24 … but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,
25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
Romans 5:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
God’s Plan for Humanity
Sacrifice -> Forgiveness -> Restoration of the Relationship.
People waited outside of the Temple was asking: Did God accept our sacrifices?
JUSTIFICATION
“The sinner's justification is confirmed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Only by His resurrection can the believer have confidence that God was satisfied with the sacrifice Christ had made in his behalf. Indeed, the new birth is said to be accomplished because of His resurrection”. 1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”.
(Foundations of Pentecostal Theology)
REGENERATION AND JUSTIFICATION
“Regeneration has to do with the change of the believer's nature;
JUSTIFICATION: THE MEANING
“It is a change in a man's relation or standing before God. It has to do with relations that have been disturbed by sin, and these relations are personal. It is a change from guilt and condemnation to acquittal and acceptance. (The Great Doctrines of the Bible)
In a simple way…
In Criminal Law we have: Guilty or Not Guilty (innocent)
But the Bible says that nobody is innocent…
Romans 3:10-18 (NKJV)
10 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."
13 "Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit"; "The poison of asps is under their lips";
14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."
15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known."
18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Justification is forgiveness.
The person is guilty of sins… But God accepts him/her, after repentance, to have a new relationship with Him. We are guilty but forgiven!
IN THE WORLD
1.Rejection
2.Abandonment
3.Hopelessness
4.Desperation
JESUS CHRIST, OUR HOPE…
- Jesus’ parents were rejected by people of Bethlehem
- After Jesus’ birth, they fled to Egypt, becoming refugees
- Jesus was rejected by the priests, it means, by the God’s chosen people who serve Him.
- Jesus was arrested, beaten and crucified. Abandoned by his friends and disciples.
- At the cross, Jesus experienced the abandonment that the sin causes before God:
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?“ Matthew 27:46 (NKJV)
HOWEVER…
When Jesus was raised from the dead, He continues to look after His disciples, showing them His love … Matthew 28:10 (NKJV)
10 Then Jesus said to them (the women), "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."
PETER’S RESTORATION John 21:15-17 (NKJV)
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me (greek: agapaō) more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You (greek: phileō)." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me (greek: agapaō)?"
He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You (greek: phileō)." ." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me (greek: phileō)?"
Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me (greek: phileō)?" And he said to Him,
"Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You (greek: phileō)." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
* greek: agapaō = to love. Unconditional love
* greek: phileō = to be a friend
Peter revealed his weakness, then Jesus accepted him back:
a) Restoring Peter’s relationship with Him
b) Calling Peter to a mission: Feed my sheep
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