Tag Archives: Justification

CHRIST, the End of the Law: Present 1

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

This verse does not only have a dimension that pertains to the past, but also has an aspect that pertains to the present for the believing saint in Christ. PRESENT: When we say that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness in the present tense, we mean that Christ is the fulfillment of the law, which happens in every believing saint’s life at the moment of salvation, and also continues as an on-going process until the return of Jesus Christ. Although it does contain more than we will cover here, this present fulfillment has two distinct and important features: (1) Justification; and (2) Sanctification. Continue reading →

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Christian Behavior 31

Posted on July 24, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

“…so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.”

─Titus 3:7-8, NASB

THIRD. Observe. Every believer should not only take heed that his works are good, and so for the present time do them, but should carefully study to maintain them; that is, to keep in a continual exercise of them. Continue reading →

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The Supremacy of Christ’s Cross

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

“The law of God was more vindicated by the death of Christ than it would have been had all transgressors been sent to Hell. For the Son of God to suffer for sin was a more glorious establishment of the government of God, than for the whole race to suffer.” Continue reading →

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Three Controversial Chapters

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?” —Romans 11:33-34

There should be no doubt that Romans 9, 10, 11 are three very controversial chapters; perhaps, these days, three of the most controversial chapters in scripture. So controversial, in fact, there are some ministers that avoid these three chapters of scripture altogether. I’ve heard of one minister who, preaching expositionally through the book of Romans, stopped at the end of Romans 8, delivered a few topical messages and never returned to finish the rest of the epistle. I heard of another pastor who preached verse-by-verse through the epistle; and after finishing Romans 8, skipped over the next three chapters, and resumed his preaching in Romans 12. Yet, as the apostle told the Ephesians elders, how he did not hesitate or shrink back from declaring unto them all the counsel of God (Acts 20:27), we likewise should heed that directive as the Lord’s command to preach and teach the whole plan and purpose of God from the scriptures, according to the scriptures.
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The Golden Chain of Redemption – Part Two

Posted on May 6, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

“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.” —Romans 8:29-30

Romans 8:29-30 is often referred to as “The Golden Chain of Salvation” or “The Order of Salvation.” Yesterday, we looked at the first portion of our text, Romans 8:29. Today, we will look at the second portion of our text, Romans 8:30.
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Jesus Manifesto – a book review

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God…. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;” —1 Corinthians 1:18, 23

When the word manifesto is used these days, one can either think of Francis Schaeffer (A Christian Manifesto), or perhaps Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones (An Emergent Manifesto of Hope), or even Karl Marx (Manifesto of the Communist Party). Coming to you from Thomas Nelson publishers on June 1, 2010 is the collaborative writing effort of Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola, Jesus Manifesto: Restoring the Supremacy and Sovereignty of Jesus Christ. Continue reading →

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Roman Catholic Embrace Denies Justification by Grace

Posted on April 21, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

“And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” —Genesis 3:7

Just checking out some of the blogs and current articles on the move at Technorati today, I happened to notice this under the Religion section of Technorati’s “Living” category. Continue reading →

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My Wrestlings: Laws at War

Posted on March 31, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

“But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” —Romans 7:23

I perceive a different law in my members. “Another law” is translated from the Greek words ετερον νομον (heteron nomon), meaning “different law.” Does that mean that God has given another or a different law than that, which is understood in Scripture? No, I suggest that what Paul sees as a disciple of Christ, what you and I perceive, is a different dimension of the law, because now, in Christ, the statutes of God have been put in our inward parts, written in our new hearts given us by God’s grace (Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:26-27). So, what is this different law in my members? Continue reading →

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My Wrestlings: I Find a Law

Posted on March 30, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

“I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:” —Romans 7:21, 22

The word “law” in Romans 7:21-23 presents many facets and dimensions of God’s law as it pertains to the sinner saved by grace. Because we are “dead to the law” (Romans 7:4) as Christian disciples, some may want to refer to “law” as merely principles of truth. It would not be wrong to define “law” in this way, as principles of truth, for so they are; yet, they are also more than that. Continue reading →

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My Reality: Hating My Actions

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Jon J. Cardwell

“Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” —Romans 7:17, 18

Here is a place where we must not forget from where we came, and with what we have been previously taught. Though I am dead to the law and resurrected unto Christ, the law is unchanging as a standard of God, made even more visible and apparent through the perfect obedience and righteousness of Christ, wherein the law has been fulfilled. As my saved soul has been declared justified, having my sins imputed to Christ as the perfect sacrifice for sins, and having Christ’s righteousness accounted to me, I still have mortal flesh because I am sold under sin (Romans 7:14). Understanding this, the apostle reminds me, “Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.” Continue reading →

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