Commentary on "Justified by Faith"

MARK MARTIN

 

Day 5: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - "His Righteousness"

 

Overview

In reading today’s study, the question comes to mind, “is this truly Bible study?” The author mentions several ideas that absolutely have no substantiation from the Bible. Two ideas that jump out immediately is the infusion of the Great Controversy theme in stating that “the eyes of the universe” are focused on how God judges sinners and the idea that “Satan expected God to destroy the world after it sinned.” Where is that in the Bible?

 

Observations

Another statement that needs to be looked at is when the author states that “it is our sins that that make us unacceptable to God.” At first glance, that statement seems to make sense. However, the Bible teaches us that we are born with sin. We have a sin nature and therefore we sin. Because of this we must be born again. Justification addresses our nature in that though we were born guilty, the gospel of Jesus Christ makes us righteous. It changes our complete nature.

The lesson ends with questions about how our knowledge of God’s character should impact our lives. Such a question is irrelevant. We are not asked to believe or to be changed by our perception of “God’s character”. Rather, we are asked to accept and believe that Jesus’ blood paid the price of our sin to God who demanded it. This fact is what makes the difference between our eternal death and our eternal life.

 

Summary

1. This lesson fails to deal with the implications of Romans 3:25-26.
2. This lesson assumes there is a “watching universe” to whom God must prove His fairness. This idea is unbiblical.
3. The Bible records no time when Satan accused God of being unfair. This idea is from Ellen White’s The Great Controversy.
4. God’s character is not the issue in the story of salvation. God demanded payment for sin, and He sent part of Himself, Jesus the Son, to pay that price by shedding human blood to satisfy His own demands.
5. God’s character is not the issue. His provision for payment for our sin is the issue.
6. We are made righteous when we receive Jesus’ blood shed for our sin. We are not made different by contemplating God’s character.
7. We cannot change in any way apart from being born again.
8. The new birth, not obedience of contemplating the character of God, changes our nature.

 

GO TO DAY 6

 

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