Hermen. Probs.: “Righteousness” #2. “Justification” #1

The point: Confront men with the majesty, holiness, justice, and wrath of God, and the law of God, to bring them to see and feel their sinfulness and lost condition.

An anecdote about a man who would spend 20-25 minutes convicting someone of sin before presenting the gospel, illustrating the necessity of confronting people with their sinfulness before they can appreciate salvation.

Well, let's look more closely and specifically now thirdly at the meaning of justification. Yes, sure. The paper said that if he was ever sitting in an airplane, next to somebody, and witnessing to them when he had a half an hour to talk to them, he'd spend about the first 20-25 minutes convicting them of their sin, and then bring in the promises and the offer of the gospel at the end, which is basically what you're saying. We really do need to bring men to the awareness of who they are before a holy God.

12:03 - 12:32 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin addresses the theological dilemma of how a holy God can justify sinners, citing Proverbs 17:15. He argues that understanding this dilemma and one's own sinfulness is…

A quote from John Piper asking who wrestles with the 'unrighteousness of God's forgiveness,' highlighting that a lack of conviction about sin prevents glorying in the cross.

Yes? Just a real quick comment. I was listening to a sermon by John Piper on the way here, and he was mentioning this very issue. He was saying, who in America lays in bed at night and wrestles with the unrighteousness of God's forgiveness?

13:00 - 13:13 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin addresses the theological dilemma of how a holy God can justify sinners, citing Proverbs 17:15. He argues that understanding this dilemma and one's own sinfulness is…

The example of Martin Luther's struggle with his own corruption and sin, emphasizing that understanding justification is not merely academic but 'experimentally taught' through personal experience.

Who in America lays in bed and wonders how God can bring up the sun on any city in America and how He can be God and yet forgive my sin? And he says, and until that weighs on you, you'll never glory in the cross because you can never understand the cross. That's why it takes a man, that's why it's so interesting to read a man like Martin Luther and to realize Martin Luther did not come to an understanding of the doctrine of justification by faith merely as an academic, intellectual exercise. It was out of what was the German word?

13:13 - 13:52 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Here we have the Reformed doctrine of the positive imputation of the righteousness of Christ to believers as the ground of their justification. Here is the real bone of contention between the classic Protestant doctrine …

A lengthy quote from the Heidelberg Catechism, Question 21, which beautifully sets forth the Reformed doctrine of imputed righteousness as the ground of justification, despite one's sin.

In answer to the question, how art thou righteous before God? The Heidelberg Catechism gives a very beautiful answer which sets forth the very heart of the Reformed doctrine of justification. It answers, only by a true faith in Jesus Christ, so that though my conscience accuse me...

38:26 - 38:47 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin opens for questions and discusses historical parallels to the New Perspective's view, including Arminian and Wesleyan theology, which see faith itself as the basis of…

An example from a contemporary Wesleyan theology textbook (1983) that argues justification is based on the new relationship with God that faith establishes, rather than imputed righteousness, showing the prevalence of similar views.

Let me add that I was reading from a more contemporary theology textbook. That was the textbook for a friend of mine when he attended Central Wesleyan, what is now Southern Wesleyan in Central South Carolina. On the subject of justification, the writer argues that the righteousness on the basis of which we are justified is simply the new relationship. Now, that sounds very new.

74:42 - 74:58 Read in full sermon