Meaning of the Word

A man indicted for murder in the first degree is not yet condemned, but neither has he the privileges of a free citizen. Only when the court returns a not-guilty verdict may he leave the dock, ride the bus, and buy his Nathan's hamburger. Justification is that two-sided declaration: no liability, plus all the rights of a law-keeper.

It means to declare that a person is not liable to punishment and, on this other hand, is entitled to all the privileges of a law keeper. Now here a man has been indicted for murder in the first degree. He's been placed in ward, no bear. Now, in that condition, what is his relationship to the law? Well, he's not condemned, but neither does he have the privileges of a law-abiding citizen.

15:08 - 15:38 Read in full sermon

If a judge in Essex County could literally transform a chronic pickpocket into an honest man, that would be a virtue, not an abomination. But Proverbs 17:15 calls justifying the wicked abominable, proving that 'justify' must mean declare, not make.

If in court tomorrow, county court, there is a judge here in Essex County who can take a chronic pickpocket and make him an honest man, would that be an abomination to God or would that be a virtuous deed?

22:01 - 22:16 Read in full sermon

The modern court system is an abomination because proven criminals are declared free on little technicalities and granted the privileges of law-keepers. The comparison illumines just how scandalous God's justification of the ungodly would be without Christ.

And that's why so much of our court system is an abomination. because on little technicalities, men who are proven criminals are declared free from condemnation and given all the privileges of law keepers. So you see here the meaning can mean nothing other than declare righteous. And now two examples in the New Testament.

22:51 - 23:13 Read in full sermon

The point: When the accuser assails you, return to texts like Romans 4:5 and confess that God justifying the ungodly has nothing to do with anything in you, only with His declaration concerning your standing.

Quoting John Murray, Martin distinguishes regeneration (a surgeon removing a cancer - done in us) from justification (a judge giving a verdict about our legal status). Confuse these two acts and you pervert the gospel at its center.

has to do with a judgment given, declared, or pronounced. To quote Professor Murray, the main point of such terms is to distinguish between the kind of action which justification involves and the kind of action involved in regeneration. Regeneration is an act of God in us. Takes out the heart of stone, gives the heart of flesh.

35:25 - 35:51 Read in full sermon

The point: Bring your deathbed near in imagination and ask whether anything but Christ's obedience and death will give you comfort when conscience speaks.

Pastor Martin asks hearers to picture themselves immobile on a deathbed, vital powers oozing away, with only enough strength to think, as their entire life of sin flashes before them. Conscience will have its hour and will not buy the lies you try to feed it.

God's going to have His day in court with you and with me. Therefore, none of us can afford the luxury of indifference, insensitivity, or ignorance of the great provisions of justifying grace. Will you this morning for just a few minutes Bring near your death bed If God is pleased to give you such What will it be like to lie immobile all of your vital powers as it were oozing away and all that is left is perhaps not even the strength to raise a hand, but just enough vital power to think clearly. What will it be like to lie up on a bed, to have your life flash by,

42:11 - 42:57 Read in full sermon

Faith in Christ lets a sinner, with reverence, challenge deity itself to damn him, because God the Judge has already accepted him in the Beloved - a wonderful thing to have a righteous judge on your side in court.

And may I say it in language of reverence You and I can challenge Deity to damn us Believing in Christ Isn't that what Paul says in Romans 8 Who is he that condemneth? It is God that justifies What a wonderful thing to have a righteous judge on your side in the court and to have him declare, accept it in the beloved. You see, and that's the wonderful thing with God's justifying grace. It is a present possession to everyone who believes in Christ.

46:36 - 47:20 Read in full sermon

The point: Walk in obedience as though every step paved your way to heaven, while confessing that Christ alone has paved it - that is the mystery of gospel obedience.

The believer says Christ's obedience is every pebble paving the way to heaven and refuses to add one of his own, yet out of love to so great a Savior walks in obedience as though every step were paving his way to glory. That is the mystery of the gospel.

And he pleads to Christ. And then by faith lays hold of that perfect righteousness that is in the Son of God, in the doings, in the dying of another. and then out of love to so brave a Savior he now seeks to walk as diligently as though getting to heaven depended on his own obedience. That's the wonderful mystery of the gospel.

52:30 - 52:55 Read in full sermon