Benefits of Justification – Youth STS Lesson 233

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 5:1 (Memory Verse)

Introduction

The previous study, Youth STS Lesson 232: Justification by Faith, focused on justification by faith. We learnt that justification is a spiritual work of grace in which God completely sets free a repentant sinner and pardons his past sins. In other words, God does not reckon with his past sins. He receives the imputation of righteousness and becomes pure before God. He is washed and made clean by the blood of Jesus shed for him on the cross at Calvary.

Today’s lesson is a follow up on that. The focus is on the benefits or gains of justification on the recipient. Our text gives various benefits the justified enjoy.

Question 1: Name some benefits of justification presented in our text.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1,2). Some of the benefits of justification are peace with God, access by faith into grace and hope of eternal glory. As we go through this study, sinning youths should decide resolutely to receive Christ as their Lord and Saviour to start enjoying all these benefits.

PEACE WITH GOD AND ACCESS TO GRACE THROUGH JUSTIFICATION

Romans 5:1-5; Ephesians 2:14; Colossians 1:20; Isaiah 48:22

One of the immediate consequences of sin is absence of peace in the sinner’s life. When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, they enjoyed a great deal of peace. God would visit them in the cool of the day to fellowship with them. Thereby, they enjoyed the presence of God. When they disobeyed Him, condemnation and fear took over them and they saw how exposed they were to danger and evil. They lost the peace they hitherto enjoyed.

The situation is the same with sinning boys and girls today. The Bible confirms that “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22). Their lives are characterized by condemnation and fear. They are afraid of death, the devil, demons, witches and wizards. They even fear men. No wonder the Scripture says, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1). Youths who live in sin of stealing, lying, fighting, immorality etc., are afraid of divine judgment.

Question 2: How can sinning youths regain peace with God?

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2). For sinning youths to regain peace with God and be free from fear and condemnation, they need to genuinely repent of all sins. By this, God forgives their sins and cleanses them from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). They also have access by faith into grace. This is the grace that makes them to stand and walk in the truth. “Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father” (2 John 1:3,4).

As the grace of God gives them access, they receive justification by faith and begin to enjoy all its benefits, which include abundant peace as long as they remain in the Lord. The Author of peace will make it overflow in their heart. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

THE PRICELESS DEATH OF CHRIST FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION

Romans 5:6-11; John 3:16; 10:10; 1 John 4:9,10

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die” (Romans 5:6,7). God, willing to justify man, gave His only begotten Son to die for sinful humanity. This happened while we were without strength as sinners. From human perspectives, it would have been impossible for this to happen. This is because if any man will even dare to die for another, it would have been for a good man. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Question 3: Why did God send Christ to die for sinners?

God sent Christ to die because of his unconditional love and compassion for humanity. The soul of man is invaluable. It was also love that brought Christ to this world. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Love paid the price for man’s redemption and justification. The Scripture also affirms that “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9).

Through death, Christ destroyed him that had the power of death. Now, all who believe and accept Him by faith are justified and have eternal life. They have passed from death to life. This means that, after life on earth, they will live with God in heaven eternally. God desires that everyone He created dwells with Him in heaven. Thus, Christ had to suffer the contradiction of sinners: the godly dying for the ungodly; the just for the unjust. Whosoever repents will be justified on the basis of Christ’s death. “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:10,11).

PROCUREMENT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BY CHRIST FOR THE JUSTIFIED

Romans 5:12-21; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 5:8,9; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 13:12

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). Sin was introduced into the human race by one man, Adam. All that came after him are counted sinners (verse 14). They have the inherent nature of sin within them. “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one” (Job 14:4). Death also passed from him to future generations. Man became both spiritually and physical dead and would have been eternally doomed but for God’s intervention. In His wisdom, He made provision for a second Adam, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, to bring righteousness to man.

Question 4: How did Christ procure righteousness for man?

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). The disobedience of Adam brought sin and death to mankind. On the other hand, the obedience of Christ to the Father in all things, including the shameful death on the cross, brought grace and righteousness to man. “But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many” (Romans 5:15).

So, Christ procured righteousness for man through “obedience unto death, even the death of the cross”. He suffered for the consequences of our sins at Calvary according to the Father’s will. The Bible says, “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate” (Hebrews 13:12). He shed His blood that we might be pardoned and cleansed from our sins.

Question 5: How can sinning youths possess righteousness?

From the foregoing, it is clear that all that Christ did was to save man from sin and give him power to live a righteous life. This was the intention of God since the fall of man. “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). God’s desire was accomplished in Christ. “As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he swore to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life” (Luke 1:70-75).

Sinning youths should repent wholeheartedly and accept Christ as Lord and Saviour to be justified and made free from sin.