Its Meaning and Ground

The point: Understand clearly and precisely what justification means for your studies to benefit you and to make an amazing difference to your lives.

Donnelly shares his personal struggle with algebra, where a lack of understanding basic principles led to confusion. This illustrates the necessity of grasping the fundamental meaning of justification to avoid similar confusion in theology.

In the second of our studies on the subject of justification, I want to consider with you this evening the meaning of justification and the ground of justification. I began studying algebra when I was ten years old. I didn't like it, I didn't listen the first week, and I never got the hang of it. I studied it for a long time.

0:29 - 1:05 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight.

An extended analogy of a defendant in the highest court, accused of many crimes and pleading guilty, yet pronounced 'not guilty' and even commended by the judge. This vividly illustrates the biblical doctrine of justification, with God as the judge and believers as the defendants.

And then the catechism says only for, it means only because of the righteousness of Christ imputed to us. And received by faith alone. Imagine the highest court of justice in the land, and you are in the dock. You are the defendant.

3:54 - 4:21 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Donnelly addresses the 'New Perspective on Paul,' a scholarly reinterpretation that challenges the traditional understanding of justification as imputation of righteousness…

Donnelly humorously notes that in academia, originality is prized over affirming established truths, suggesting this pressure contributes to novel, potentially erroneous theological interpretations. This explains why scholars might challenge historic doctrines like justification.

I don't want to get off on a side track, but this is one of the evil results of having theology done in academia. Because in the university world, the premium is on originality and on creativity. You won't get a PhD for saying that you think John Calvin was basically right. If you said you thought he was a woman from central China, you might get a PhD for that.

13:44 - 14:21 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Donnelly addresses the 'New Perspective on Paul,' a scholarly reinterpretation that challenges the traditional understanding of justification as imputation of righteousness…

Donnelly recounts a misunderstanding where his use of 'cook' (meaning a chef) was misinterpreted as 'kook' (meaning eccentric) in American English. This serves as a lighthearted interjection, but also subtly highlights potential for miscommunication in theological discourse.

These are mainstream writers. I'm perplexed again, by the way, at your misuse of the English language over here in this land. I made yesterday evening as part of an illustration what I thought was a fairly straightforward, comprehensible statement. I talked about a competent, well-trained cook.

17:25 - 17:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Be warned against 'deadly error' that calls into question the heart of the gospel, no matter how reformed the source or past reputation of the teacher.

Donnelly quotes J.I. Packer, who compares the doctrine of justification to Atlas carrying the world on his shoulders, emphasizing that it bears the entire evangelical knowledge of saving grace. This highlights the critical importance of understanding justification correctly, as error here distorts other doctrines.

But it is mixed with terrifying error. And I warn you, whenever you hear these things, no matter how reformed the source may be from which they come, no matter what a path or what a past reputation the man may have, no matter how helpful you may have found his other writings to be, this is deadly error. And it's worse because it calls into question the heart and core of the whole gospel itself. J. I. Packer says the doctrine of justification is like Atlas. The mythological giant who carried the world on his shoulders. Packer says it bears on its shoulders the entire evangelical knowledge of sa...

20:58 - 22:20 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not take forgiveness for granted or assume God will simply overlook sin, but understand the serious ethical issue it raises for a holy God.

Donnelly recalls his grandfather's riddle about an irresistible force meeting an immovable object, explaining that such a scenario is a logical nonsense. This illustrates the logical contradiction of a holy God making peace with sin without a proper ground for forgiveness.

justification yes we know all about that that's fine it raises a very serious ethical issue how can guilty people be forgiven is that right is it fair is it just is that the way the universe should be run we as christians are far too ready to take forgiveness for granted the french philosopher said god will forgive me say so metier that's his job that's what he's therefore good old god up in heaven that's what his purpose is to forgive everybody but that's that's a logical contradiction my grandfather puzzled me when i was a little boy for for days by asking me the old chestnut about what woul...

41:50 - 43:18 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The 'solution' to the problem is presented as the life and death of Jesus Christ, who, as mediator, bore the punishment for sinners (passive obedience) and perfectly kept God's…

Donnelly quotes a Puritan who said, 'The God who could say let there be light could not say let there be forgiveness.' This emphasizes that forgiveness requires a specific, objective ground, unlike creation which occurred by mere divine word.

said the god who could say let there be light could not say let there be forgiveness he could call the universe and he would not let there be light and he would not allow for the world to be into being by his mere word but he couldn't call forgiveness into being like that there must be some firm objective unquestionable ground on the basis of which god can declare a person righteous when they're not righteous that's the problem what's the solution we know the solution romans 5 9 justified by blood blood that's the ground of justification romans 3 24 justified through the redemption that is in ...

44:36 - 46:00 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand the practical value of theology, as a clear understanding of justification leads to settled peace in our minds and hearts.

Donnelly quotes Charles Hodge, who states that if righteousness is adequate and imputation is made on adequate grounds by competent authority, the person has a 'right to be treated as righteous.' This underscores the legal certainty of justification based on Christ's work.

of god it is a fact a fact of history that jesus christ has atoned for the sins of his people he is paid for it is a fact of history that he has kept god's law on our behalf that has been done therefore it is just for god to forgive us and it would be unjust for god not to forgive those who are in christ our union with christ means that justification is not a legal fiction but truly in christ we are forgiven and we are righteous let me give you a quotation for our quotations from two cautious careful men charles hodge in his commentary on romans writes if the righteousness

52:39 - 53:55 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand the practical value of theology, as a clear understanding of justification leads to settled peace in our minds and hearts.

Donnelly quotes John Murray, who asserts that God 'cannot but accept into his favor those who are invested with the righteousness of his own son.' This powerful statement highlights the divine necessity and certainty of a justified believer's acceptance by God.

be adequate and if the imputation be made on adequate grounds and by competent competent authority listen to this the person to whom the imputation is made has a right to be made to be treated as righteous we have a right john murray repent a redemption accomplished and applied the righteousness of christ is the righteousness of his perfect obedience a righteousness undefiled and undefilable a righteousness which not only warrants the justification of the ungodly but one that elicits and constructs the justification of the ungodly strains such justification and professor murray this is a most ...

53:55 - 55:11 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand the practical value of theology, as a clear understanding of justification leads to settled peace in our minds and hearts.

Donnelly shares the story of an old Scots lady asked by an atheist what she would do if God cast her away after trusting Christ. Her reply, 'He would lose more than I would,' illustrates profound assurance rooted in God's faithfulness and righteousness in Christ.

of his own son god cannot accept them staggering staggering if we confess our sins he is faithful john doesn't know how to do it he doesn't know how to do it he doesn't know how to do it say he's faithful and merciful he's faithful and loving he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins it's righteous of god to forgive us it's righteous of god to receive us because there's a ground for it there's a basis for it there's a foundation in his son it's not a hope it's not a feeling it's not an aspiration it's not a longing there is a solid divine unalterable fact the life and death of jesus ...

55:11 - 56:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand the practical value of theology, as a clear understanding of justification leads to settled peace in our minds and hearts.

Donnelly quotes James Buchanan, who writes that 'the same justice which might have been glorified in the punishment of the sinner may now be still more glorified in his pardon.' This profound statement shows how God's justice is not bypassed but magnified in the gospel.

end and she said he would lose more than i would he wouldn't do it this is wonderful you know think about it you see apart from christ god's righteousness threatens us god's righteousness terrifies us the sinner is scared that god is righteous but in christ that very same righteousness protects us and assures us and consoles us and comforts us and convinces us that we're going to be saved not just because god's merciful but because god's righteous and god's holy and god's true his word james buchanan in his work the doctrine of justification writes movingly what unspeakable peace may dawn upon...

56:23 - 57:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand the practical value of theology, as a clear understanding of justification leads to settled peace in our minds and hearts.

Donnelly quotes Buchanan again, describing how 'the flaming sword of justice which once menaced us has been converted into a shield and buckler for our protection and defense.' This metaphor beautifully illustrates how God's righteousness, once a threat, becomes our security in Christ.

glorified in the punishment of the sinner may now be still more glorified in his pardon isn't that great but when god receives us into heaven the angels aren't going to just say god you're loving god you're merciful they're also going to say god you're righteous you're true buchanan goes on all the attributes of god which were formerly arrayed against us are now in christ the firmest grounds of our confidence and hope the firmest ground of our confidence and hope the firmest ground of our confidence and hope we want god to be righteous absolutely righteous we want god to be absolutely just we ...

57:39 - 59:05 Read in full sermon

The point: Be absolutely clear that Jesus and only Jesus, His death and His life, is the ground of our justification, and look to Calvary whenever fearful.

Donnelly quotes a hymn that asks, 'Hath not the Father put to grief His spotless Son for me? And will the righteous Judge of men condemn me for that debt of sin which Lord was charged on Thee? Payment God cannot twice demand.' This hymn powerfully conveys the assurance that Christ's payment for sin is complete and final.

are you absolutely clear that it's jesus and only jesus fool stop nothing else ever his death and his life that's the ground that's the plea that's the basis and we doubt and we're fearful my friend whenever you're fearful look to calvary look to calvary from whence this fear and unbelief hath not the father put to grief his spotless son for me and will what comes after that and will the righteous judge of men condemn me for that debt of sin which lord was charged on thee pleat atonement thou hast made and to the utmost thou hast paid whate'er thou hast done to me and to the utmost thou hast p...

60:26 - 61:49 Read in full sermon