PUTTING ON CHRIST "And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (Romans 13:11-14, NKJV) Devotion 2 of 33 Justification, or the imputation of righteousness, is the theme of the book of Romans. The Gospel of Christ announces it (1:16-17). The pervasive and dominating nature of sin demands it (1:19-3:20). God's dealings with Abraham introduced it (4:1-16). Only justification brings "peace with God" to the individual (5:1). – Tomorrow:
Justification involves the remission of sin as well as the imputation of righteousness. That is, in justification God "will not impute sin" (Rom 4:8), but does impute His own righteousness to those who believe (4:22-24). These are the two means whereby salvation is made effectual. Remission is in order that the righteousness of God may be imputed, or credited, to us. The righteousness of God cannot be given where sin remains.
Thus, the remission of sin is not an end of itself, but the Divinely appointed means to an even greater objective, which is being "made righteous." Sins are remitted so that we might "be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor 5:21). The trite saying, "We are all sinners, the only difference is that Christians are forgiven," is not a proper representation of the condition of those who are in Christ Jesus. It is one of those sayings that have been birthed by the wisdom of men.
Those who are "justified from all things" (Acts 13:39), have also been "made partakers of Christ" (Heb 3:14) and of "the Divine nature" (2 Pet 1:4). They are also "partakers" of an inheritance (Col 1:12) as well as being exonerated from guilt. Not only has their conscience been purged from dead works (Heb 9:14), the law of God has been put into their minds and written in their hearts (Heb 8:10). They have a "new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created" them (Col 3:10).
HE EXAMPLE OF ISRAEL
We have a picture of justification in Israel's deliverance from Egypt. The objective was not merely to get them out of Egypt, but to bring them into Canaan. For those who failed to enter Canaan, who "fell in the wilderness" (Heb 3:17), getting out of Egypt had no real meaning. Of what value is it to come out of Egypt, then die in the wilderness because of unbelief (for they could not enter into the promised land "because of unbelief" (Heb 3:19).
The Spirit makes much of this comparison in the tenth chapter of First Corinthians. The aim is to confirm to our hearts that more is involved in being justified than merely having our sins erased, so to speak. There was something that we lacked – the righteousness of God – and we could not receive it until our sins were removed. Just that surely, Israel was meant to inhabit the land promised to Abraham (Gen 13:15; 17:8). But they had to come out of Egypt before they could dwell in the land.
Taking up this matter, the Spirit deals a devastating blow to religious presumption. This is a frame of mind that moves people to conduct themselves as though they were already with the Lord – like Israel assuming they had obtained everything when they came out of Egypt. ALL of the people, the Spirit reasons, came out of Egypt. They "ALL were under the cloud, and ALL passed through the sea" (10:1). Furthermore, they were "ALL baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea" (10:2) – that is, the walls of water surrounded them on the sides, and the cloud covered them from above. They ALL ate supernatural food – or "spiritual meat" (10:3). They ALL drank supernatural water – or "spiritual drink" (10:4). In fact, that sustaining rock was the very prefigurement of Christ Himself. Notwithstanding the fact that everyone participated in these things, "with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness" (10:5). They did not make it to the land for which they were delivered from Egypt.
These things, we are apprised, "were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted" (10:6). It is quite possible for us to "tempt Christ" as they tempted God, and be "destroyed of the destroyer" (10:9-10). The things that occurred to Israel in the wilderness "happened unto them for our examples; and they are written for our admonition" (10:11).
I know full well that some contend Christians will make it to heaven whether they choose to sin or not. It is commonly taught that the initial forgiveness of sin guarantees ones entrance into heaven to forever be with the Lord. You might as well argue that an Israelite coming out of Egypt was guaranteed of entrance into Canaan. There are at least 600,000 who, in the day of judgment, will rise to condemn such an erroneous conclusion! Those who "think" they stand are to take heed lest they fall (10:11) – that is, "fall" like Israel did in the wilderness. The Spirit says it like this: "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of YOU should seem to come short of it" (Heb 4:1).
Thus, the book of Romans builds upon the teaching of justification, confirming that it has freed us to do something, rather than eliminating the need to do anything. That I why such great stress is placed on justification – something that involves escape and entrance, forgiveness and being made righteous, deliverance from and translation into. Ponder the undeniable emphasis on this matter. The use of the following words in the book of Romans, confirm this to be the case.
01. "Justify" (3:30).
02. "Justified" (2:13; 3:4,20,24,28; 4:2; 5:1,9; 8:30).
03."Justification" (4:25; 5:16,18).
04. "Justifier" (3:26).
05. "Justifieth" (4:5; 8:33).
06. "Righteous" (2:5; 3:10; 5:7,19).
07. "Righteousness" (1:17; 2:26; 3:5,21,22, 25, 26; 4:3,5,6,9,11,13,22; 5:17,18,21; 6:13,16,18,19,20; 8:4,10; 9:28,30,31; 10:3,4,5,6,10; 14:17).
08. "Impute" (4:6).
09. "Imputed" (4:11,22,23,24; 5:13).
10. "Imputeth" (4:6).
These powerful affirmations make it possible for us to "put on Christ." If we fail to do that, we will "come short" of the promised inheritance, fanciful theologies and reasoning not withstanding. If one cares to reason that all believers automatically "put on Christ," then an explanation must be given for why we are admonished to do so. But let it be clear, we will not listen to such an explanation. Rather, we will hear what the Spirit has said to the churches.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, deliver me from doctrines of men that lead me to assume what You have commanded me to prove.