By Gary Ray Branscome
To be justified by faith is to be cleansed of all sin,
by the blood of Jesus Christ (1John 1:7). However, Christians all too often
fail to realize the full significance of that cleansing. Therefore, I would
like you to try to visualize your sins being washed away by the blood of Christ.
Close your eyes if necessary and picture all of your sins being washed away.
Picture a cleansing flood coming in, swirling all around you and washing away
every filthy stain. Picture that flood flowing right through you, washing
away every foul thought and every evil desire so that you begin to shine with a
righteous glow. Picture yourself standing before God radiant with
holiness. Radiant not because of your works, but because
every sin has been washed away. That is true holiness! That is
how God sees us when we trust in Christ! That is the perfect righteousness of
Christ Himself (Romans 10:4). And, nothing that we do, no set of rules that
we keep, could ever improve one bit on that perfection. Therefore, when we
stand before God it is as if Christ Himself were standing there in our place,
for His righteousness has become our righteousness (Galatians 3:6). He
took our sin upon Himself and has given us His righteousness in exchange for
it. As it is written, "By one offering He has perfected for ever those
who are sanctified" (Hebrews
Because all of our sins
have been washed away, All things work together for our good
(Romans
The Bible tells us that without justification we were
dead in trespasses and sins, and walked according to the way of this
world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now
works in the children of disobedience. Among whom we all likewise formerly
lived in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the
mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, (Ephesians 2:1-3).
However, because forgiveness removes Gods condemnation, when we are justified
we rise from being spiritually dead in trespasses and sins, to new
life in Christ (Ephesians 2:1,6). That
new life is, in effect, a new birth, for through it we are born, Not
of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God
(John
Being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in
heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). And,
one of those blessings is the Spirit of God. The words, Did you receive the
Holy Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? tell us
that when we come to faith in Christ the Holy Spirit comes into our heart
(Galatians 3:2). However, the words, God has sent the Spirit of His Son
into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father, tell us that Christ Himself dwells
in our heart (Galatians 4:6). And, the words, If a man loves me, he will
keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make
our home with him, tell us that when we trust in Christ both the Father
and the Son reside in us (John
Furthermore, the words, He who is joined to the Lord is
one spirit with Him, tell us that having received Gods Spirit we are
joined to God (1Corinthians
The words, The Spirit
Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God,
tell us that the Spirit of God strengthens our faith (Romans
The words, We have been released from the law, having
died to that which once bound us; that we should serve in newness of spirit,
and not in the oldness of the letter, tell us that having been justified
by faith, cleansed of all sin by the blood of Jesus Christ, the law no longer
condemns us. (Romans 7:6). On the contrary, we are free from the law, not so
that we can sin, but so that we can serve God in love rather than fear. For
faith produces works through love. (Galatians 5:6). And,
because, The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).
We have been called to liberty; but do not use your freedom as an excuse to
serve the flesh, instead serve one another in love (Galatians
The words, If we walk in the light, as He is in the
light, we have fellowship with one another, tell us that we are not only
united with God through our faith in Christ, we are united with all true
believers (1John 1:7). For God has not called us to live in seclusion, but we
are called to be saints, together with all those everywhere who call upon
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (1Corinthians 1:2) And, We, being many, are one body in Christ, and every
one members one of another (Romans 12:5).
The words, Do not call anyone on earth father: for you
have one Father, who is in heaven (Matthew 23:9). And, do not seek to
be called Master: for one is your Master, even Christ; and you are all brethren
(Matthew 23:8). Tell us that all who trust in Christ, all who are justified by
faith, are brethren. And there is no clergy class that is over everyone else.
The words, He [Christ] breathed on them, and said to
them, Receive the Holy Ghost. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are
forgiven; and if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained, apply
to all who have received the Holy Spirit (John
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it
entered into the heart of man, the things that God has prepared for those who
love Him (1Corinthians 2:9).
SCRIPTURE ALONE
GRACE ALONE
FAITH ALONE