eph 1:20-22)
F.
This grand plan of
salvation transforms us from cursers to worshipers, glorifying God for the
finished work of Jesus, God the Son. We are full of abounding joy—not fear of
failure
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