Interlude: Justification

Sermon Overview

Main Idea: Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1)

1. Justified

   • Justification is when God declares sinners to be righteous because of what Jesus has done.

2. Faith

   • Faith is personal trust in the finished work of Jesus.

3. Peace

   • Peace with God means: 1.) we are no longer guilty, and 2.) we have Christ’s righteousness (through imputation).

Reflection

• Explain justification by faith alone in your own words.

• How is justification by faith different from justification by works, or self-justification?

• Self-justification tends to produce fear (on the one hand), or pride (on the other). How does justification by grace through faith free us from both of these pitfalls?

• Justification by faith also frees us from group-justification (“we are better than them”) and creates a gospel culture. Can you think of some examples of how this could happen at Youth?