http://afcmin.org/ateam/470/book-review-bonhoeffer-speaks-today-by-mark-devine Helping plans come together, one post at a time Sun, 03 May 2015 14:00:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.9 http://afcmin.org/ateam/470/book-review-bonhoeffer-speaks-today-by-mark-devine/comment-page-1#comment-2165 Mon, 14 Aug 2006 23:26:27 +0000 http://afcmin.org/ateam/?p=470#comment-2165 Sorry for being off topic, but I wanted to pass along this article that I thought you might be interested in reading.
Today, I began a series entitled “The Grace Series: Romans 5:1 – 'The Grace of Salvation'” Part I. Here is an excerpt from the middle of the post:
“Today, I want to focus on the first verse in Romans 5. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.” Now this word justification is not the first time we see in the book of Romans. We see it a variety of times certainly in chapter 3, “By the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight. Being justified is a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:28, “We maintain that man is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law.” But when we examine this term, justification, we find that it means literally “to declare innocent or free from any or all guilt.” It is the language of the lawcourt. It's like a lawyer is talking. In salvation terms, it's God declaring, “You're righteous, holy, free, and forgiven.” Now this term does not mean to make righteous because that is what God does in sanctification as His grace is dispensed in our lives. Sanctification is the growing in Christ's likeness. But his term (justification) means to declare righteous and holy. It's not a pardon, but rather and acquittal. “Not guilty! Free from punishment from penalty.” Justification is that gracious act of God whereby he declares a sinner righteous and free from any guilt or punishment upon there putting faith or trust in Jesus Christ. That is what justification means. Christ has paid for our sins; we are free at last!”
I thought you might be interested in reading the article. Let me know what you think about it.

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