In Christ Ministries

28/12/2023

ulce Tan Hara
·
🤔What is in that Covenant❓
🤔What do we inherit in that Last Will & Testament of God❓
🗣️ God speaks about the LORD Jesus Christ in [Isaiah 42], &
🗣️ God speaks about CHRIST as His servant. The LORD Jesus came to earth not to be served,☝️BUT to serve, & to give HIS life a ransom for many.
We read in [Isaiah 42:1],
📖 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
🗣️ God said in [Isaiah 42:6],
📖 "I the LORD called Thee in righteousness,....and give Thee for a Covenant of the people"
🟡The LORD Jesus Christ was given to HIS elect for a Covenant. We inherit the LORD Jesus Christ, which means we inherit GOD.
🗣️ God said something similar to Abraham. GOD SAID:
📖 "I am thy shield & thy exceeding great reward".
🤔What greater inheritance could we wish for❓There is no greater inheritance than that. If we as the Bride truly love our Bridegroom, then what more can we than to receive the Bridegroom as our own. We have no idea how God will work this out,☝️but we have this promise from HIM.
Therefore, in [Amos 3:7], what is the secret that GOD will reveal to HIS servants the prophets❓
💥IT IS THE COVENANT; IT IS THE COVENANT OF GRACE THROUGH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
☝️This was the secret revealed to Abel, & to Noah, & to Abraham, & to Moses, & to David, & so on.
☝️This is the one thing GOD has been revealing throughout time to HIS servants the prophets.
☝️This is the secret that we MUST proclaim to the heathen, & upon hearing this GOD will save from among them such as were ordained to eternal life from before the foundation of the world.
👁️To most of the world the covenant of grace is a secret.
👁️To most of the world GOD rewards those who do well, & punishes those who do evil.
Little do they know that all they do is evil. That is why God MUST be a merciful GOD. If God can save so many sinners, then indeed HE is a merciful God.

21/12/2023

“If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” Romans 8:9.
THIS is one of the most solemn texts in the whole Bible ---- to belong to Christ is the most essential thing for time and eternity. But we are not Christ’s unless we have His Spirit.
WE MUST CONFORM TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST
Christ was begotten of the Spirit of God when the power of the Highest overshadowed the Virgin Mary. As He came up from the waters of the Jordan, the Spirit descended upon Him like a dove, and rested upon Him while the divine voice proclaimed out of heaven, “This is My beloved Son.” He was, “Led of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil” He returned into Galilee in the power of the Spirit. In Nazareth He read, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because He has anointed Me ----” His ministry stood in the power of the Spirit of God.
THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER
Jesus spoke of giving to men living water which should be in them as a springing well, and this spoke He of the Spirit which was given when Jesus was glorified.
On Pentecost, the word of the Lord by the Prophet Joel was fulfilled—“I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit.”
By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we are Jews or Gentiles. The true church of Christ is a spiritual body,----, “Are you so foolish; having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?” fitting words for the cults posing as Christian churches today. The true church of Christ is where faithful men and women worship God in the Spirit, and have no confidence in the flesh. ---- wait upon the Scriptures for instruction, and upon the Spirit of God to show light upon the Scriptures. True religion consists not in outward forms, dress, rituals etc. The true worshippers of God worship in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeks such to worship Him.
The difference between the regenerate (New Birth) and the unregenerate is not one of degree, but of nature. Without the Holy Spirit you cannot obtain eternal life, no one can save herself. “Except a man is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
When a man walks in the Spirit, he has come to where God is real to him, where Christ is real to him, where truth is real, where sin is hateful, where holiness is lovely. Nominal Christians are in the flesh but there is a remnant that walks after the Spirit. The man who is in the Spirit tramples down the flesh, and labours to keep it under.
The sound of the truth is better to the spiritual man than entertainment, being a spiritual man, he worships God in the Spirit and in truth. He will not to stoop to priests, bishops popes; nor will he bow to apostles,prophets, pastors --- she has One Leader and Shepherd, namely the Spirit of Christ. He lives in the Spirit and wherever he moves, he abides in fellowship with the unseen Lord. He recognizes spiritual things where others see them not. He is swayed by spiritual motives. He seeks after spiritual objects, and while others heap up gold and silver, he is thankful for his food and raiment, and the roof over him. He derives his pleasure from springs above, and drinks from the ever-living and eternal God. “If any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.”
The Spirit of Christ is a Spirit of prayer. It kept the Son in constant communion with the Father. The Spirit of Christ thunders against false religion, “Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” ---- “ Woe unto you priests, bishops popes; apostles, prophets, pastors!” The Spirit of Christ is ready to do good to all and move us to repentance of all that we have done amiss towards God or man. He makes us brave and courageous for God, and for His truth.
“If any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” ---- He is a goat. When the Lord comes in the glory of the Father, and calls His sheep to His right hand, that they may enjoy eternal blessedness in His company, He will say to the goats, “I never knew you.” .
If you are not His, you will cry to the rocks to hide you, and to the hills to cover you, when He appears in the sky. If you are not Christ’s, you are on the way to judgement, on the road to eternal condemnation ---- and to have this for your epitaph—“NONE OF HIS!” And then to wake up on the resurrection morning, and see the King in His beauty on the throne, and to know that you are none of His!
HOW TO BECOME HIS:
REPENT ---- Recognise the tragic end awaiting you and surrender unconditionally to Christ.
Post Script
Probably none were ever further off from Christ than those who called themselves by His name ---- the Jesuits ---- the Society of Jesus. The Jesuit pope just confirmed that.

18/12/2023

Dulce Tan Hara

👉 ..."THE TRUTH IS IN JESUS" [Ephesians 4:21].
🤔I have noticed in my dealing with people that when it comes to things that are important to them they go to someone who has information for the help they need.
🤔If they have car trouble they go to a mechanic.
🤔If they have financial needs they go to a bank.
🤔If for legal problems they seek out a lawyer.
🤔YET when it comes to a person's relationship with GOD & the truths contained in the Bible, i have yet to meet a person who is not an authority.
Everyone you meet knows HOW to be saved they know WHAT it takes to go to heaven & they know WHO gets to go. They know HOW "to live right" & know who is a hypocrite. 😱Oh how quick they will tell you what they "think" & tell you "i believe" & they feel they must give you their opinion about the Bible, about God, about Christ, about Sin & how a sinner is saved.
🗣️When GOD calls a man to preach, HE teaches him the gospel of Grace, makes him a student of the Holy Scriptures, & gives him knowledge, wisdom & understanding of the ways of God & sinful man.
☝️But do men seek out someone who can deal with their souls from the Bible❓
😱 NO! They will seek out help on the things that are temporal & of no eternal consequence 😱but when it comes to their souls they feel they are as much an authority as anyone else. They are too proud; they love themselves too much to see their need of guidance.
They aren't like the Ethiopian who when asked "Understand what you are reading?" His reply, "How can i EXCEPT some man guide me?" [Acts 8:30-31].
They don't know that THE TRUTH is a revelation☝️and UNLESS God gives men eyes to see, they are so blind they can't even see that they are blind [Jn.9:39-40].
IF men won't seek truth - - i will.
IF men feel that they know all they need to know about God & how HE saves sinners, & are confident that they "will go to heaven when they die" then so be it.
☝️As for me, i will by God's grace seek the
📖 "excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my LORD; that i may win Christ & be found IN HIM; not having my own righteousness, BUT the righteousness of God which is through FAITH in Christ" [Phil.3:9].
Let men claim to know what they will, i want to know Christ, i want to
📖 "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God IN CHRIST JESUS" [Phil.3:8].
☺️May GOD teach me & you the "TRUTH" as it is in Christ Jesus [Ephesians 4:21].

11/12/2023

Dulce Tan Hara

👉[Romans 15:13]
🤔Is there any joy & peace for us as the children of God in the world❓There are moments of joy & moments of peace in this world,☝️but the reality of earthly joy & peace is this - - - THEY WILL NOT LAST. They are only for a moment.☝️BUT the joy & peace that comes in believing through the power of the Holy Ghost is that which comes from a true saving view of Jesus Christ & Him crucified. This is joy & peace that will last forever & even as Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday, today, & forever". While on this earth, it is most difficult for any of us to know that such joy & peace really exist. That is why it can only be known in believing. So we who are saved by God's grace IN CHRIST walk by faith, believing God's testimony of Christ, not by sight.
Even as sinners saved by grace & true believers, while in this world we are subject to much trouble, pain & sorrow. Unlike the false preachers of the false "health & wealth gospel", our LORD Jesus was honest with us. HE SAID, "in the world you shall have tribulation"
[Jn.16:33].
🤔 Where then is joy & peace of which HE speaks❓It is not in the experience of the flesh & in this world. IT IS "IN BELIEVING", & this believing is NOT merely believe something or anything. It is NOT wishful thinking, or even the "power of positive thinking".☝️It is, by the grace & power of God, believing God's Word beginning with His Word of salvation by HIS grace in & by the LORD Jesus Christ❗When Christ told HIS disciples of the trouble they would have in this world, HE concluded with this - -
📖 "but be of good cheer, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD".
☝️Our hope & joy is NOT in our power or ability to win the victory over sin (the flesh), Satan, or the world.
☝️Our hope & joy is Christ's power & ability - -
📖 "for I know whom i have believed, & am persuaded that HE is able to keep that which i have committed unto Him against that day"
[2Tim.1:12].
These words of inspiration encourage my weary heart. The gospel of God IN CHRIST is so designed to give God all the glory for the salvation of sinners.☝️But thank God, it is also designed to give to broken, sinful & weary sinners joy & peace through the gospel [Romans 5:1].
🤔Notice this also, it is "joy & peace in believing", NOT working, NOT sacraments, NOT ceremony & the traditions of men,☝️but by simple faith in the LORD Jesus Christ, that we may abound in hope [Hebrews 11:6].
The LORD Jesus Christ is the whole believer's hope before GOD & men. This is constantly brought into our heart & thoughts through the power of the Holy Spirit, who shall take the things of Christ & reveal them unto us,
📖 "Howbeit when HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth: for HE shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever HE shall hear, that shall HE speak: & HE will shew you things to come. HE shall glorify Me: for HE shall receive of mine, & shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that HE shall take of mine, & shall shew it unto you" [Jn.16:13-15].

09/12/2023

05/12/2023

Peter A Lucas
·
Catholicism is far from Christian; it is pagan religion.
This is the rotting head of St. Catherine of Siena. Catholics venerate (worship) her and her rotting decapitated head.
Saint Catherine of Siena said:
“Even if the Pope were Satan incarnate, we ought not to raise up our heads against him, but calmly lie down to rest on his bosom. He who rebels against our Father is condemned to death, for that which we do to him we do to Christ: we honor Christ if we honor the Pope; we dishonor Christ if we dishonor the Pope. I know very well that many defend themselves by boasting: ‘They are so corrupt, and work all manner of evil!’ But God has commanded that, even if the priests, the pastors, and Christ-on-earth were incarnate devils, we be obedient and subject to them, not for their sakes, but for the sake of God, and out of obedience to Him.” – St. Catherine of Siena, SCS, p. 201-202, p. 222, (quoted in Apostolic Digest, by Michael Malone, Book 5: “The Book of Obedience”, Chapter 1: “There is No Salvation Without Personal Submission to the Pope”).
This perverted demonic woman also claimed to have married Christ, and the mystical ring that he betrothed her with, that only she could see…was his fo****in!
Yes, she claimed Jesus placed his fo****in in her finger as her wedding ring!!!
Carrie Donnelly

05/12/2023

Linda Schaefer
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Charismatics and the Authority of Experience
“The results of that charismatic takeover have been devastating. In recent history, no other movement has done more to damage the cause of the gospel, to distort the truth, and to smother the articulation of sound doctrine.
Charismatic theology has turned the evangelical church into a cesspool of error and a breeding ground for false teachers. It has warped genuine worship through unbridled emotionalism, polluted prayer with private gibberish, contaminated true spirituality with unbiblical mysticism, and corrupted faith by turning it into a creative force for speaking worldly desires into existence.
By elevating the authority of experience over the authority of Scripture, the Charismatic Movement has destroyed the church’s immune system—uncritically granting free access to every imaginable form of heretical teaching and practice.”
—John F. MacArthur
Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship
---------------------
I highly recommend this book by Pastor John Macarthur.

02/12/2023

Dulce Tan Hara
·
🟠 SAVING FAITH is a mysterious & wonderful thing, & also very rare. While it is true that all religious folks have some kind of faith, & some of them have much faith or great faith,☝️Yet there are very few who have saving faith.
🤔The one who has this precious, saving faith knows that his faith is a gift of God and that it came to him through the hearing of God's Word. He knows that his faith is sustained by the power of God & would wither & die APART from that Divine power & grace [1 Pet.1:5].
🟠 SAVING FAITH does not lead a man to be always looking back to a time in history when he believed,☝️BUT causes him to be concerned with Christ at the present.
📌SAVING FAITH never causes a man to look to his faith,☝️BUT to God, to Christ, the origin & object of his faith, thus he doesn't glory in self☝️BUT in the LORD Jesus Christ.
📌 SAVING FAITH never causes a man to look to his attainments & experiences as a ground or basis of his safety & assurance,☝️BUT to Jesus Christ & HIM crucified & nothing else.
🟠 SAVING FAITH will cause a man to be obedient & submissive to the LORD,☝️BUT will never lead that man to look to his obedience & submission as any part of that righteousness wherein he is accepted of God.
🟠 SAVING FAITH, as a friend & protector of our souls, stands up against that natural self-righteousness which we have & rebukes that hypocrite which dwells within each of us.
🟠 SAVING FAITH will never lead a man to measure & compare himself with other sinners,☝️BUT with the Savior of sinners, so that he may understand what the apostle Paul meant when he said,
📖 "I am the chief of sinners".
🟠 SAVING FAITH will lead a man to say,
📖 "All of my righteousness are as filthy rags, but i am complete in HIM".
🟠 SAVING FAITH will bring a man to say
📖 "i abhor myself, BUT my Savior & LORD is altogether lovely".
🤔 DO YOU HAVE SAVING FAITH❓

31/08/2022

THE KINGDOM OF GOD NOW
Christ’s Reign
The Kingdom of God is described as the rule of God through our Lord Jesus Christ over all things. The purpose of this reign on earth is to defeat God’s enemies such as Satan, sin, and death, and this implies the destruction of those associated with them.
1 Cor. 15:22 ---- Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 1 Cor. 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. This victory is accomplished in at least two stages, (The first coming of Christ, and at the second coming of our Lord).
1 Thess. 4 &5 supports the view that the ominous wrath of God upon wicked men follows the rapture; that the rapture, the second coming, and the resurrection are essentially the same event.
The Kingdom comes in two stages: (1) at our Lord’s first coming and (2) at our
Lord’s second coming; a sort of first fruits v. the full harvest; a deposit of kingdom blessings, and the full inheritance at His Parousia (appearing).
Satan’s defeat also occurs in two stages; at Christ’s first coming, and at His Parousia. Nowhere in the New Testament can we find a concept of the whole concept of a millennial reign. Sadly Rev. 20: 1-3 is misinterpreted by many (basing their concept on this single passage, blind to the symbolism involved).
Christ is the first fruits of the Age to Come. In Christ’s resurrection we see the resurrected Son as the first fruits of a harvest to come ---- Christian Assurance:
“Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19). Philippians 3:10 and Ephesians 2:5: these verses speaks of a spiritual resurrection, realized eschatology First, death was defeated legally at Jesus’s resurrection. Secondly, death will be defeated corporally at Christ’s Parousia. Then comes the end (1 Corinthians 15:24; Revelation 20:10, 14).
Since death comes because of sin, sin must be defeated.
Romans 6:2 God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin
might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Not only is sin’s penalty paid, but its power is broken. Sin is shattered by virtue of the believer’s “justification,” “regeneration,” and “identification.” When a man believes, God counts the man righteous and treats him as such (justification). Once justified, the sinner is regenerated by the Spirit of God (born again); and, simultaneously baptized (transferred judicially or placed) into the victorious Kindom of Christ
(Romans 4, 5-6) ---- the judicial nature of the cross and one’s change in status the sinner is then empowered to “say NO to sin” and “to keep God’s law” (Romans 6:11-14; 8:4).
Satan is Defeated
Is Satan bound? Yes with respect to those in Christ. Satan’s defeat is accomplished in two stages: 1) at the cross and 2) at our Lord’s Parousia. Judicially, Jesus “cast out” Satan at the cross; Satan experienced his judicial defeat at the cross, and will be sentenced at the Parousia of Christ. Our Lord Christ broke the power of Satan over the elect ---- over “God’s children”.
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out (ekballo). Revelation 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound (edasen) him a thousand years.
Hebrews 2:14 For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy (katergeo) him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Therefore, men and women may experience the blessings of the Kingdom of God now in this present evil age, deliverance from sin, Satan, and the fear of death. While we do not enjoy the fullness of kingdom blessings, we do enjoy the first fruits of power, eternal life, and redemption.
The Kingdom of God has entered history and men have “have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come” (Hebrews 6:2-5).
The Kingdom is more than a promise. The Kingdom of God is here NOW delivering men from the powers of darkness and the power of evil.
Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this age.
There is an overlap of the Age to Come with This Age.
Definition of the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God is the dynamic invasion of the rule of God into human history through the redemptive reign of Christ, the purpose of which is to deliver men and women out from under the tyranny of Satan, sin, and death and to bring them under the blessings of God’s reign. It involves two great moments: fulfillment within history, and consummation at the end of history.
Since the Kingdom of God is about the rule of God, why aren’t more preachers preaching the Rule of God and the need of men to surrender to His law-order?

20/08/2022

COMING TO GOD IS PERFORMED BY A PERSON JUST AS HE IS.
"And he arose, and came to his father."—Luke 15:20.

The wretched prodigal's appearance was far from presentable yet, just as he was, he came to his father. The sooner a person comes to God the better, for the radical sin of all is being away from God. The very same pride which leads men away from God may be seen in their notion that they can improve themselves while still they refuse to return to Him. The essence of sin is being far off from God, and whatever they do, so long as that distance remains, nothing done avails. Setting matters right lies in arising and returning to Him from Whom they have departed.
The prodigal was bound to go home just as he was, for there was nothing that he could do. He was reduced to such extremities that he could not do anything about his condition ---- the soul of every person is in that condition. Earthly riches and other comfort zones blind people from this fact. It is the soul that matters for it lives forever while flesh will not last a mere 100 years.
A sinner (that is everyone) is so spiritually reduced that he cannot do anything but go to God as a beggar, he is bankrupt. He is so lost that he cannot even repent or believe apart from God, she is for ever undone unless the Lord shall intervene. It is our wisdom to go to God for everything.
Isaiah 55 ----

It is the Holy Spirit who moves us to return to God,
"God be merciful to me a sinner." ---- even unspoken the Lord can hear the cry of the heart. In Jesus Christ God has already come a long way to meet the sinner. The turning-point of a person’s life is when she turns to God ---- getting to God in Christ, giving all up, and by faith resting in the mercy of God.

Repentance is the first step towards salvation
Mark 1: 14-15 ----
Acts 2:
Acts 20:

A NEW LIFE
The act of returning to the father resulted in a new life for the prodigal; from riotous living to doing the will of his father. This the test for genuine conversion, a professing Christian living in uncleanness is a stranger to God ---- if you have friendship with God you will have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. The cults that claim Christianity are popular primarily because people can be comfortable there in their sins. They throng to them in their millions.
The truly repentant sinner goes to God on his own account, she sees through the false religion of the beast (Rev. 13) ---- the catholic priesthood, the charismatic apostle, prophet etc and the host of other cults ---- she has access with boldness to the mercy-seat.
He never boasts of what he has, for he has nothing but what his father gives him; and is far better off than ever he was in his spendthrift days, yet he is as unassuming as a little child. He lives upon the bounty of his God from day to day.
He loves his father Who forgave freely and forgave all, Who said, "Bring forth the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet."

"I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me."

God receives poor sinners now. The worst thing to be dreaded is "I will think of it."
Go to God in Christ Jesus prodigal for He is the Bread of Life you need in your misery. In your spiritual rags go home to God ---- our Lord Jesus Christ extends His arms saying “Come.”
Salvation begins with the resolution "I will arise and go to my father." Pride leads to condemnation ---- submit to the will of the Father who loved us and gave himself for us in the person of his own dear Son.

"I have blotted out thy sins like a cloud, and like a thick cloud thy transgressions." "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

16/08/2022

God’s Free Gift of Righteousness
Romans 3:21–26
Verse 23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” ---- gives the universal need of every human being ---- verse 24 gives the all-sufficient remedy for that need. They tell us our true condition as human beings. And they tell us what God has done to save those who put their trust in his Son, Jesus.
If the truth of these two verses becomes the foundation of your life — you will be unshakable in a hundred crises. If these verses become the sun in the solar system of your life, all your planets will orbit in harmony around the will of God.
These are truths that are so foundational and so central that you should memorize them, meditate on them, bind them to your mind and heart with chains ---- the way a drowning man takes hold of his rescuer’s arm.. Many professing Christians are very weak, and amble through their days like unbelievers, because they don’t hold on to Biblical Truth.
All of us have sinned; we are falling short of God’s glory, we are lacking the glory of God. In describing those who “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18), Paul says in Romans 1:23, “[they] exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image.” And Romans 1:28 says, “They disapproved of having God in their knowledge.” Sin is essentially rejection of God and his glory as the supreme value of our lives. Sin considers God and his glory, and instead of loving God’s glory and treasuring God’s glory, sin exchanges God’s glory for something else.
Sin has to do with God, mainly, it is dishonouring God ---- belittling His glory ---- not trusting him, not treasuring him and not wanting him as the foundation, centre and hub of our lives.
God created the universe to display his glory (Isaiah 43:7). The reason we exist and everything else exists is to display the greatness of the perfections of God. The universe is all about God. The reason there is so much dysfunction and misery in the world is because the world is in rebellion against the purpose of the world. It shouldn’t surprise us that, if the world was designed by God to display his glory, and the human race is intent on glorifying everything but God, there would be great upheaval and malfunction and misery in the world.
We have loved other things more. And so we have treated God and His glory with contempt. The massive problem for every one of us is how to get right with God, and be saved from the consequences of this condition of sin. How shall we ever be accepted in eternity by God when all of us have scorned his infinite worth.
The answer is given in verse 24. What is so great about this verse is that it is all about what God has done to save us, not what we do to save ourselves. Verse 21, “But now, apart from the Law, the righteousness of God has been manifested.” Verse 24 “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” It’s all about what God has done to save us and how he did it.
Consider the four descriptions “being justified. . . .”, “as a gift. . . .”, “by his grace. . . .”, “through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”
“Being Justified”
The verb is passive: We are not doing this; it is being done to us. Justifying is something that God does. It is finally and decisively the act of God the Father.
Second, notice that in the word “justified” or “just” is essentially the same as “righteous.” In the original language (Greek) “justified” (dikaioumenoi) and “righteousness” (dikaiosune) have the same root (dikai). Justification is the act of God, once for all declaring us just and righteous in his sight ---- the righteousness of God comes to us not as condemnation, but as justification. It comes not as a burden, but as a gift.
The opposite of justify is condemn. When you condemn someone you declare their guilt and assign them their punishment. You don’t make them guilty. And when you justify someone you declare their innocence and assign them their freedom.
So justifying is not making someone just but declaring someone just. In Luke 7:29 “When they heard this all the people and the tax collectors justified God [same word as Romans 3:24] ----.” God is justified by men. It means he is declared to be just.
So in justification God declares us righteous. When verse 22 says that “God’s righteousness is through faith for all who believe,” it means that justification is not in us, but for us. It is not a change of our nature or state, but a change of our standing before him. It is not the same as sanctification, which is done in us, and does change our character. Sanctification is the work of the Spirit of God gradually changing us into the image of his Son.
Space is limiting ---- so we leave here.