A Crucified Life - - Is Justified

 

    Romans 10:10

For with your heart 

you Believe and Justified, 

and with your mouth 

you Confess and are Saved.

    *Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1343

Justified: righteousness, justice; judicial verdict

From the Greek word 'dikaiosuné' (pronounced dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay): refers to what is deemed right by the Lord after He examines a person; what receives official approval from God; divine righteousness

    Also from Strong's: "the state acceptable to God which becomes a sinner's possession through that faith by which he embraces the grace of God offered him in the expiatory death of Jesus Christ". 

JUSTIFICATION FOR ALL

    This justification is not available through other means or religions. There is only one God and there is only one way to live in heaven with Him. This verse expounds a little more clearly on what is necessary to fulfill God's desire for us to be with Him in eternity.  

    There are only two destinations after death: heaven and hell. While God created both of them,  only one destination was intended for people: heaven. But people choose to go to hell when they disbelieve God while they are alive. One must believe not only that God Is, but that God sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross and walk out of the grave, defeating death (by rising) and hell (throwing off the weight of sin). 

    Because Christ lives, those people who believe that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son will live again, too. For we are in Christ and He is in us. Where He goes, we go. What He did, we do. What He says, we say. We form no opinions of our own unless we can back them up with the whole Word of God. 

    As this verse says, with our HEARTS we Believe and are Justified. And with our MOUTHS we Confess and are Saved. Our hearts are changed for the better when we believe that Jesus is God's only begotten Son. However, we must speak our beliefs aloud at the time we believe for the saving grace of God to take effect. 

INDIVIDUAL JUSTIFICATION

    I can pray for you. And I do. But there comes a point in every person's life when they must pray for themselves. I can talk to God about your salvation, but unless you do the same, it's not gonna happen. We all, on an individual basis, must come to the cross, see Jesus and decide for ourselves whether or not we will accept Him as the Christ, the only begotten Son of God. It's the most important decision any of us will ever make.

    Remember the centurion who came near the cross where Jesus hung. Perhaps that centurion had heard Jesus' teachings, but he surely heard the whispers and gossip of Who this Man was on the cross. He had received orders to pierce His side, to ensure that Jesus was truly dead. Which the centurion did. But he also came to the understanding that this Man hanging on the cross was the Christ, the Messiah. 

    How many of us see Jesus? Untold numbers have come to the cross with repentant hearts, seeking forgiveness for their sins and receiving it, because they believed in their hearts that Jesus died for them, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven where He is seated at God's right hand. Yet we know that our numbers are few, that only a fraction of this world's past, present and future populations have recognized their need for a Savior. 

    Many, many more, too many to number have turned their  backs on the God who created them. Turning to the darkness and embracing its secrets and evils instead of turning to the Light and embracing Its Love and Hope. 

    So we beg you, we implore you, if you have not done so already, Come to the Cross and see Jesus. Come to the Well and drink the Living Water of Life. Come to the Garden and see the empty tomb. Come to the Table and taste the Bread of Life. Let Him fill your cup with Himself and let it overflow. 

    Jesus tells us that "they who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness will be filled" in one of His most famous sermons. Have you had enough of this world's fakeness? Come to Jesus, for He is Truth. Do you find yourself hungering for something you can only find at the cross? Come nearer to see Him clearly. Come today, for there is only now: tomorrow is promised to no one. 

JUSTIFIED & SAVED

I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary - Gaither Vocal Band

You Say - Lauren Daigle

God Be Merciful To Me - Jars of Clay

Near The Cross - Shirley Willis

I Found God - Ben Laine

Awe of You - CAIN

Overcomer - Eddie James

Praise God I'm Free - Various Artists

Signs & Wonders of Christ's Arrival - - Come And See

 

Luke 2:10, 11

10. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:

11. Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! "

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2097

Good News: announce, herald; good tidings; refers to sharing the full Gospel of Christ; preach the gospel.

From the Greek word 'euaggelizó' (pronounced yoo-ang-ghel-id'-zo), which means evangelize: proclaim the Lord's good tidings. 

What is this Good News being proclaimed? Verse 11 tells us plainly that the Savior had been born, that He is Christ the Lord. Where? In the city of David: Bethlehem.

Micah 5:2

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.

Come to Bethlehem. Come to the Christ. Come and see. 

COME AND SEE

When the disciples first began to follow Jesus, Philip went and got his friend Nathanael.

John 1:45, 46

45. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

When Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well, she went into her town and called the townspeople to:

John 4:29, 30

29. “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

30. So they left the town and made their way toward Jesus.

The call to Come and See Jesus still rings out across the globe today. People from every nation and tribe, every culture, every language are not only being called to Come and See Jesus, but are themselves proclaiming the Good, Good News:

"Come and See the Savior of the world! Come and Hear the Faithful and True Word of God!"

THE GOOD GOOD NEWS

Luke 24:47, 48

47. And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,

48. and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

Acts 2:38

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:43

"All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name."

Acts 17:30

Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.

GOD CALLS SINNERS 

Matthew 9:13

"But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Luke 5:32

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

1 Timothy 1:15

This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. 

I answered the call to Come and See several decades ago. But only within the last couple of decades have I truly known the urge to extend this call to anyone within earshot of wherever I am speaking (or writing). 

The call to Come and See Jesus is an urgent call, a begging, beseeching, heart-wrenching call to Come and See Jesus. 

Come To The Well by Casting Crowns

Come To The Altar by Elevation Worship

Come And Dine Gary Chapman

Come and See Jesus. Come and Hear The Faithful And True Word of God. Come and receive Him. Before it's too late.