John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

I have been reading volumes on justification and it seems right to me to put this important issue in the simplest of terms. In the war over the soul of mankind Jesus Crhist won the war.

Do you want to be on the winning side? It is as simple as that.

Romans 3:25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Propitiation boils down to God’s acceptable substitute to set aside the death penalty for sin. The Old Testament vision of that substitution is viewed in the blood of the sacrifice being sprinkled on the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant. The Mercy Seat in place keeps the wrath of God from being exacted in the world.

Receiving Christ’s atoning work on the Cross by faith places us in a state of grace where our sins are passed over without being seen.

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”

The essence of this verse is that come judgment day God will see that we have been covered by the Blood of Jesus and sees that His Son has died for us.

I like simple terms for understanding. Are we guilty of His blood or are we covered by His blood?

There is a myriad of teachings about how and why God justifies His decision to set aside our sins come judgment day.

Romans 3:26 It was to show his (Jesus Christ) righteousness at the present time, so that he (God the Father) might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

If we are justified by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, we are now on the winning side.

Now we live by faith and that is a whole new set of teachings to discuss.

Class is not dismissed.

Deuteronomy 32:2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: (KJV)

Deuteronomy 32:2 May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb. (ESV)

My doctrine is one word Strong’s leqach, leh’-kakh; from H3947; properly, something received, i.e. (mentally) instruction (whether on the part of the teacher or hearer); also (in an active and sinister sense) inveiglement:—doctrine, learning, fair speech.

My speech is one word Strong’s ʼimrâh, im-raw’; or אֶמְרָה ʼemrâh; feminine of H561, and meaning the same:—commandment, speech, word.

What is the meaning of Inveiglement?

According to Webster: to entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk or inducements

Rain can cause a flood of information. Dew on the other hand covers us with gentleness.

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Hebrews 1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

He has spoken to us as the dew, covering us in gentleness.

In short, doctrine is instruction, not commandment. Doctrine is meant to bring understanding but who teaches and how it is taught can be an inveiglement, which is influence but should never be considered to be His speech. His speech is a commandment, which is delivered to us by faith  through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Confused? Welcome to the club.

Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

This is why no teacher should be allowed to teach without being examined thoroughly to determine the soundness of his doctrine according to tenets of the church.

Titus 1:9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.