Romans: Assurance, Providence, and Life in the Spirit: Romans 8:28-39

Romans 8:28-39 Series - Part 10

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 1999-09-05

Synopsis: John Weaver continues his detailed exposition of Romans 8:28-30, focusing on the doctrine of justification. He defines justification as an act of God's free grace unto sinners, emphasizing that it is God alone who justifies, based solely on the person and work of Christ, not on anything done by or wrought in the sinner. The sermon explores the author, source, subjects, essence, and ground of justification, underscoring that it is a legal declaration where God pardons sin and imputes Christ's righteousness, received by faith alone.

[John Weaver] Romans 8, and let's begin reading there with verse 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate, to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified. We've been on Romans 8, verses 28, 29, and 30 for the last nine weeks, and I have been dealing, I hope, with this passage in detail. I hope you remember enough of it so I won't have to review everything. But the very first thing we looked at in Romans 8, verse 28, was the divine limitation that is on that verse, that all things do not work together for good for everyone, but for only to those that love God. I gave you, first of all, the foundation of this knowledge we know.

[John Weaver] It was based upon the expressed statements of Scripture and the experience of the saints. And then I showed you the fullness of this knowledge. We know that all things work together. I dealt with that. And then the features that are involved in this verse. Number one, them that love God. Number two, them that are called. And then I gave you a whole message as to why we know that everything works good. Because we are called according to His purpose. And then I dealt with being conformed to the image of Christ.

[John Weaver] And then I've been dealing with such words as foreknow and predestinate. And then the last time we began explaining the word justified down in verse 30. I told you that justification is a judicial term. It is a legal declaration. It is a declaration of the law court. And here's the definition that I gave you. Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners in which He pardoned all their sins, accepted and accounted their persons righteous in His sight, not for anything wrought in them or done by them, but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ by God imputed to them and received by faith alone." Now, we began last time just to look at that definition, and I showed you the first point, and that was the author of justification. I said that justification is an act of God, and I went through the Bible and showed you where it is God who justifies.

[John Weaver] In fact, all you have to do actually is read verses 29 and 30. for whom he, that is God, did foreknow. He, God, also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he, God, did predestinate, them he, God, also called, and whom he, God, called, them he also justified." So justification is an act of God. Now, if justification is an act of God, It matters not then what other people say, think, or feel. The only thing that counts is the declaration that God gives. I have known Christians get so upset with a number of people, especially other professing Christian people, and may immediately come back and may say, well, that individual can't be saved. Well, it doesn't matter what your view. or what your understanding of that other person's salvation is, if God has justified that individual, that individual is saved regardless of what you think.

[John Weaver] You understand what I'm saying? So man's determination and man's pronunciation does not affect the reality or the truth of justification. You could stand up here today and say, well, Brother Weaver, you're not saved. It doesn't matter what you say. It's what God says that counts. So whomever God justifies is really genuinely justified. So you could tell me, on the other hand, that you are justified. But in reality, if God has not pronounced you justified, no matter what you say, then you're not justified. So declaration must come from God. Now, we want to proceed today. with the source of justification.

[John Weaver] Now, note if you would, back in your Bibles to Romans 3, because I told you earlier that justification is an act of God's free grace. Let me explain that. Look in Romans 3 and verse 24. The Bible says, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Now, wait a minute. Being justified freely by His grace. Someone has said that grace is unmerited favor.

[John Weaver] Let me go a little bit further. Grace is not only unmerited, it is also uninfluenced favor shown not only to the undeserving, but also to the hell-deserving. And neither human worthiness, nor works, nor will attracts it, nor the lack of them repels So grace, then, is not just simply unmerited favor. It is undeserved favor to the positively hell-deserving.

[John Weaver] Now, the Bible says in verse 24, being justified freely by His grace. Now, let me explain a term to you. It's very important that you catch hold of this term, because you will hear me say, you will hear other preachers say, we believe in free grace. In fact, there used to be a magazine entitled, The Free Grace Broadcaster. Well, what in the world does the term free grace mean? You see, after service today, Ed could take me out and buy my dinner, say, at the Holiday Inn. Thank you, Ed. And I could look around and say, hey everybody, I got a free meal. By that I mean it didn't cost me anything. You remember that? But now listen. That is not what free grace means. Free grace does not mean that it's like a free meal. Let me show you what it means. The Bible says in Romans chapter 3 and verse 24, being justified freely by His grace. Now, look in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 15. John chapter 15. And note if you would, verse 25.

[John Weaver] John 15 verse 25. Jesus Christ says, John chapter 15 verse 25, but this cometh to pass that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, they hated me without a cause. Now the phrase without a cause is exactly the same word that is translated freely in Romans chapter 3 and verse 24. So we could literally read Romans 3 and verse 24, therefore being justified without a cause.

[John Weaver] In other words, there is absolutely nothing in man that draws forth and merits the grace of God. Just like there was nothing in Jesus Christ that drew forth and merited the hatred of men. So men hated Jesus Christ freely. They hated Him without a cause. So when God justifies us, He does so freely, that is, without a cause. In other words, there is absolutely nothing in man that attracts that woos, that draws, that merits the grace of God in fact. There is everything in man that does just the opposite. There is everything in us that ought to repel and to drive away the grace of God in one sense of the word because we are positively wicked and ungodly in the sight of God. So free grace then means that grace comes unmoved, uncaused, solely from the pleasure of the God of all grace. So when we talk about free grace, we're saying man does not earn it, man does not merit it, man is not the moving or the motivating cause. Grace comes only at God's pleasure.

[John Weaver] In fact, the Bible, look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 5 and verse 21. He says this, that as sin hath reigned unto death, Even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Now, if grace is reigning, that means grace is on the throne. That means grace is sovereign only because it belongs to the sovereign God of the universe. So if grace is sovereign, then it means it comes at its own imperial pleasure and not at the whim of man.

[John Weaver] Now, free grace is the very core of the gospel. Free grace is the only hope of fallen men. We have neither the slightest degree of merit nor ample price to purchase God's grace or God's salvation. So the Bible says we have been justified freely, or we have been justified without a cause.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you a question, just to get you thinking. Why did God forgive you of your sins? Now, don't answer out loud, but why did God forgive you of your sins? Someone will say, well, He forgave me because I asked Him. Well, why did you ask Him? Well, you say He forgave me because I repented. Well, why did you repent? Let me show you, ultimately, Why God forgives anyone of his sins.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Isaiah 43 and verse 25. Isaiah 43, verse 25. Notice, if you would, what the Bible says. Isaiah 43, verse 25. God says, I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Now why did God do it? For His own sake. Whatever God does is for His honor and for His glory. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Psalm 106. Psalm 106 and verse 8.

[John Weaver] You'll see this truth again. Psalm 106 and verse 8. In this passage, the Word of God says, nevertheless He saved them for His namesake that He might make His mighty power to be known. So why did God save you? For His namesake. You remember the Bible says in Revelation 4 and verse 11 that God created all things for His own pleasure. So God then saves us. for His own sake. He forgives our sins for His own sake. He justifies us for His own sake. So the source then of justification can be nothing other than the pleasure and the grace and the mercy of God. It is unmerited. It is uninfluenced. That's why we say being justified by His grace. Do you realize that God was not obligated to save anyone?

[John Weaver] God could have justly left every one of us to the strict condemnation of the law. You say, oh, God could not have done that. Well, He did so to the fallen angels. He did not provide salvation for them. He did not provide a Savior for them. He left the fallen angels to be doomed and damned for eternity, and He could have justly done the same to us, but He did not.

[John Weaver] That's what the Bible says there in Romans 8. Look at it in verse 32. Romans 8 verse 32, He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things? I'm going to be preaching from this passage a little bit later, but note the question. He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

[John Weaver] God could have justly left us to ourselves, but he did not. Now, that's why the Bible says in Titus chapter 3, He says, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His own mercy He saved us. So it's not anything that we have done.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just try to delineate this for you. In what way can we say that justification is an act of God's unmerited and undeserved and free grace? Three ways chiefly. Number one, It was nothing but pure grace that God was willing to accept payment at the hand of a substitute.

[John Weaver] Now, let me explain that. Let's suppose that Anna owes me 500 bucks. And I come up to Anna and I say, Anna, I want my money. She says, Pastor Weaver, I don't have that money. But Anna, you promised me that you'd have my money today, and I want my money. But Pastor Weaver, I don't have that money. I'm saying, Anna, I'm very upset with you, and I'll tell you what I'm fixing to do. I'm fixing to beat you into the ground. She says, but I'm a woman. I don't care who you are. I'm going to beat you into the ground because you owe me that 500 bucks, and I'll pay 500 bucks. Now, she owes it to me. There's no problem there.

[John Weaver] But Sue comes along, and she hears me. And she says, Brother Weaver, are you angry with her? I very much so. She owes me 500 bucks and I need my money and I want my money and she doesn't have it and she won't give it to me. And I just told her I'm fixing to beat her in the ground. Sue says, Brother Weaver, you don't have to get upset. You don't have to hurt Anna. I will give you the 500 bucks for her.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you a question. Am I obligated? to take the money from Sue that she's offered to give me for Anna, am I? No. Because Sue doesn't owe me. Anna owes me. And if I'm willing to take it from Sue and let Anna go, then it's nothing but grace. You see, we say we're saved by the work of Jesus Christ, and that's true. But Jesus Christ did not owe God the Father. We did. And the very fact that God was willing to accept payment at the hands of a substitute was nothing but pure grace. Secondly, it was wondrous grace, listen, it was wondrous grace that after God graciously accepted a substitute, that He Himself gave the substitute.

[John Weaver] Look at it back in Romans chapter 3 and verse 24. The Bible says, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation. So God not only agreed to accept payment at the hand of another, God also then provided the another to receive the payment at His hand. So God gave God to be our substitute. And then thirdly, it was an absolute amazing grace that God the Son, the substitute, was willing to take our place and be our surety.

[John Weaver] Now let me tell you something. There is no way in the world I can give you an illustration of this. But if you knew, if you knew, If you knew that I was fixing to go through some of the worst sufferings known to man physically, mentally, emotionally, even spiritually. If you knew that, and you knew all about those sufferings, and you came up to me, and if it were possible, you'd say, Brother Weaver, I'm going to take those sufferings for you. I'm going to go through that in your place. You don't have to.

[John Weaver] Would you be willing to do that? And most of you would say now, Brother Weaver, I love you, but not that much. You see, when Christ became our substitute, he knew exactly what he was going to have to suffer, because he was God. And he was willingly presenting himself to be our surety and our substitute. That's why the hymn writer wrote, O to Grace, how great a debtor, daily I am constrained to be. Let thy grace, Lord, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee. See, God did not have to accept a substitute, but he did. He did not have to provide that substitute, but he did. And that substitute did not have to come in our place, but he did. And so the source of justification is only the free grace of God. The author? God. The source? God's free grace. Justification is an act of God's free grace. Here's my third point. Unto sinners. That is, the subjects of justification. Now, who is it that God justifies? Not the godly, but sinners.

[John Weaver] Not the righteous, but sinners. Not the moral, but the immoral. Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners.

[John Weaver] Now, when you begin to consider the subjects of justification, you need to look at the subjects from three different perspectives. If you look back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8 and verse 33, first of all, You must look at the subjects of God's justification from the standpoint of God's decrees. If you look in Romans 8 and verse 33, you'll read this. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?

[John Weaver] It is God that justifieth. So, from the standpoint of God's decrees, the subjects of justification are God's elect. Now listen. Secondly, from the standpoint of the quickening power of the Holy Spirit, the subject of God's justification would be those who believe. For instance, look in your Bibles to Acts chapter 13 and verse 39. Acts 13 verse 39. Here the Bible says this, and by him, that is by Christ, all that believe are justified from all things which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Now look what he says, and by him all that believe are justified. So from the standpoint of the quickening of the Holy Spirit, from the standpoint of the power and the grace and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Who are the subjects of justification? It's those who believe. Now, from the standpoint of God's decrees, it's God's elect. From the standpoint of the work of the Holy Spirit, it's those who believe. But from the standpoint and from the perspective of what we are in ourselves, what is the answer?

[John Weaver] Well, look in your Bibles to the book of Romans 4 and verse 5. Here's the answer. But to him that worketh not, But believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Did you hear that? He says,"...but to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly." So it is not the godly that is justified, it is the ungodly. So when you begin to examine what the subjects are in and of themselves, They are the ungodly.

[John Weaver] In fact, they are classified as sinners. You remember Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1 through 3? We've read them many times. And you had the quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins. So what were we like? We were dead in trespasses and sins. And he goes on to say that we walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of this air.

[John Weaver] We are the ones that had our own way. We were the ones that were by nature the children of wrath. We were even as others, the children of wrath. But it is God that justifies the ungodly. Not the faithful, not the fruitful, not the righteous, not the moral, but the ungodly. Look in your Bibles to Romans 5 and verse 8. Romans 5 verse 8. But God commended His love toward us, watch this, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Look in verse 10, for if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. So God classifies us as sinners and as enemies.

[John Weaver] Now, who are the subjects of justification? Let's go back to our definition. Are you listening? Justification is the act of God's free grace unto sinners. Justification is the act of God's free grace unto sinners. Look back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 4 and verse 5. Look at what he says again. But to him that worketh not. but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly." Let me give you a quote. John Owen, in explaining this phrase, but to him that worketh not, he says this, quote, to say he who worketh not is justified through believing is to say that his works, whatever they may be, have no influence in his justification, nor hath God in justifying him any respect to them. Wherefore, he alone who worketh not is the subject of justification, the person to be justified. That is, God considers no man's works, no man's duties of obedience in his justification, seeing we are justified freely by his grace." So the Bible says in verse 5, but to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly.

[John Weaver] Now let me emphasize it again. It's not the obedient, but the disobedient. It's not the reconciled, but the unreconciled. It's not those who are submissive, but those who are rebels. It's not those who are loyal subjects, but those who are haters and despisers of God. Those who by their character, those who by their works demonstrate that they're worth and worthy of nothing but damnation. And yet God justifies the ungodly.

[John Weaver] Now in Romans chapter 4, he gives you two illustrations of this. Look in verse 1. What shall we say, then, that Abraham, our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? Now listen to that. What shall we say, then, that Abraham, our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified of works, he hath whereof the glory, but not before God. For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.

[John Weaver] Now let me ask you a question. When God found Abraham, and by the way, Abraham didn't find God. Abraham wasn't even looking for God. But when God came to Abraham, where was he? Remember? He was in Ur of the Chaldees. He was an idolater. He did not know God. God came to him and revealed himself and called him by his grace and said, get you out of your land and get away from your family. You get to the land that I'm going to show you up. So when God came to Abraham, Abraham was an absolute idolater.

[John Weaver] Look, if you would please, at verse six, here's another illustration. Even as David also described it, the blessings of the man of whom God imputed righteous is without works. Saying, blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whom the Lord will not impute sin. Well, let's talk about David for a moment. Now, I know the Bible says that David was a man after God's own heart, after God's safety. But may I remind you that David was an adulterer. David was a murderer. And so here's a man that is an adulterer and God saves Abraham. Here's another man that is guilty and polluted and vile and God saves him.

[John Weaver] Very clearly, it's not anything done by them. It is nothing but God's free grace. You see, in this grace, God may justify even the very wicked, the most wicked sinner. You remember what Paul said in 1 Timothy 1, verse 15. This is a worthy saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am what? Chief. So very clearly then, since justification is by God's grace, the subjects viewed in and of themselves are sinners, and God justifies them by His grace. So the gospel which proclaims the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ is distinguished from every other religion. How can it be distinguished from every other religion? Every other religion teaches morality in the sense that man must be moral in order to be saved. I don't care if it's Hinduism, Buddhism. I don't care what it is. You've got to do something or be something in order to be saved according to their religions. But it is God who justifies the ungodly. In other words, in Christianity, all the man has to be is a sinner.

[John Weaver] And I think that qualifies most people. Because this is a worthy saying, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. The greatest sin and the greatest sinner can be saved by the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Let me recite to you one of my favorite hymns.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to listen carefully. I only know the name of this hymn by the verse, Come Ye Sinners. Listen to the stanzas. Come ye sinners, poor and wretched, weak and wounded, sick and sore. Jesus stands ready to save you, full of pity, joined with power. He is able, He is able, doubt no more. Let not conscience make you linger, nor fitness fondly dream. All the fitness He requires is to feel your need of Him.

[John Weaver] This He gives you, this He gives you, tis the Spirit's rise and being. Lo, the incarnate God ascended, pleads the merit of His blood. Venture on him. Venture only. Let none other trust intrude. None but Jesus, none but Jesus can do helpless sinners good. Now listen to that. Come ye sinners, weak and wounded, poor and wretched, weak and wounded, sick and sore. Lords, you come like you are.

[John Weaver] Because Christ is the one that saves. Why? Because God justifies the ungodly. The author is God. The source is God's free grace. The subjects are sinners. Let me give you a fourth one, and that is the essence of justification. The essence of justification. Whenever you begin to talk about justification, Inevitably, invariably, you've got to get to the question, what does it mean to be justified? Of what does it consist?

[John Weaver] What is it made up of? Let me give you this definition again. Listen carefully. Justification is the act of God's free grace unto sinners in which He pardoneth all their sins, accepteth and accounteth their persons Righteous. So when you talk about justification. You're talking about more than forgiveness of sins. You see, justification actually has two parts. You could say there's a negative and there's a positive. The negative would be he gets rid of our sins or he pardons all of our sins. And the positive is he accepts us righteous. in Jesus Christ. Now, you see, the individual who is justified sustained a two-fold relationship to God.

[John Weaver] First of all, he was a responsible creature under the law. And secondly, he was a guilty criminal having transgressed that law. But the criminality But his criminality has not cancelled out his obligation to keep that law. Now, that means this. We're sinners, yes. But although we are criminal before God, we're still obligated before him. So consequently, justification has to have two parts.

[John Weaver] Now, let me try to explain it like this. On the one part, you have an acquittal from condemnation and from guilt. On the other part, you have a reception into God's favor. You have a standing before God. Let me go into a little further detail. Look in your Bibles to Acts 26, verse 18. Let me show you several passages. Acts 26, verse 18. Look, if you would please, at what the Apostle Paul says. Here is why God sent him, he says, to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins, that's one part, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. That's the second part. So not only forgiveness of sins, but also an inheritance. Look back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 4 and verse 11. Romans 4. Notice, if you would please, verse 11. In Romans 4, verse 11, and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had being yet uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised, that righteousness might be imputed unto them also.

[John Weaver] So there's a positive. Then look in the book of Titus, chapter 3. Titus chapter 3, note if you would please, Titus chapter 3 and verse 7. Titus chapter 3 verse 7. In fact let's begin reading at verse 5. I quoted this verse earlier. He says, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. So Christ has not only paid all of my debts, but he has also fulfilled and discharged all of my responsibilities.

[John Weaver] The law giver is the law fulfiller. Now, justification then is God's verdict. Justification is God's pronouncement. Justification is God saying, I only forgive the sins. But I'm going to give a perfect righteousness, which I'm going to explain just shortly. And there is going to be not only a negative, but a positive. We're not only going to receive forgiveness of sins, but we're going to receive an inheritance in them that are sanctified, says the Apostle Paul, by the faith that is in me. So Jesus Christ then has not only died and forgiven me of my sins, But he's also given me a perfect righteousness. He's fulfilled my responsibility before the law.

[John Weaver] Now, let's go on to the one other point today, and that is the ground of justification. What is the ground of justification? Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners, which he pardoned all their sins, accepted and accounted their persons righteous in his sight. And here's the ground. Listen carefully. not for anything wrought in them or done by them, but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, I think I mentioned this several weeks ago, but I want to mention it again because it's very important. I told you that there are degrees in sanctification. We have a perfect sanctification that's in Christ. There are no degrees in that. But practically speaking, there are degrees in sanctification. I mean, I may be more sanctified than Tony. I may be more holy, more obedient than Tony is. Tony may be more obedient and holy than Don is. Don may be more obedient, holy than Henry is.

[John Weaver] You follow what I'm saying? There are degrees in sanctification. But there are no degrees in justification. You and I are equally just as justified as the Apostle Paul. The Apostle John. There are no degrees in justification. I think I said it like this. Justification is like being pregnant. Either you are or you ain't, there's no in-between. And when you're justified, you are totally, fully justified. And I want you to note, first of all, the ground of justification. God gives us a negative, and I'm going to show it to you in the Bible.

[John Weaver] But our definition says this, not for any works done by them. Now please understand, we are never ever justified by works. Now remember, I just read Titus 3.5, not by works of righteousness which we have done. There is a negation. Look in your Bibles to Romans 3.28 since we're there. Look at it. Here it is, black and white. Romans 3.28. He says, therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith. Watch.

[John Weaver] without the deeds of the law. You're not justified by works. Look in your Bibles to the book of Galatians 2, verse 16. Here is a passage that is exceedingly clear. No one can deny this one. Galatians 2, verse 16. Paul says, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Jesus Christ. that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." So very clearly, justification is not by the works of the law. I met a man years ago, and he was an older man.

[John Weaver] I enjoyed talking to him because he lived through the Great Depression. He could give you information that you just could not get anywhere else. But I witnessed to him because I did not believe the man was a Christian. And he told me that he was all right and that he was going to get in heaven. And I asked him upon what basis did he believe he was going to see the Lord?

[John Weaver] And he said, well, I don't beat my wife. I pay my bills and I treat my neighbor right. And I had to respectfully look at him and say, sir, you're lost. That will never, ever get you in the presence of God. It will never do it. Because we're not justified by what we do. You see, let's suppose, let's suppose Britt could be perfect from this day forward. He never ever committed another sin. Mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically, he was perfect from this day forward. Would that get him into the presence of God? No. Because what about all those sins he committed before he got perfect? You see, there's no provision made for previous sins and previous failures. And a fallen, sinful creature can never, ever give to God that perfection that God demands.

[John Weaver] In fact, you remember what He said in Isaiah 64 and verse 6, all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. We're all as an unclean thing in His sight. And if it were possible to be saved by our works, then Christ died in vain. Don't you listen? We're not saved by anything that is wrought by us. Okay? Now, listen carefully. Nor are we saved or justified by anything that is wrought in us. Hang on. Hang on.

[John Weaver] You're going to hear me say this again. A man may be justified by faith and through faith and in faith, but never because of faith. Faith is something that is wrought in you. Faith is not the grounds of justification. Now listen to me. It is true that every saved individual repents. But you are not saved, nor are you justified because of your repentance. Repentance is something that is wrought in you.

[John Weaver] It is put in you. It is worked in you. It is God who worketh in you, both to will and do His good pleasure. It is true that God's people are obedient, but obedience does not justify us. Obedience is something that is wrought in us. You say, well, Brother Weaver, what is the ground of our justification? I just gave you the negatives. They brought by us or anything brought in us. But here's the positive. It is for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Jesus Christ. You get that? Jesus Christ and his work is the ground for our justification. The ground for our justification is wholly, completely, and totally outside of ourselves. The ground of our justification is the person and work of Christ and only Christ. It is not Christ plus our faith. It is not Christ plus our repentance. No, it is only Christ. We are justified only by the righteousness of Jesus Christ. It is His perfect righteousness that justifies us. His work. Not anything that we have done, or not anything that has been done in us.

[John Weaver] It is Christ who died to satisfy the demands of God's holy law. It is Christ who died to satisfy the wrath and the anger of God. So we're justified by Christ alone. Look in your Bible to John chapter 17. John chapter 17. John chapter 17. I wanted to finish this message today, but I don't think there's any way. But look at it. In John 17 verse 19, look what Jesus Christ said. Jesus Christ says, and for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. For their sakes I sanctify myself. In other words, we are justified based upon the personal work of Christ. Look in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews chapter 13. And look, if you would please, at verse 10. He says, We have an altar for if they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle. Now, wait a minute. Remember, the tabernacle was an emblem. It was a symbol. It was a type. Now, he says, if you want to go back to the Old Testament types and shadows, you don't have any right to our true author, which is Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] He says in verse 11, for the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burned without the camp. Watch. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Why did Christ suffer? That he might be our justification. That he might not only pay our sin debt, but give us a perfect righteousness as well. Now listen to me.

[John Weaver] Every sinner is declared righteous before God that is saved. Every sinner is declared righteous only because of the person and work of Christ. I want to explain this next week. Are you listening? It is not my faith that saves me. Although I am saved by faith, it is Christ who saves me. Faith is just the means to get to Christ. You follow that? I'm going to explain it more next week, but let me tell you, we're justified not for anything that we've done, not for anything that's brought in us, but only based upon the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is true that we have faith, but God gave us that.

[John Weaver] That is something that has been worked in us. It is true God gave us repentance. That is something that has been worked in us. It is true God has given us obedience. That is something that has been worked in us. We're not justified based upon any of those things that have been wrought in us. We're justified only by the person of worker price whom he saved or whom he called the Bible that he justified.

[John Weaver] Let me give it to you like this. Here is God's law. I'll explain it more next week, but here's God's law. Here's what God does. God looks at his law and smiles, because that law is an expression of his holy will. And the law, according to Romans 7 in verse 12, is holy and just and good. And then God looks at the sinner and frowns. Why? Because the sinner is unholy, unjust, and wicked. Now, in justification, And I'll explain it more next week. I'm repeatedly saying that. In justification, what God does is this. God looks at His law and smiles.

[John Weaver] Because He's satisfied with it. It's holy, just, and good. And now He looks at the sinner who is in Jesus Christ and smiles. Because that sinner is holy, just, and good in Jesus Christ. because of what Christ has done. Not because the sinner repented. That was something wrought in him. The sinner would have never repented had God not given him repentance. Not because the sinner believed. The sinner would have never believed had God not given him faith. Not because the sinner obeyed. The sinner would have never obeyed had God not given him obedience. But God is pleased with him because of what his son did. And as son, fulfill the law of God perfectly to give us a perfect righteousness. So we're justified based solely upon the person and work of Jesus Christ. Let's pray.

[John Weaver] Father, we thank Thee for Your love. We thank Thee for Your grace. Help us, Lord, to live for Thee. Help us to understand, Lord, as Martin Luther did indeed say, the doctrine of justification by faith is the article of the standing or the falling church. And to the degree that we understand this doctrine, to the degree, Lord, that we're going to live holy and godly lives and give Thee the honor and the glory for that which Thou hast wrought in our lives. Enable us, Father, to praise Thee.

[John Weaver] In the name of Jesus Christ we ask it. Amen. Amen.

Romans 8:28-39 Series - Part 10

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	3110717286
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Assurance, Providence, and Life in the Spirit: Romans 8:28-39
Genre	Sermon
Date	1999-09-05
Dictation Name
Book	Book 169: Romans 8:28-39 — Chapter 10
Source Timed Segments	64

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the previous nine weeks of teaching on Romans 8:28-30, highlighting the divine limitation, the foundation of knowledge, and the features of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8, and let's begin reading there with verse 28.

Scripture Reading — Romans 8:28-30

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate, to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

We've been on Romans 8, verses 28, 29, and 30 for the last nine weeks, and I have been dealing, I hope, with this passage in detail. I hope you remember enough of it so I won't have to review everything. But the very first thing we looked at in Romans 8, verse 28, was the divine limitation that is on that verse, that all things do not work together for good for everyone, but for only to those that love God. I gave you, first of all, the foundation of this knowledge we know.

It was based upon the expressed statements of Scripture and the experience of the saints. And then I showed you the fullness of this knowledge. We know that all things work together. I dealt with that. And then the features that are involved in this verse. Number one, them that love God. Number two, them that are called. And then I gave you a whole message as to why we know that everything works good. Because we are called according to His purpose. And then I dealt with being conformed to the image of Christ.

The Author of Justification

Justification is an act of God alone, as seen in Romans 8:29-30. Man's opinion does not affect the reality of God's declaration; only God's pronouncement matters.

In fact, all you have to do actually is read verses 29 and 30. "For whom he," that is God, "did foreknow. He," God, "also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he," God, "did predestinate, them he," God, "also called, and whom he," God, "called, them he also justified." So justification is an act of God. Now, if justification is an act of God, it matters not then what other people say, think, or feel. The only thing that counts is the declaration that God gives. I have known Christians get so upset with a number of people, especially other professing Christian people, and may immediately come back and may say, well, that individual can't be saved. Well, it doesn't matter what your view or what your understanding of that other person's salvation is, if God has justified that individual, that individual is saved regardless of what you think.

You understand what I'm saying? So man's determination and man's pronunciation does not affect the reality or the truth of justification. You could stand up here today and say, well, Brother Weaver, you're not saved. It doesn't matter what you say. It's what God says that counts. So whomever God justifies is really genuinely justified. So you could tell me, on the other hand, that you are justified. But in reality, if God has not pronounced you justified, no matter what you say, then you're not justified. So declaration must come from God. Now, we want to proceed today with the source of justification.

The Source of Justification: God's Free Grace

Justification is an act of God's free grace, meaning it is unmerited and uninfluenced favor. Using Romans 3:24 and John 15:25, Weaver explains that 'freely' means 'without a cause'—nothing in man attracts God's grace.

Now, note if you would, back in your Bibles to Romans 3, because I told you earlier that justification is an act of God's free grace. Let me explain that. Look in Romans 3 and verse 24. The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Romans 3:24

"being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Now, wait a minute. Being justified freely by His grace. Someone has said that grace is unmerited favor. Let me go a little bit further. Grace is not only unmerited, it is also uninfluenced favor shown not only to the undeserving, but also to the hell-deserving. And neither human worthiness, nor works, nor will attracts it, nor the lack of them repels. So grace, then, is not just simply unmerited favor. It is undeserved favor to the positively hell-deserving.

Now, the Bible says in verse 24, "being justified freely by His grace." Now, let me explain a term to you. It's very important that you catch hold of this term, because you will hear me say, you will hear other preachers say, we believe in free grace. In fact, there used to be a magazine entitled, The Free Grace Broadcaster. Well, what in the world does the term free grace mean? You see, after service today, Ed could take me out and buy my dinner, say, at the Holiday Inn. Thank you, Ed. And I could look around and say, hey everybody, I got a free meal. By that I mean it didn't cost me anything. You remember that? But now listen. That is not what free grace means. Free grace does not mean that it's like a free meal. Let me show you what it means. The Bible says in Romans chapter 3 and verse 24, "being justified freely by His grace." Now, look in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 15. John chapter 15. And note if you would, verse 25.

John 15 verse 25. Jesus Christ says, John chapter 15 verse 25, "but this cometh to pass that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, they hated me without a cause." Now the phrase "without a cause" is exactly the same word that is translated "freely" in Romans chapter 3 and verse 24. So we could literally read Romans 3 and verse 24, "therefore being justified without a cause." In other words, there is absolutely nothing in man that draws forth and merits the grace of God. Just like there was nothing in Jesus Christ that drew forth and merited the hatred of men. So men hated Jesus Christ freely. They hated Him without a cause. So when God justifies us, He does so freely, that is, without a cause. In other words, there is absolutely nothing in man that attracts, that woos, that draws, that merits the grace of God in fact. There is everything in man that does just the opposite. There is everything in us that ought to repel and to drive away the grace of God in one sense of the word because we are positively wicked and ungodly in the sight of God. So free grace then means that grace comes unmoved, uncaused, solely from the pleasure of the God of all grace. So when we talk about free grace, we're saying man does not earn it, man does not merit it, man is not the moving or the motivating cause. Grace comes only at God's pleasure.

In fact, the Bible, look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 5 and verse 21. He says this,

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:21

"that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

Now, if grace is reigning, that means grace is on the throne. That means grace is sovereign only because it belongs to the sovereign God of the universe. So if grace is sovereign, then it means it comes at its own imperial pleasure and not at the whim of man.

Grace is Sovereign and for God's Own Sake

Grace reigns sovereignly and is given for God's own sake, as seen in Isaiah 43:25 and Psalm 106:8. God was not obligated to save anyone, yet He chose to do so for His name's sake.

In other words, there is absolutely nothing in man that draws forth and merits the grace of God. Just like there was nothing in Jesus Christ that drew forth and merited the hatred of men. So men hated Jesus Christ freely. They hated Him without a cause. So when God justifies us, He does so freely, that is, without a cause. In other words, there is absolutely nothing in man that attracts, that woos, that draws, that merits the grace of God in fact. There is everything in man that does just the opposite. There is everything in us that ought to repel and to drive away the grace of God in one sense of the word because we are positively wicked and ungodly in the sight of God. So free grace then means that grace comes unmoved, uncaused, solely from the pleasure of the God of all grace. So when we talk about free grace, we're saying man does not earn it, man does not merit it, man is not the moving or the motivating cause. Grace comes only at God's pleasure.

In fact, the Bible, look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 5 and verse 21. He says this,

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:21

"that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

Now, free grace is the very core of the gospel. Free grace is the only hope of fallen men. We have neither the slightest degree of merit nor ample price to purchase God's grace or God's salvation. So the Bible says we have been justified freely, or we have been justified without a cause.

Now, let me ask you a question, just to get you thinking. Why did God forgive you of your sins? Now, don't answer out loud, but why did God forgive you of your sins? Someone will say, well, He forgave me because I asked Him. Well, why did you ask Him? Well, you say He forgave me because I repented. Well, why did you repent? Let me show you, ultimately, why God forgives anyone of his sins.

Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Isaiah 43 and verse 25. Isaiah 43, verse 25. Notice, if you would, what the Bible says. Isaiah 43, verse 25. God says,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 43:25

"I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."

Now why did God do it? For His own sake. Whatever God does is for His honor and for His glory. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Psalm 106. Psalm 106 and verse 8.

You'll see this truth again. Psalm 106 and verse 8. In this passage, the Word of God says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 106:8

"nevertheless He saved them for His namesake that He might make His mighty power to be known."

So why did God save you? For His namesake. You remember the Bible says in Revelation 4 and verse 11 that God created all things for His own pleasure. So God then saves us for His own sake. He forgives our sins for His own sake. He justifies us for His own sake. So the source then of justification can be nothing other than the pleasure and the grace and the mercy of God. It is unmerited. It is uninfluenced. That's why we say being justified by His grace. Do you realize that God was not obligated to save anyone?

God could have justly left every one of us to the strict condemnation of the law. You say, oh, God could not have done that. Well, He did so to the fallen angels. He did not provide salvation for them. He did not provide a Savior for them. He left the fallen angels to be doomed and damned for eternity, and He could have justly done the same to us, but He did not.

Three Ways Justification is Free Grace

Weaver illustrates three aspects: God's willingness to accept a substitute, God providing the substitute Himself, and Christ willingly taking our place. All demonstrate pure, unmerited grace.

Now, let me explain that. Let's suppose that Anna owes me 500 bucks. And I come up to Anna and I say, Anna, I want my money. She says, Pastor Weaver, I don't have that money. But Anna, you promised me that you'd have my money today, and I want my money. But Pastor Weaver, I don't have that money. I'm saying, Anna, I'm very upset with you, and I'll tell you what I'm fixing to do. I'm fixing to beat you into the ground. She says, but I'm a woman. I don't care who you are. I'm going to beat you into the ground because you owe me that 500 bucks, and I'll pay 500 bucks. Now, she owes it to me. There's no problem there.

But Sue comes along, and she hears me. And she says, Brother Weaver, are you angry with her? I very much so. She owes me 500 bucks and I need my money and I want my money and she doesn't have it and she won't give it to me. And I just told her I'm fixing to beat her in the ground. Sue says, Brother Weaver, you don't have to get upset. You don't have to hurt Anna. I will give you the 500 bucks for her.

Now, let me ask you a question. Am I obligated to take the money from Sue that she's offered to give me for Anna, am I? No. Because Sue doesn't owe me. Anna owes me. And if I'm willing to take it from Sue and let Anna go, then it's nothing but grace. You see, we say we're saved by the work of Jesus Christ, and that's true. But Jesus Christ did not owe God the Father. We did. And the very fact that God was willing to accept payment at the hands of a substitute was nothing but pure grace. Secondly, it was wondrous grace, listen, it was wondrous grace that after God graciously accepted a substitute, that He Himself gave the substitute.

Look at it back in Romans chapter 3 and verse 24. The Bible says, "being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation." So God not only agreed to accept payment at the hand of another, God also then provided the another to receive the payment at His hand. So God gave God to be our substitute. And then thirdly, it was an absolute amazing grace that God the Son, the substitute, was willing to take our place and be our surety.

Now let me tell you something. There is no way in the world I can give you an illustration of this. But if you knew, if you knew, if you knew that I was fixing to go through some of the worst sufferings known to man physically, mentally, emotionally, even spiritually. If you knew that, and you knew all about those sufferings, and you came up to me, and if it were possible, you'd say, Brother Weaver, I'm going to take those sufferings for you. I'm going to go through that in your place. You don't have to. Would you be willing to do that? And most of you would say now, Brother Weaver, I love you, but not that much. You see, when Christ became our substitute, he knew exactly what he was going to have to suffer, because he was God. And he was willingly presenting himself to be our surety and our substitute. That's why the hymn writer wrote, "O to grace, how great a debtor, daily I am constrained to be. Let thy grace, Lord, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee." See, God did not have to accept a substitute, but he did. He did not have to provide that substitute, but he did. And that substitute did not have to come in our place, but he did. And so the source of justification is only the free grace of God. The author? God. The source? God's free grace. Justification is an act of God's free grace. Here's my third point. Unto sinners. That is, the subjects of justification. Now, who is it that God justifies? Not the godly, but sinners.

The Subjects of Justification: Sinners

God justifies the ungodly, not the righteous. From God's decrees, the subjects are the elect; from the Spirit's work, believers; but in themselves, they are sinners, enemies, and rebels.

Not the righteous, but sinners. Not the moral, but the immoral. Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners. Now, when you begin to consider the subjects of justification, you need to look at the subjects from three different perspectives. If you look back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8 and verse 33, first of all, you must look at the subjects of God's justification from the standpoint of God's decrees. If you look in Romans 8 and verse 33, you'll read this. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?"

"It is God that justifieth." So, from the standpoint of God's decrees, the subjects of justification are God's elect. Now listen. Secondly, from the standpoint of the quickening power of the Holy Spirit, the subject of God's justification would be those who believe. For instance, look in your Bibles to Acts chapter 13 and verse 39. Acts 13 verse 39. Here the Bible says this, "and by him," that is by Christ, "all that believe are justified from all things which you could not be justified by the law of Moses." Now look what he says, "and by him all that believe are justified." So from the standpoint of the quickening of the Holy Spirit, from the standpoint of the power and the grace and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who are the subjects of justification? It's those who believe. Now, from the standpoint of God's decrees, it's God's elect. From the standpoint of the work of the Holy Spirit, it's those who believe. But from the standpoint and from the perspective of what we are in ourselves, what is the answer?

Well, look in your Bibles to the book of Romans 4 and verse 5. Here's the answer. "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Did you hear that? He says, "...but to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly." So it is not the godly that is justified, it is the ungodly. So when you begin to examine what the subjects are in and of themselves, they are the ungodly. In fact, they are classified as sinners. You remember Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1 through 3? We've read them many times. And you had the quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins. So what were we like? We were dead in trespasses and sins. And he goes on to say that we walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of this air.

We are the ones that had our own way. We were the ones that were by nature the children of wrath. We were even as others, the children of wrath. But it is God that justifies the ungodly. Not the faithful, not the fruitful, not the righteous, not the moral, but the ungodly. Look in your Bibles to Romans 5 and verse 8. Romans 5 verse 8. "But God commended His love toward us," watch this, "in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Look in verse 10, "for if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." So God classifies us as sinners and as enemies.

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:8, 10

Now, who are the subjects of justification? Let's go back to our definition. Are you listening? Justification is the act of God's free grace unto sinners. Justification is the act of God's free grace unto sinners. Look back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 4 and verse 5. Look at what he says again. "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly." Let me give you a quote. John Owen, in explaining this phrase, "but to him that worketh not," he says this, quote, "to say he who worketh not is justified through believing is to say that his works, whatever they may be, have no influence in his justification, nor hath God in justifying him any respect to them. Wherefore, he alone who worketh not is the subject of justification, the person to be justified. That is, God considers no man's works, no man's duties of obedience in his justification, seeing we are justified freely by his grace." So the Bible says in verse 5, "but to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly."

Biblical Illustrations: Abraham and David

Abraham was an idolater and David an adulterer and murderer when God justified them, proving that justification is not based on works but on God's grace toward sinners.

Now let me emphasize it again. It's not the obedient, but the disobedient. It's not the reconciled, but the unreconciled. It's not those who are submissive, but those who are rebels. It's not those who are loyal subjects, but those who are haters and despisers of God. Those who by their character, those who by their works demonstrate that they're worth and worthy of nothing but damnation. And yet God justifies the ungodly.

Now in Romans chapter 4, he gives you two illustrations of this. Look in verse 1. "What shall we say, then, that Abraham, our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?" Now listen to that. "What shall we say, then, that Abraham, our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified of works, he hath whereof the glory, but not before God. For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness."

Now let me ask you a question. When God found Abraham, and by the way, Abraham didn't find God. Abraham wasn't even looking for God. But when God came to Abraham, where was he? Remember? He was in Ur of the Chaldees. He was an idolater. He did not know God. God came to him and revealed himself and called him by his grace and said, get you out of your land and get away from your family. You get to the land that I'm going to show you up. So when God came to Abraham, Abraham was an absolute idolater.

Look, if you would please, at verse six, here's another illustration. "Even as David also described it, the blessings of the man of whom God imputed righteous is without works. Saying, blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whom the Lord will not impute sin." Well, let's talk about David for a moment. Now, I know the Bible says that David was a man after God's own heart, after God's safety. But may I remind you that David was an adulterer. David was a murderer. And so here's a man that is an adulterer and God saves Abraham. Here's another man that is guilty and polluted and vile and God saves him.

The Essence of Justification: Pardon and Imputed Righteousness

Justification has two parts: the negative (pardon of sins) and the positive (imputation of Christ's righteousness). It is a complete legal standing before God, not just forgiveness.

What is it made up of? Let me give you this definition again. Listen carefully. Justification is the act of God's free grace unto sinners in which He pardoneth all their sins, accepteth and accounteth their persons righteous. So when you talk about justification, you're talking about more than forgiveness of sins. You see, justification actually has two parts. You could say there's a negative and there's a positive. The negative would be he gets rid of our sins or he pardons all of our sins. And the positive is he accepts us righteous in Jesus Christ. Now, you see, the individual who is justified sustained a two-fold relationship to God.

First of all, he was a responsible creature under the law. And secondly, he was a guilty criminal having transgressed that law. But the criminality, but his criminality has not cancelled out his obligation to keep that law. Now, that means this. We're sinners, yes. But although we are criminal before God, we're still obligated before him. So consequently, justification has to have two parts.

Now, let me try to explain it like this. On the one part, you have an acquittal from condemnation and from guilt. On the other part, you have a reception into God's favor. You have a standing before God. Let me go into a little further detail. Look in your Bibles to Acts 26, verse 18. Let me show you several passages. Acts 26, verse 18. Look, if you would please, at what the Apostle Paul says. Here is why God sent him, he says,

Scripture Reading — Acts 26:18

"to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins,"

that's one part,

Scripture Reading — Acts 26:18

"and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."

That's the second part. So not only forgiveness of sins, but also an inheritance. Look back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 4 and verse 11. Romans 4. Notice, if you would please, verse 11. In Romans 4, verse 11, "and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had being yet uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised, that righteousness might be imputed unto them also."

So there's a positive. Then look in the book of Titus, chapter 3. Titus chapter 3, note if you would please, Titus chapter 3 and verse 7. Titus chapter 3 verse 7. In fact let's begin reading at verse 5. I quoted this verse earlier. He says, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." So Christ has not only paid all of my debts, but he has also fulfilled and discharged all of my responsibilities.

The law giver is the law fulfiller. Now, justification then is God's verdict. Justification is God's pronouncement. Justification is God saying, I only forgive the sins. But I'm going to give a perfect righteousness, which I'm going to explain just shortly. And there is going to be not only a negative, but a positive. We're not only going to receive forgiveness of sins, but we're going to receive an inheritance in them that are sanctified, says the Apostle Paul, by the faith that is in me. So Jesus Christ then has not only died and forgiven me of my sins, but he's also given me a perfect righteousness. He's fulfilled my responsibility before the law.

The Ground of Justification: Christ Alone

Justification is not based on anything done by us or wrought in us (faith, repentance, obedience), but solely on the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Jesus Christ.

Now, I think I mentioned this several weeks ago, but I want to mention it again because it's very important. I told you that there are degrees in sanctification. We have a perfect sanctification that's in Christ. There are no degrees in that. But practically speaking, there are degrees in sanctification. I mean, I may be more sanctified than Tony. I may be more holy, more obedient than Tony is. Tony may be more obedient and holy than Don is. Don may be more obedient, holy than Henry is.

You follow what I'm saying? There are degrees in sanctification. But there are no degrees in justification. You and I are equally just as justified as the Apostle Paul. The Apostle John. There are no degrees in justification. I think I said it like this. Justification is like being pregnant. Either you are or you ain't, there's no in-between. And when you're justified, you are totally, fully justified. And I want you to note, first of all, the ground of justification. God gives us a negative, and I'm going to show it to you in the Bible.

But our definition says this, "not for any works done by them." Now please understand, we are never ever justified by works. Now remember, I just read Titus 3.5, "not by works of righteousness which we have done." There is a negation. Look in your Bibles to Romans 3.28 since we're there. Look at it. Here it is, black and white. Romans 3.28. He says, "therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith." Watch.

"without the deeds of the law." You're not justified by works. Look in your Bibles to the book of Galatians 2, verse 16. Here is a passage that is exceedingly clear. No one can deny this one. Galatians 2, verse 16. Paul says, "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." So very clearly, justification is not by the works of the law. I met a man years ago, and he was an older man.

I enjoyed talking to him because he lived through the Great Depression. He could give you information that you just could not get anywhere else. But I witnessed to him because I did not believe the man was a Christian. And he told me that he was all right and that he was going to get in heaven. And I asked him upon what basis did he believe he was going to see the Lord? And he said, well, I don't beat my wife. I pay my bills and I treat my neighbor right. And I had to respectfully look at him and say, sir, you're lost. That will never, ever get you in the presence of God. It will never do it. Because we're not justified by what we do. You see, let's suppose, let's suppose Britt could be perfect from this day forward. He never ever committed another sin. Mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically, he was perfect from this day forward. Would that get him into the presence of God? No. Because what about all those sins he committed before he got perfect? You see, there's no provision made for previous sins and previous failures. And a fallen, sinful creature can never, ever give to God that perfection that God demands.

In fact, you remember what He said in Isaiah 64 and verse 6, "all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." We're all as an unclean thing in His sight. And if it were possible to be saved by our works, then Christ died in vain. Don't you listen? We're not saved by anything that is wrought by us. Okay? Now, listen carefully. Nor are we saved or justified by anything that is wrought in us. Hang on. Hang on.

You're going to hear me say this again. A man may be justified by faith and through faith and in faith, but never because of faith. Faith is something that is wrought in you. Faith is not the grounds of justification. Now listen to me. It is true that every saved individual repents. But you are not saved, nor are you justified because of your repentance. Repentance is something that is wrought in you.

It is put in you. It is worked in you. It is God who worketh in you, both to will and do His good pleasure. It is true that God's people are obedient, but obedience does not justify us. Obedience is something that is wrought in us. You say, well, Brother Weaver, what is the ground of our justification? I just gave you the negatives. They brought by us or anything brought in us. But here's the positive. It is for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Jesus Christ. You get that? Jesus Christ and his work is the ground for our justification. The ground for our justification is wholly, completely, and totally outside of ourselves. The ground of our justification is the person and work of Christ and only Christ. It is not Christ plus our faith. It is not Christ plus our repentance. No, it is only Christ. We are justified only by the righteousness of Jesus Christ. It is His perfect righteousness that justifies us. His work. Not anything that we have done, or not anything that has been done in us.

Christ's Work as the Sole Basis

Using John 17:19 and Hebrews 13:10-12, Weaver emphasizes that Christ's sanctifying work and blood are the ground of our justification. Faith is the means, not the ground.

It is Christ who died to satisfy the demands of God's holy law. It is Christ who died to satisfy the wrath and the anger of God. So we're justified by Christ alone. Look in your Bible to John chapter 17. John chapter 17. John chapter 17. I wanted to finish this message today, but I don't think there's any way. But look at it. In John 17 verse 19, look what Jesus Christ said. Jesus Christ says,

Scripture Reading — John 17:19

"and for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth."

For their sakes I sanctify myself. In other words, we are justified based upon the personal work of Christ. Look in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews chapter 13. And look, if you would please, at verse 10. He says, "We have an altar for if they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle." Now, wait a minute. Remember, the tabernacle was an emblem. It was a symbol. It was a type. Now, he says, if you want to go back to the Old Testament types and shadows, you don't have any right to our true author, which is Jesus Christ.

He says in verse 11, "for the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burned without the camp." Watch. "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." Why did Christ suffer? That he might be our justification. That he might not only pay our sin debt, but give us a perfect righteousness as well. Now listen to me. Every sinner is declared righteous before God that is saved. Every sinner is declared righteous only because of the person and work of Christ. I want to explain this next week. Are you listening? It is not my faith that saves me. Although I am saved by faith, it is Christ who saves me. Faith is just the means to get to Christ. You follow that? I'm going to explain it more next week, but let me tell you, we're justified not for anything that we've done, not for anything that's brought in us, but only based upon the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is true that we have faith, but God gave us that.

That is something that has been worked in us. It is true God gave us repentance. That is something that has been worked in us. It is true God has given us obedience. That is something that has been worked in us. We're not justified based upon any of those things that have been wrought in us. We're justified only by the person of worker price whom he saved or whom he called the Bible that he justified.

Conclusion and Illustration

Weaver illustrates how God's view of the sinner changes in justification: the sinner in Christ is seen as holy, just, and good because of Christ's work, not because of any internal change.

Let me give it to you like this. Here is God's law. I'll explain it more next week, but here's God's law. Here's what God does. God looks at his law and smiles, because that law is an expression of his holy will. And the law, according to Romans 7 in verse 12, is holy and just and good. And then God looks at the sinner and frowns. Why? Because the sinner is unholy, unjust, and wicked. Now, in justification, and I'll explain it more next week. I'm repeatedly saying that. In justification, what God does is this. God looks at His law and smiles.

Because He's satisfied with it. It's holy, just, and good. And now He looks at the sinner who is in Jesus Christ and smiles. Because that sinner is holy, just, and good in Jesus Christ. Because of what Christ has done. Not because the sinner repented. That was something wrought in him. The sinner would have never repented had God not given him repentance. Not because the sinner believed. The sinner would have never believed had God not given him faith. Not because the sinner obeyed. The sinner would have never obeyed had God not given him obedience. But God is pleased with him because of what his son did. And as son, fulfill the law of God perfectly to give us a perfect righteousness. So we're justified based solely upon the person and work of Jesus Christ. Let's pray.

Study Guide

Major Themes

God as the Sole Author of Justification

Summary: Justification is exclusively an act of God, not dependent on human opinion or effort.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'justification is an act of God... it matters not then what other people say, think, or feel. The only thing that counts is the declaration that God gives.'

Free and Sovereign Grace

Summary: Grace is unmerited, uninfluenced, and sovereign; it comes solely from God's pleasure, not from any human cause.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'free grace then means that grace comes unmoved, uncaused, solely from the pleasure of the God of all grace.'

Justification of the Ungodly

Summary: God justifies sinners, not the righteous; the subjects are the ungodly, enemies, and rebels.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'it is not the godly that is justified, it is the ungodly... God classifies us as sinners and as enemies.'

Christ's Work as the Sole Ground of Justification

Summary: Justification is based entirely on Christ's perfect obedience and satisfaction, not on human works or internal graces.

Evidence: Weaver asserts, 'the ground of our justification is the person and work of Christ and only Christ. It is not Christ plus our faith. It is not Christ plus our repentance.'

The Twofold Nature of Justification

Summary: Justification includes both pardon of sins (negative) and imputation of righteousness (positive), giving a complete standing before God.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'justification actually has two parts... the negative would be he gets rid of our sins... the positive is he accepts us righteous in Jesus Christ.'

Key Arguments

Justification is a legal declaration by God alone

Summary: Since justification is God's act, human opinions or self-declarations are irrelevant; only God's pronouncement determines one's justified state.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'if God has justified that individual, that individual is saved regardless of what you think... declaration must come from God.'

Grace is 'without a cause' in man

Summary: The Greek word for 'freely' in Romans 3:24 means 'without a cause,' indicating that nothing in man merits God's grace.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'we could literally read Romans 3 and verse 24, "therefore being justified without a cause."'

God justifies for His own sake

Summary: God's motivation for justification is His own glory and name's sake, not any obligation to man.

Evidence: Weaver cites Isaiah 43:25: 'I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake.'

The subjects of justification are sinners in themselves

Summary: Though elect from God's decree and believers by the Spirit's work, in themselves the justified are ungodly, disobedient, and rebels.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'it's not the obedient, but the disobedient. It's not the reconciled, but the unreconciled... God justifies the ungodly.'

Justification is not by works or internal graces

Summary: Neither external works nor internal graces like faith or repentance are the ground of justification; Christ's work alone is the basis.

Evidence: Weaver argues, 'we're not justified based upon any of those things that have been wrought in us. We're justified only by the person of worker price.'

Scripture References

Romans 8:28-30

Context: The primary text of the series, read at the opening, outlining the chain of salvation from foreknowledge to glorification.

Romans 3:24

Context: Used to show that justification is 'freely by His grace,' meaning without cause in man.

John 15:25

Context: Cited to explain that 'freely' means 'without a cause,' as in the world's hatred of Christ.

Romans 5:21

Context: Used to illustrate that grace reigns sovereignly, like a king on a throne.

Isaiah 43:25

Context: Shows that God blots out transgressions for His own sake, not because of human merit.

Psalm 106:8

Context: Demonstrates that God saves for His name's sake, to make His power known.

Romans 8:33

Context: Indicates that the subjects of justification from God's decree are His elect.

Acts 13:39

Context: Shows that from the standpoint of the Spirit's work, all who believe are justified.

Romans 4:5

Context: Key verse stating that God justifies the ungodly, not the worker.

Romans 5:8, 10

Context: Emphasizes that Christ died for us while we were still sinners and enemies.

Romans 4:1-3

Context: Illustrates that Abraham was justified by faith, not works, when he was an idolater.

Romans 4:6-8

Context: David, an adulterer and murderer, is blessed because God imputes righteousness without works.

1 Timothy 1:15

Context: Paul calls himself the chief of sinners, illustrating that the worst sinners can be justified.

Acts 26:18

Context: Shows the twofold blessing: forgiveness of sins and inheritance among the sanctified.

Romans 4:11

Context: Speaks of righteousness being imputed, the positive aspect of justification.

Titus 3:5-7

Context: Justification is by grace, making us heirs according to the hope of eternal life, not by works.

Romans 3:28

Context: Concludes that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Galatians 2:16

Context: Clearly states that no flesh is justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Christ.

John 17:19

Context: Christ sanctified Himself for our sakes, indicating His work is the ground of our justification.

Hebrews 13:10-12

Context: Jesus suffered outside the gate to sanctify the people with His own blood, the basis of justification.

Historical References

John Owen

Context: Weaver quotes John Owen's explanation of Romans 4:5, emphasizing that God considers no man's works in justification.

Martin Luther

Context: Weaver references Luther's statement that the doctrine of justification by faith is the article of the standing or falling church.

Important Quotes

Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners in which He pardoned all their sins, accepted and accounted their persons righteous in His sight, not for anything wrought in them or done by them, but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ by God imputed to them and received by faith alone.

Significance: This is Weaver's full definition of justification, which he unpacks throughout the sermon.

I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Significance: Scripture quote used to show God's motivation is His own glory, not human worthiness.

It is not the godly that is justified, it is the ungodly.

Significance: Succinctly states the counterintuitive nature of justification's subjects.

To say he who worketh not is justified through believing is to say that his works, whatever they may be, have no influence in his justification, nor hath God in justifying him any respect to them.

Significance: John Owen quote reinforcing that works play no role in justification.

We're not justified based upon any of those things that have been wrought in us. We're justified only by the person of worker price whom he saved or whom he called the Bible that he justified.

Significance: Emphasizes that even internal graces like faith are not the ground of justification.

The doctrine of justification by faith is the article of the standing or the falling church.

Significance: Martin Luther quote underscoring the central importance of this doctrine.

Discussion Questions

How does understanding that justification is an act of God alone affect the way we view our own salvation and the salvation of others?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that only God's declaration matters, not human opinion.

What does it mean that grace is 'without a cause' in us, and how does this challenge common notions of fairness or merit?

Context: Weaver explains the Greek word for 'freely' and its implications.

Why is it important that God justifies sinners for His own sake rather than because of anything in us?

Context: Weaver cites Isaiah 43:25 and Psalm 106:8 to show God's motivation.

How do the examples of Abraham and David illustrate that justification is not based on personal righteousness?

Context: Weaver points out Abraham's idolatry and David's adultery and murder.

What is the difference between the negative and positive aspects of justification, and why are both necessary?

Context: Weaver explains pardon of sins and imputation of righteousness.

Why is it crucial to distinguish between the ground of justification (Christ's work) and the means (faith)?

Context: Weaver argues that faith is not the ground but the instrument.

How does the truth that we are justified solely by Christ's work affect our assurance and daily Christian living?

Context: Weaver concludes that God sees the believer as holy in Christ.

Applications

Rest in God's Declaration, Not Human Opinion

Summary: Since justification is God's act, believers should find assurance in His pronouncement rather than in the opinions of others or their own feelings.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'it matters not then what other people say, think, or feel. The only thing that counts is the declaration that God gives.'

Humility in Salvation

Summary: Recognizing that grace is 'without a cause' in us should produce deep humility, as we contributed nothing to our justification.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'there is absolutely nothing in man that attracts, that woos, that draws, that merits the grace of God.'

Hope for the Worst Sinners

Summary: Since God justifies the ungodly, no sinner is beyond the reach of His grace; this should encourage evangelism and personal hope.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'the greatest sin and the greatest sinner can be saved by the grace of God in Jesus Christ.'

Reject Works-Righteousness

Summary: Believers must not trust in their own obedience, repentance, or faith as the basis of their standing before God, but in Christ alone.

Evidence: Weaver warns, 'we're not justified by what we do... we're not saved by anything that is wrought by us.'

Praise God for His Sovereign Grace

Summary: Understanding that God justifies for His own sake should lead to worship and gratitude, not pride.

Evidence: Weaver prays, 'Enable us, Father, to praise Thee' after explaining God's motivation.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-04T17:49:39Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T20:24:12Z

Clean Transcript

Romans 8:28-39 Series - Part 10

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Romans 8, and let's begin reading there with verse 28. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate, to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified." We've been on Romans 8, verses 28, 29, and 30 for the last nine weeks, and I have been dealing, I hope, with this passage in detail. I hope you remember enough of it so I won't have to review everything. But the very first thing we looked at in Romans 8, verse 28, was the divine limitation that is on that verse, that all things do not work together for good for everyone, but for only to those that love God. I gave you, first of all, the foundation of this knowledge we know.
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It was based upon the expressed statements of Scripture and the experience of the saints. And then I showed you the fullness of this knowledge. We know that all things work together. I dealt with that. And then the features that are involved in this verse. Number one, them that love God. Number two, them that are called. And then I gave you a whole message as to why we know that everything works good. Because we are called according to His purpose. And then I dealt with being conformed to the image of Christ.
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And then I've been dealing with such words as foreknow and predestinate. And then the last time we began explaining the word justified down in verse 30. I told you that justification is a judicial term. It is a legal declaration. It is a declaration of the law court. And here's the definition that I gave you. "Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners in which He pardoned all their sins, accepted and accounted their persons righteous in His sight, not for anything wrought in them or done by them, but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ by God imputed to them and received by faith alone." Now, we began last time just to look at that definition, and I showed you the first point, and that was the author of justification. I said that justification is an act of God, and I went through the Bible and showed you where it is God who justifies.
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In fact, all you have to do actually is read verses 29 and 30. "For whom he," that is God, "did foreknow. He," God, "also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he," God, "did predestinate, them he," God, "also called, and whom he," God, "called, them he also justified." So justification is an act of God. Now, if justification is an act of God, it matters not then what other people say, think, or feel. The only thing that counts is the declaration that God gives. I have known Christians get so upset with a number of people, especially other professing Christian people, and may immediately come back and may say, well, that individual can't be saved. Well, it doesn't matter what your view or what your understanding of that other person's salvation is, if God has justified that individual, that individual is saved regardless of what you think.
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You understand what I'm saying? So man's determination and man's pronunciation does not affect the reality or the truth of justification. You could stand up here today and say, well, Brother Weaver, you're not saved. It doesn't matter what you say. It's what God says that counts. So whomever God justifies is really genuinely justified. So you could tell me, on the other hand, that you are justified. But in reality, if God has not pronounced you justified, no matter what you say, then you're not justified. So declaration must come from God. Now, we want to proceed today with the source of justification.
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Now, note if you would, back in your Bibles to Romans 3, because I told you earlier that justification is an act of God's free grace. Let me explain that. Look in Romans 3 and verse 24. The Bible says, "being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Now, wait a minute. Being justified freely by His grace. Someone has said that grace is unmerited favor.
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Let me go a little bit further. Grace is not only unmerited, it is also uninfluenced favor shown not only to the undeserving, but also to the hell-deserving. And neither human worthiness, nor works, nor will attracts it, nor the lack of them repels. So grace, then, is not just simply unmerited favor. It is undeserved favor to the positively hell-deserving.
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Now, the Bible says in verse 24, "being justified freely by His grace." Now, let me explain a term to you. It's very important that you catch hold of this term, because you will hear me say, you will hear other preachers say, we believe in free grace. In fact, there used to be a magazine entitled, The Free Grace Broadcaster. Well, what in the world does the term free grace mean? You see, after service today, Ed could take me out and buy my dinner, say, at the Holiday Inn. Thank you, Ed. And I could look around and say, hey everybody, I got a free meal. By that I mean it didn't cost me anything. You remember that? But now listen. That is not what free grace means. Free grace does not mean that it's like a free meal. Let me show you what it means. The Bible says in Romans chapter 3 and verse 24, "being justified freely by His grace." Now, look in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 15. John chapter 15. And note if you would, verse 25.
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John 15 verse 25. Jesus Christ says, John chapter 15 verse 25, "but this cometh to pass that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, they hated me without a cause." Now the phrase "without a cause" is exactly the same word that is translated "freely" in Romans chapter 3 and verse 24. So we could literally read Romans 3 and verse 24, "therefore being justified without a cause."
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In other words, there is absolutely nothing in man that draws forth and merits the grace of God. Just like there was nothing in Jesus Christ that drew forth and merited the hatred of men. So men hated Jesus Christ freely. They hated Him without a cause. So when God justifies us, He does so freely, that is, without a cause. In other words, there is absolutely nothing in man that attracts, that woos, that draws, that merits the grace of God in fact. There is everything in man that does just the opposite. There is everything in us that ought to repel and to drive away the grace of God in one sense of the word because we are positively wicked and ungodly in the sight of God. So free grace then means that grace comes unmoved, uncaused, solely from the pleasure of the God of all grace. So when we talk about free grace, we're saying man does not earn it, man does not merit it, man is not the moving or the motivating cause. Grace comes only at God's pleasure.
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In fact, the Bible, look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 5 and verse 21. He says this, "that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Now, if grace is reigning, that means grace is on the throne. That means grace is sovereign only because it belongs to the sovereign God of the universe. So if grace is sovereign, then it means it comes at its own imperial pleasure and not at the whim of man.
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Now, free grace is the very core of the gospel. Free grace is the only hope of fallen men. We have neither the slightest degree of merit nor ample price to purchase God's grace or God's salvation. So the Bible says we have been justified freely, or we have been justified without a cause.
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Now, let me ask you a question, just to get you thinking. Why did God forgive you of your sins? Now, don't answer out loud, but why did God forgive you of your sins? Someone will say, well, He forgave me because I asked Him. Well, why did you ask Him? Well, you say He forgave me because I repented. Well, why did you repent? Let me show you, ultimately, why God forgives anyone of his sins.
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Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Isaiah 43 and verse 25. Isaiah 43, verse 25. Notice, if you would, what the Bible says. Isaiah 43, verse 25. God says, "I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." Now why did God do it? For His own sake. Whatever God does is for His honor and for His glory. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Psalm 106. Psalm 106 and verse 8.
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You'll see this truth again. Psalm 106 and verse 8. In this passage, the Word of God says, "nevertheless He saved them for His namesake that He might make His mighty power to be known." So why did God save you? For His namesake. You remember the Bible says in Revelation 4 and verse 11 that God created all things for His own pleasure. So God then saves us for His own sake. He forgives our sins for His own sake. He justifies us for His own sake. So the source then of justification can be nothing other than the pleasure and the grace and the mercy of God. It is unmerited. It is uninfluenced. That's why we say being justified by His grace. Do you realize that God was not obligated to save anyone?
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God could have justly left every one of us to the strict condemnation of the law. You say, oh, God could not have done that. Well, He did so to the fallen angels. He did not provide salvation for them. He did not provide a Savior for them. He left the fallen angels to be doomed and damned for eternity, and He could have justly done the same to us, but He did not.
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That's what the Bible says there in Romans 8. Look at it in verse 32. Romans 8 verse 32, "He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?" I'm going to be preaching from this passage a little bit later, but note the question. He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
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God could have justly left us to ourselves, but he did not. Now, that's why the Bible says in Titus chapter 3, He says, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His own mercy He saved us." So it's not anything that we have done.
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Now, let me just try to delineate this for you. In what way can we say that justification is an act of God's unmerited and undeserved and free grace? Three ways chiefly. Number one, it was nothing but pure grace that God was willing to accept payment at the hand of a substitute.
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Now, let me explain that. Let's suppose that Anna owes me 500 bucks. And I come up to Anna and I say, Anna, I want my money. She says, Pastor Weaver, I don't have that money. But Anna, you promised me that you'd have my money today, and I want my money. But Pastor Weaver, I don't have that money. I'm saying, Anna, I'm very upset with you, and I'll tell you what I'm fixing to do. I'm fixing to beat you into the ground. She says, but I'm a woman. I don't care who you are. I'm going to beat you into the ground because you owe me that 500 bucks, and I'll pay 500 bucks. Now, she owes it to me. There's no problem there.
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But Sue comes along, and she hears me. And she says, Brother Weaver, are you angry with her? I very much so. She owes me 500 bucks and I need my money and I want my money and she doesn't have it and she won't give it to me. And I just told her I'm fixing to beat her in the ground. Sue says, Brother Weaver, you don't have to get upset. You don't have to hurt Anna. I will give you the 500 bucks for her.
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Now, let me ask you a question. Am I obligated to take the money from Sue that she's offered to give me for Anna, am I? No. Because Sue doesn't owe me. Anna owes me. And if I'm willing to take it from Sue and let Anna go, then it's nothing but grace. You see, we say we're saved by the work of Jesus Christ, and that's true. But Jesus Christ did not owe God the Father. We did. And the very fact that God was willing to accept payment at the hands of a substitute was nothing but pure grace. Secondly, it was wondrous grace, listen, it was wondrous grace that after God graciously accepted a substitute, that He Himself gave the substitute.
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Look at it back in Romans chapter 3 and verse 24. The Bible says, "being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation." So God not only agreed to accept payment at the hand of another, God also then provided the another to receive the payment at His hand. So God gave God to be our substitute. And then thirdly, it was an absolute amazing grace that God the Son, the substitute, was willing to take our place and be our surety.
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Now let me tell you something. There is no way in the world I can give you an illustration of this. But if you knew, if you knew, if you knew that I was fixing to go through some of the worst sufferings known to man physically, mentally, emotionally, even spiritually. If you knew that, and you knew all about those sufferings, and you came up to me, and if it were possible, you'd say, Brother Weaver, I'm going to take those sufferings for you. I'm going to go through that in your place. You don't have to.
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Would you be willing to do that? And most of you would say now, Brother Weaver, I love you, but not that much. You see, when Christ became our substitute, he knew exactly what he was going to have to suffer, because he was God. And he was willingly presenting himself to be our surety and our substitute. That's why the hymn writer wrote, "O to grace, how great a debtor, daily I am constrained to be. Let thy grace, Lord, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee." See, God did not have to accept a substitute, but he did. He did not have to provide that substitute, but he did. And that substitute did not have to come in our place, but he did. And so the source of justification is only the free grace of God. The author? God. The source? God's free grace. Justification is an act of God's free grace. Here's my third point. Unto sinners. That is, the subjects of justification. Now, who is it that God justifies? Not the godly, but sinners.
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Not the righteous, but sinners. Not the moral, but the immoral. Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners.
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Now, when you begin to consider the subjects of justification, you need to look at the subjects from three different perspectives. If you look back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8 and verse 33, first of all, you must look at the subjects of God's justification from the standpoint of God's decrees. If you look in Romans 8 and verse 33, you'll read this. "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?"
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"It is God that justifieth." So, from the standpoint of God's decrees, the subjects of justification are God's elect. Now listen. Secondly, from the standpoint of the quickening power of the Holy Spirit, the subject of God's justification would be those who believe. For instance, look in your Bibles to Acts chapter 13 and verse 39. Acts 13 verse 39. Here the Bible says this, "and by him," that is by Christ, "all that believe are justified from all things which you could not be justified by the law of Moses." Now look what he says, "and by him all that believe are justified." So from the standpoint of the quickening of the Holy Spirit, from the standpoint of the power and the grace and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who are the subjects of justification? It's those who believe. Now, from the standpoint of God's decrees, it's God's elect. From the standpoint of the work of the Holy Spirit, it's those who believe. But from the standpoint and from the perspective of what we are in ourselves, what is the answer?
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Well, look in your Bibles to the book of Romans 4 and verse 5. Here's the answer. "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Did you hear that? He says, "...but to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly." So it is not the godly that is justified, it is the ungodly. So when you begin to examine what the subjects are in and of themselves, they are the ungodly.
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In fact, they are classified as sinners. You remember Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1 through 3? We've read them many times. And you had the quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins. So what were we like? We were dead in trespasses and sins. And he goes on to say that we walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of this air.
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We are the ones that had our own way. We were the ones that were by nature the children of wrath. We were even as others, the children of wrath. But it is God that justifies the ungodly. Not the faithful, not the fruitful, not the righteous, not the moral, but the ungodly. Look in your Bibles to Romans 5 and verse 8. Romans 5 verse 8. "But God commended His love toward us," watch this, "in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Look in verse 10, "for if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." So God classifies us as sinners and as enemies.
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Now, who are the subjects of justification? Let's go back to our definition. Are you listening? Justification is the act of God's free grace unto sinners. Justification is the act of God's free grace unto sinners. Look back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 4 and verse 5. Look at what he says again. "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly." Let me give you a quote. John Owen, in explaining this phrase, "but to him that worketh not," he says this, quote, "to say he who worketh not is justified through believing is to say that his works, whatever they may be, have no influence in his justification, nor hath God in justifying him any respect to them. Wherefore, he alone who worketh not is the subject of justification, the person to be justified. That is, God considers no man's works, no man's duties of obedience in his justification, seeing we are justified freely by his grace." So the Bible says in verse 5, "but to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly."
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Now let me emphasize it again. It's not the obedient, but the disobedient. It's not the reconciled, but the unreconciled. It's not those who are submissive, but those who are rebels. It's not those who are loyal subjects, but those who are haters and despisers of God. Those who by their character, those who by their works demonstrate that they're worth and worthy of nothing but damnation. And yet God justifies the ungodly.
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Now in Romans chapter 4, he gives you two illustrations of this. Look in verse 1. "What shall we say, then, that Abraham, our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?" Now listen to that. "What shall we say, then, that Abraham, our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified of works, he hath whereof the glory, but not before God. For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness."
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Now let me ask you a question. When God found Abraham, and by the way, Abraham didn't find God. Abraham wasn't even looking for God. But when God came to Abraham, where was he? Remember? He was in Ur of the Chaldees. He was an idolater. He did not know God. God came to him and revealed himself and called him by his grace and said, get you out of your land and get away from your family. You get to the land that I'm going to show you up. So when God came to Abraham, Abraham was an absolute idolater.
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Look, if you would please, at verse six, here's another illustration. "Even as David also described it, the blessings of the man of whom God imputed righteous is without works. Saying, blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whom the Lord will not impute sin." Well, let's talk about David for a moment. Now, I know the Bible says that David was a man after God's own heart, after God's safety. But may I remind you that David was an adulterer. David was a murderer. And so here's a man that is an adulterer and God saves Abraham. Here's another man that is guilty and polluted and vile and God saves him.
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Very clearly, it's not anything done by them. It is nothing but God's free grace. You see, in this grace, God may justify even the very wicked, the most wicked sinner. You remember what Paul said in 1 Timothy 1, verse 15. "This is a worthy saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am what? Chief." So very clearly then, since justification is by God's grace, the subjects viewed in and of themselves are sinners, and God justifies them by His grace. So the gospel which proclaims the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ is distinguished from every other religion. How can it be distinguished from every other religion? Every other religion teaches morality in the sense that man must be moral in order to be saved. I don't care if it's Hinduism, Buddhism. I don't care what it is. You've got to do something or be something in order to be saved according to their religions. But it is God who justifies the ungodly. In other words, in Christianity, all the man has to be is a sinner.
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And I think that qualifies most people. Because this is a worthy saying, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. The greatest sin and the greatest sinner can be saved by the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Let me recite to you one of my favorite hymns.
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Now I want you to listen carefully. I only know the name of this hymn by the verse, Come Ye Sinners. Listen to the stanzas. "Come ye sinners, poor and wretched, weak and wounded, sick and sore. Jesus stands ready to save you, full of pity, joined with power. He is able, He is able, doubt no more. Let not conscience make you linger, nor fitness fondly dream. All the fitness He requires is to feel your need of Him."
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"This He gives you, this He gives you, tis the Spirit's rise and being. Lo, the incarnate God ascended, pleads the merit of His blood. Venture on him. Venture only. Let none other trust intrude. None but Jesus, none but Jesus can do helpless sinners good." Now listen to that. Come ye sinners, weak and wounded, poor and wretched, weak and wounded, sick and sore. Lords, you come like you are.
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Because Christ is the one that saves. Why? Because God justifies the ungodly. The author is God. The source is God's free grace. The subjects are sinners. Let me give you a fourth one, and that is the essence of justification. The essence of justification. Whenever you begin to talk about justification, inevitably, invariably, you've got to get to the question, what does it mean to be justified? Of what does it consist?
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What is it made up of? Let me give you this definition again. Listen carefully. Justification is the act of God's free grace unto sinners in which He pardoneth all their sins, accepteth and accounteth their persons righteous. So when you talk about justification, you're talking about more than forgiveness of sins. You see, justification actually has two parts. You could say there's a negative and there's a positive. The negative would be he gets rid of our sins or he pardons all of our sins. And the positive is he accepts us righteous in Jesus Christ. Now, you see, the individual who is justified sustained a two-fold relationship to God.
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First of all, he was a responsible creature under the law. And secondly, he was a guilty criminal having transgressed that law. But the criminality, but his criminality has not cancelled out his obligation to keep that law. Now, that means this. We're sinners, yes. But although we are criminal before God, we're still obligated before him. So consequently, justification has to have two parts.
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Now, let me try to explain it like this. On the one part, you have an acquittal from condemnation and from guilt. On the other part, you have a reception into God's favor. You have a standing before God. Let me go into a little further detail. Look in your Bibles to Acts 26, verse 18. Let me show you several passages. Acts 26, verse 18. Look, if you would please, at what the Apostle Paul says. Here is why God sent him, he says, "to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins," that's one part, "and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." That's the second part. So not only forgiveness of sins, but also an inheritance. Look back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 4 and verse 11. Romans 4. Notice, if you would please, verse 11. In Romans 4, verse 11, "and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had being yet uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised, that righteousness might be imputed unto them also."
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So there's a positive. Then look in the book of Titus, chapter 3. Titus chapter 3, note if you would please, Titus chapter 3 and verse 7. Titus chapter 3 verse 7. In fact let's begin reading at verse 5. I quoted this verse earlier. He says, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." So Christ has not only paid all of my debts, but he has also fulfilled and discharged all of my responsibilities.
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The law giver is the law fulfiller. Now, justification then is God's verdict. Justification is God's pronouncement. Justification is God saying, I only forgive the sins. But I'm going to give a perfect righteousness, which I'm going to explain just shortly. And there is going to be not only a negative, but a positive. We're not only going to receive forgiveness of sins, but we're going to receive an inheritance in them that are sanctified, says the Apostle Paul, by the faith that is in me. So Jesus Christ then has not only died and forgiven me of my sins, but he's also given me a perfect righteousness. He's fulfilled my responsibility before the law.
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Now, let's go on to the one other point today, and that is the ground of justification. What is the ground of justification? Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners, which he pardoned all their sins, accepted and accounted their persons righteous in his sight. And here's the ground. Listen carefully. "not for anything wrought in them or done by them, but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ."
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Now, I think I mentioned this several weeks ago, but I want to mention it again because it's very important. I told you that there are degrees in sanctification. We have a perfect sanctification that's in Christ. There are no degrees in that. But practically speaking, there are degrees in sanctification. I mean, I may be more sanctified than Tony. I may be more holy, more obedient than Tony is. Tony may be more obedient and holy than Don is. Don may be more obedient, holy than Henry is.
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You follow what I'm saying? There are degrees in sanctification. But there are no degrees in justification. You and I are equally just as justified as the Apostle Paul. The Apostle John. There are no degrees in justification. I think I said it like this. Justification is like being pregnant. Either you are or you ain't, there's no in-between. And when you're justified, you are totally, fully justified. And I want you to note, first of all, the ground of justification. God gives us a negative, and I'm going to show it to you in the Bible.
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But our definition says this, "not for any works done by them." Now please understand, we are never ever justified by works. Now remember, I just read Titus 3.5, "not by works of righteousness which we have done." There is a negation. Look in your Bibles to Romans 3.28 since we're there. Look at it. Here it is, black and white. Romans 3.28. He says, "therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith." Watch.
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"without the deeds of the law." You're not justified by works. Look in your Bibles to the book of Galatians 2, verse 16. Here is a passage that is exceedingly clear. No one can deny this one. Galatians 2, verse 16. Paul says, "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." So very clearly, justification is not by the works of the law. I met a man years ago, and he was an older man.
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I enjoyed talking to him because he lived through the Great Depression. He could give you information that you just could not get anywhere else. But I witnessed to him because I did not believe the man was a Christian. And he told me that he was all right and that he was going to get in heaven. And I asked him upon what basis did he believe he was going to see the Lord?
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And he said, well, I don't beat my wife. I pay my bills and I treat my neighbor right. And I had to respectfully look at him and say, sir, you're lost. That will never, ever get you in the presence of God. It will never do it. Because we're not justified by what we do. You see, let's suppose, let's suppose Britt could be perfect from this day forward. He never ever committed another sin. Mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically, he was perfect from this day forward. Would that get him into the presence of God? No. Because what about all those sins he committed before he got perfect? You see, there's no provision made for previous sins and previous failures. And a fallen, sinful creature can never, ever give to God that perfection that God demands.
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In fact, you remember what He said in Isaiah 64 and verse 6, "all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." We're all as an unclean thing in His sight. And if it were possible to be saved by our works, then Christ died in vain. Don't you listen? We're not saved by anything that is wrought by us. Okay? Now, listen carefully. Nor are we saved or justified by anything that is wrought in us. Hang on. Hang on.
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You're going to hear me say this again. A man may be justified by faith and through faith and in faith, but never because of faith. Faith is something that is wrought in you. Faith is not the grounds of justification. Now listen to me. It is true that every saved individual repents. But you are not saved, nor are you justified because of your repentance. Repentance is something that is wrought in you.
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It is put in you. It is worked in you. It is God who worketh in you, both to will and do His good pleasure. It is true that God's people are obedient, but obedience does not justify us. Obedience is something that is wrought in us. You say, well, Brother Weaver, what is the ground of our justification? I just gave you the negatives. They brought by us or anything brought in us. But here's the positive. It is for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Jesus Christ. You get that? Jesus Christ and his work is the ground for our justification. The ground for our justification is wholly, completely, and totally outside of ourselves. The ground of our justification is the person and work of Christ and only Christ. It is not Christ plus our faith. It is not Christ plus our repentance. No, it is only Christ. We are justified only by the righteousness of Jesus Christ. It is His perfect righteousness that justifies us. His work. Not anything that we have done, or not anything that has been done in us.
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It is Christ who died to satisfy the demands of God's holy law. It is Christ who died to satisfy the wrath and the anger of God. So we're justified by Christ alone. Look in your Bible to John chapter 17. John chapter 17. John chapter 17. I wanted to finish this message today, but I don't think there's any way. But look at it. In John 17 verse 19, look what Jesus Christ said. Jesus Christ says, "and for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." For their sakes I sanctify myself. In other words, we are justified based upon the personal work of Christ. Look in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews chapter 13. And look, if you would please, at verse 10. He says, "We have an altar for if they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle." Now, wait a minute. Remember, the tabernacle was an emblem. It was a symbol. It was a type. Now, he says, if you want to go back to the Old Testament types and shadows, you don't have any right to our true author, which is Jesus Christ.
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He says in verse 11, "for the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin are burned without the camp." Watch. "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." Why did Christ suffer? That he might be our justification. That he might not only pay our sin debt, but give us a perfect righteousness as well. Now listen to me.
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Every sinner is declared righteous before God that is saved. Every sinner is declared righteous only because of the person and work of Christ. I want to explain this next week. Are you listening? It is not my faith that saves me. Although I am saved by faith, it is Christ who saves me. Faith is just the means to get to Christ. You follow that? I'm going to explain it more next week, but let me tell you, we're justified not for anything that we've done, not for anything that's brought in us, but only based upon the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is true that we have faith, but God gave us that.
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That is something that has been worked in us. It is true God gave us repentance. That is something that has been worked in us. It is true God has given us obedience. That is something that has been worked in us. We're not justified based upon any of those things that have been wrought in us. We're justified only by the person of worker price whom he saved or whom he called the Bible that he justified.
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Let me give it to you like this. Here is God's law. I'll explain it more next week, but here's God's law. Here's what God does. God looks at his law and smiles, because that law is an expression of his holy will. And the law, according to Romans 7 in verse 12, is holy and just and good. And then God looks at the sinner and frowns. Why? Because the sinner is unholy, unjust, and wicked. Now, in justification, and I'll explain it more next week. I'm repeatedly saying that. In justification, what God does is this. God looks at His law and smiles.
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Because He's satisfied with it. It's holy, just, and good. And now He looks at the sinner who is in Jesus Christ and smiles. Because that sinner is holy, just, and good in Jesus Christ. Because of what Christ has done. Not because the sinner repented. That was something wrought in him. The sinner would have never repented had God not given him repentance. Not because the sinner believed. The sinner would have never believed had God not given him faith. Not because the sinner obeyed. The sinner would have never obeyed had God not given him obedience. But God is pleased with him because of what his son did. And as son, fulfill the law of God perfectly to give us a perfect righteousness. So we're justified based solely upon the person and work of Jesus Christ. Let's pray.
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Father, we thank Thee for Your love. We thank Thee for Your grace. Help us, Lord, to live for Thee. Help us to understand, Lord, as Martin Luther did indeed say, the doctrine of justification by faith is the article of the standing or the falling church. And to the degree that we understand this doctrine, to the degree, Lord, that we're going to live holy and godly lives and give Thee the honor and the glory for that which Thou hast wrought in our lives. Enable us, Father, to praise Thee.
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In the name of Jesus Christ we ask it. Amen. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-04T17:49:39Z

Romans 8:28-39 Series - Part 10

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver continues his detailed exposition of Romans 8:28-30, focusing on the doctrine of justification. He defines justification as an act of God's free grace unto sinners, emphasizing that it is God alone who justifies, based solely on the person and work of Christ, not on anything done by or wrought in the sinner. The sermon explores the author, source, subjects, essence, and ground of justification, underscoring that it is a legal declaration where God pardons sin and imputes Christ's righteousness, received by faith alone.

Introduction and Review

Romans 8, and let's begin reading there with verse 28.

Scripture Reading — Romans 8:28-30

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate, to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

The Author of Justification

Justification is an act of God alone, as seen in Romans 8:29-30. Man's opinion does not affect the reality of God's declaration; only God's pronouncement matters.

The Source of Justification: God's Free Grace

Scripture Reading — Romans 3:24

"being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

In fact, the Bible, look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 5 and verse 21. He says this,

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:21

"that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

Grace is Sovereign and for God's Own Sake

Grace reigns sovereignly and is given for God's own sake, as seen in Isaiah 43:25 and Psalm 106:8. God was not obligated to save anyone, yet He chose to do so for His name's sake.

In fact, the Bible, look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 5 and verse 21. He says this,

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:21

"that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Isaiah 43 and verse 25. Isaiah 43, verse 25. Notice, if you would, what the Bible says. Isaiah 43, verse 25. God says,

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 43:25

"I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."

Now why did God do it? For His own sake. Whatever God does is for His honor and for His glory. Look in your Bibles, if you would, to Psalm 106. Psalm 106 and verse 8.

You'll see this truth again. Psalm 106 and verse 8. In this passage, the Word of God says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 106:8

"nevertheless He saved them for His namesake that He might make His mighty power to be known."

Three Ways Justification is Free Grace

Weaver illustrates three aspects: God's willingness to accept a substitute, God providing the substitute Himself, and Christ willingly taking our place. All demonstrate pure, unmerited grace.

The Subjects of Justification: Sinners

God justifies the ungodly, not the righteous. From God's decrees, the subjects are the elect; from the Spirit's work, believers; but in themselves, they are sinners, enemies, and rebels.

Scripture Reading — Romans 5:8, 10

Now, who are the subjects of justification? Let's go back to our definition. Are you listening? Justification is the act of God's free grace unto sinners. Justification is the act of God's free grace unto sinners. Look back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 4 and verse 5. Look at what he says again. "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly." Let me give you a quote. John Owen, in explaining this phrase, "but to him that worketh not," he says this, quote, "to say he who worketh not is justified through believing is to say that his works, whatever they may be, have no influence in his justification, nor hath God in justifying him any respect to them. Wherefore, he alone who worketh not is the subject of justification, the person to be justified. That is, God considers no man's works, no man's duties of obedience in his justification, seeing we are justified freely by his grace." So the Bible says in verse 5, "but to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly."

Biblical Illustrations: Abraham and David

Abraham was an idolater and David an adulterer and murderer when God justified them, proving that justification is not based on works but on God's grace toward sinners.

The Essence of Justification: Pardon and Imputed Righteousness

Justification has two parts: the negative (pardon of sins) and the positive (imputation of Christ's righteousness). It is a complete legal standing before God, not just forgiveness.

Scripture Reading — Acts 26:18

"to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins,"

that's one part,

Scripture Reading — Acts 26:18

"and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."

The Ground of Justification: Christ Alone

Justification is not based on anything done by us or wrought in us (faith, repentance, obedience), but solely on the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Jesus Christ.

Christ's Work as the Sole Basis

Using John 17:19 and Hebrews 13:10-12, Weaver emphasizes that Christ's sanctifying work and blood are the ground of our justification. Faith is the means, not the ground.

Scripture Reading — John 17:19

"and for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth."

Conclusion and Illustration

Weaver illustrates how God's view of the sinner changes in justification: the sinner in Christ is seen as holy, just, and good because of Christ's work, not because of any internal change.

Romans 8:28-39 Series - Part 10

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	3110717286
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Assurance, Providence, and Life in the Spirit: Romans 8:28-39
Genre	Sermon
Date	1999-09-05
Dictation Name
Book	Book 169: Romans 8:28-39 — Chapter 10
Source Timed Segments	64

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review: Weaver reviews the previous nine weeks of teaching on Romans 8:28-30, highlighting the divine limitation, the foundation of knowledge, and the features of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
The Author of Justification: Justification is an act of God alone, as seen in Romans 8:29-30. Man's opinion does not affect the reality of God's declaration; only God's pronouncement matters.
The Source of Justification: God's Free Grace: Justification is an act of God's free grace, meaning it is unmerited and uninfluenced favor. Using Romans 3:24 and John 15:25, Weaver explains that 'freely' means 'without a cause'—nothing in man attracts God's grace.
Grace is Sovereign and for God's Own Sake: Grace reigns sovereignly and is given for God's own sake, as seen in Isaiah 43:25 and Psalm 106:8. God was not obligated to save anyone, yet He chose to do so for His name's sake.
Three Ways Justification is Free Grace: Weaver illustrates three aspects: God's willingness to accept a substitute, God providing the substitute Himself, and Christ willingly taking our place. All demonstrate pure, unmerited grace.
The Subjects of Justification: Sinners: God justifies the ungodly, not the righteous. From God's decrees, the subjects are the elect; from the Spirit's work, believers; but in themselves, they are sinners, enemies, and rebels.
Biblical Illustrations: Abraham and David: Abraham was an idolater and David an adulterer and murderer when God justified them, proving that justification is not based on works but on God's grace toward sinners.
The Essence of Justification: Pardon and Imputed Righteousness: Justification has two parts: the negative (pardon of sins) and the positive (imputation of Christ's righteousness). It is a complete legal standing before God, not just forgiveness.
The Ground of Justification: Christ Alone: Justification is not based on anything done by us or wrought in us (faith, repentance, obedience), but solely on the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Jesus Christ.
Christ's Work as the Sole Basis: Using John 17:19 and Hebrews 13:10-12, Weaver emphasizes that Christ's sanctifying work and blood are the ground of our justification. Faith is the means, not the ground.
Conclusion and Illustration: Weaver illustrates how God's view of the sinner changes in justification: the sinner in Christ is seen as holy, just, and good because of Christ's work, not because of any internal change.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Justification is a legal declaration by God alone

Since justification is God's act, human opinions or self-declarations are irrelevant; only God's pronouncement determines one's justified state.

Weaver says, 'if God has justified that individual, that individual is saved regardless of what you think... declaration must come from God.'

Grace is 'without a cause' in man

The Greek word for 'freely' in Romans 3:24 means 'without a cause,' indicating that nothing in man merits God's grace.

Weaver states, 'we could literally read Romans 3 and verse 24, "therefore being justified without a cause."'

God justifies for His own sake

God's motivation for justification is His own glory and name's sake, not any obligation to man.

Weaver cites Isaiah 43:25: 'I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake.'

The subjects of justification are sinners in themselves

Though elect from God's decree and believers by the Spirit's work, in themselves the justified are ungodly, disobedient, and rebels.

Weaver says, 'it's not the obedient, but the disobedient. It's not the reconciled, but the unreconciled... God justifies the ungodly.'

Justification is not by works or internal graces

Neither external works nor internal graces like faith or repentance are the ground of justification; Christ's work alone is the basis.

Weaver argues, 'we're not justified based upon any of those things that have been wrought in us. We're justified only by the person of worker price.'

Scripture References

Romans 8:28-30: The primary text of the series, read at the opening, outlining the chain of salvation from foreknowledge to glorification.
Romans 3:24: Used to show that justification is 'freely by His grace,' meaning without cause in man.
John 15:25: Cited to explain that 'freely' means 'without a cause,' as in the world's hatred of Christ.
Romans 5:21: Used to illustrate that grace reigns sovereignly, like a king on a throne.
Isaiah 43:25: Shows that God blots out transgressions for His own sake, not because of human merit.
Psalm 106:8: Demonstrates that God saves for His name's sake, to make His power known.
Romans 8:33: Indicates that the subjects of justification from God's decree are His elect.
Acts 13:39: Shows that from the standpoint of the Spirit's work, all who believe are justified.
Romans 4:5: Key verse stating that God justifies the ungodly, not the worker.
Romans 5:8, 10: Emphasizes that Christ died for us while we were still sinners and enemies.
Romans 4:1-3: Illustrates that Abraham was justified by faith, not works, when he was an idolater.
Romans 4:6-8: David, an adulterer and murderer, is blessed because God imputes righteousness without works.
1 Timothy 1:15: Paul calls himself the chief of sinners, illustrating that the worst sinners can be justified.
Acts 26:18: Shows the twofold blessing: forgiveness of sins and inheritance among the sanctified.
Romans 4:11: Speaks of righteousness being imputed, the positive aspect of justification.
Titus 3:5-7: Justification is by grace, making us heirs according to the hope of eternal life, not by works.
Romans 3:28: Concludes that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Galatians 2:16: Clearly states that no flesh is justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Christ.
John 17:19: Christ sanctified Himself for our sakes, indicating His work is the ground of our justification.
Hebrews 13:10-12: Jesus suffered outside the gate to sanctify the people with His own blood, the basis of justification.

Historical References

John Owen: Weaver quotes John Owen's explanation of Romans 4:5, emphasizing that God considers no man's works in justification.
Martin Luther: Weaver references Luther's statement that the doctrine of justification by faith is the article of the standing or falling church.

Important Quotes

Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sinners in which He pardoned all their sins, accepted and accounted their persons righteous in His sight, not for anything wrought in them or done by them, but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ by God imputed to them and received by faith alone.

This is Weaver's full definition of justification, which he unpacks throughout the sermon.

I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Scripture quote used to show God's motivation is His own glory, not human worthiness.

It is not the godly that is justified, it is the ungodly.

Succinctly states the counterintuitive nature of justification's subjects.

To say he who worketh not is justified through believing is to say that his works, whatever they may be, have no influence in his justification, nor hath God in justifying him any respect to them.

John Owen quote reinforcing that works play no role in justification.

We're not justified based upon any of those things that have been wrought in us. We're justified only by the person of worker price whom he saved or whom he called the Bible that he justified.

Emphasizes that even internal graces like faith are not the ground of justification.

The doctrine of justification by faith is the article of the standing or the falling church.

Martin Luther quote underscoring the central importance of this doctrine.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does understanding that justification is an act of God alone affect the way we view our own salvation and the salvation of others?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that only God's declaration matters, not human opinion.

[Question]

What does it mean that grace is 'without a cause' in us, and how does this challenge common notions of fairness or merit?

[Context]

Weaver explains the Greek word for 'freely' and its implications.

[Question]

Why is it important that God justifies sinners for His own sake rather than because of anything in us?

[Context]

Weaver cites Isaiah 43:25 and Psalm 106:8 to show God's motivation.

[Question]

How do the examples of Abraham and David illustrate that justification is not based on personal righteousness?

[Context]

Weaver points out Abraham's idolatry and David's adultery and murder.

[Question]

What is the difference between the negative and positive aspects of justification, and why are both necessary?

[Context]

Weaver explains pardon of sins and imputation of righteousness.

[Question]

Why is it crucial to distinguish between the ground of justification (Christ's work) and the means (faith)?

[Context]

Weaver argues that faith is not the ground but the instrument.

[Question]

How does the truth that we are justified solely by Christ's work affect our assurance and daily Christian living?

[Context]

Weaver concludes that God sees the believer as holy in Christ.

Applications

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