Market Research turned into a Gospel Moment
I was recently watching a Promo video for Ligonier Ministries Connect program… and RC starts out the video says…
It’s Jesus performance that is transferred to my account when I receive Him by faith. That is why Paul labors the point that our justification is given to us freely as a gift of the Father. That God calls me just before He makes me just.
Its transactional, God looking at Christ instead of us. In Romans 6 & 7 thats is explained Justification establishes our righteousness before God. Sanctification is the process of us becoming personally Holy. Justification is divine initiative. When we are born again through faith, we’re spiritually unified with Christ. Its a 2 sided coin. Justification is 1 Side. Sanctification the other. Christ spirit in us making us want to be holy.
As Martin Luther once said,
Faith’s substance is our will; its manner is, that we take hold on Christ by divine instinct; its final cause and fruit, that it purifies the heart, makes us children of God, and brings with it the remission of sins.
I have never understood it quite like this before, or with this joy. When Christ comes to me and bids me die… I am dying so I might be raised with Him in his righteous acceptable to the Father and this new life is one in which I am stirred to good works (evidence of justification) and holy living (sanctification).
Its a double transaction. The righteousness of Christ is transferred to our account. Our sinfulness is transferred to His account. God declares me just because Jesus was just. Because the imputation is real then our justification is real. God really laid my sins on Christ and I really am unified with Christ now in my righteousness.
Watch this… it is very helpful:
