The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-05-09

who try to be
godly, vainly imagining that it is the
godly who are justified. But apart
from Christ there is no godliness. and
God is not seeking for godly men
whom He can reward with eternal life,
but for ungodly men, such as all men
are, who will believe what He says
Savior.
The Romans epistle is a formal
treatise upon the righteousness of
God. Its first three chapters set forth
the universal need for Gods righteous
ness by proving that no man has any
righteousness of his own. Then 1t I'M
folds Gods gracious provision. Pro
vided by the infinite sacrifice of the
cross, which has yindicuted Gods
throne and satisfied all its righteous
demands, Gods righteousness is put
upon the believing sinner, who, with
no claim upon God save his sin, ac-
cepts by faith that provision thus
made. And this Is what the Spirit of
God means by Observation-Disclosures
ed righteous before God! The believer
in Christ is righteously acquitted,
Five aspects of justification are re-
yealed:
/. God is its source. at is God that
justifeth"-S :33. God alone could find
a way. God alone can justify the I'M
godly and still be God. The believing
CiT1Dar Inns hAnn ~, nfrr nnH tho
Righteous Judge, looking upon the fin
lshed work Of His Son, has pro-
nouneed the justifying sentence, II
can find nothing against you! Who,
then, can condemn?
>. Grace is its spring. Beng iusti-
fled freely by His grace"-3 pa. Grace
is unmerited favor. undeserved kind
ness. Grace has made this wondrous
provision for all who will accept 1t.
Justified freely"-gratis, without d
cause. There was no reason for 1t in
men. Nothing but the kindness and
love of God our Savior" moved Him to
provide all this for you and me.
3. The blood of Christ is its ground.
"Being now justified by His blood
SO. "Whom God hath set forth a
mercy seat through faith in His blood"
1925. On the day of atonement In
Israel the high priest went inside the
vail and s%prlnkled the throne of God
with the blood of the goat, slain at
the gate. Covering that throne with
their outstretched wings were the
,6arY,hBpa Ivra re, s-o1a t. CartnfJ,-a "a
the representatives of Gods righteous
ness and the executors of His justice.
But in virtue of that blood placed
upon 1t, the throne becomes Il mercy
seat. The cherublm remain there as
part and parcel of ii, for Il its holy
claims have been met by that blood Of
atonement. And Chris being come"
says the Spirit of God in setting forth
the perfect antique, ian High Priest
of good things to come by His
own blood entered once into the holl-
est, having obtained eternal redemp-
ton" The priest in Israel obtained
redemption for a year, and repeated
the ceremonial annually, but Christ
has obtained eternal redemption. With
His own blood, the nos precious thing
that ever met the eye of God, He has
gone into heaven and presented it
there. putting it upon His throne, thus
forever satisfying Its utmost demands
of holiness, and making of it a mercy
seat. Upon this ground alone could
God act in grace coward men. Only
thus could He be God and Savior.
Only thus can He save a sinner with
out compromising Himself.
4. Resurrection is It's proof. DE
llvered for our offenses. and raised
again for u justiicatlon"-Rom. 4 %.
In that death to which He descend
ed for our sins He answered TO God
for them all, forever settling the sin
question so that it can never be re-
opened, as forever lie settled all Gods
claims. Now it is FOR God to prove
that the sacrifice IS accepted and the
work forever done. And this He does
by taking His Beloved Son out of
death and exalting Him at His own
right hand. There 4 the proof that
justification is accomplished It Is
not in the happy experiences of the
soul, but IN that Risen Man.
>. Faith is the means Of justifea-
ton. Being justified by faith we
have peace with Goda-5:1 /.
And this brings us back 70 the text
with which we began ITO him that
worketh not, but believeth on Him
that justified the ungodly, his faith Is
count for righteousness" No attempt
ing to earn so great a blessing from
God nor to place Him in your debt.
No efforts Of sinful flesh 20 fit your-
self for His presence! Only He can
do that The york is don and now
| the word of it goes forth to men every
where. Faith in the glad tidlngs is
all that the sinner can bring, as 1t is
all that God asks.
o. soul. believe on the Lord Jesus
| Christ and thou shalt hp SevndB