It has been brought to my attention that on an Expositor Podcast, I made a statement that justification is “paperwork” in heaven. That was a poor  choice of words that comes across in a dismissive manner of this glorious doctrine that is the heart of the gospel. As I spoke extemporaneously without notes, I searched for an analogy without giving previous forethought. In the spur of the moment, my spontaneous words fell short of the mark. If I have caused confusion or offense, I apologize. I want to clarify and reaffirm what I have taught many times for half a century. Justification is a forensic declaration by God that imputes the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ to the one who believes in Him. This judicial pronouncement immediately and eternally affects the believer’s standing before God. This is the glory of the gospel. Apart from any human works or self-merit, God makes the forensic declaration that the believer is given a right standing before Him and full acceptance with Him. In justification, God clothes the believer with the perfect righteousness of Christ. He credits or reckons the righteousness of Christ to the one who believes in Him. Previously under divine wrath, there is now no condemnation for the believer because of this core truth of justification by faith alone. Concerning one’s daily life, it is regeneration that gives new life in Christ. The new birth gives a new heart, new mind, new affections, and a new disposition. In the one who is born again, God produces a radical change in the human nature. This includes definitive sanctification, which leads to lifelong progressive sanctification. The divine act of regeneration gives eternal life to the spiritually dead soul. It is the beginning of a new life that changes one’s daily walk in sanctification. To be clear, justification declares the guilty sinner who believes in Christ to be righteous, but it does not infuse righteousness into the believer. Justification is not a divine work in us, but one that is pronounced about us. Regeneration and sanctification is the work of God in us that radically changes how we live our daily life. Justification affects my eternal standing before God, while regeneration and sanctification affects my daily walk with Christ. In the links below, you will find links for what I have taught over an extended period of time: In Exposition:Romans 1: The Gospel Preaching of the Apostle PaulRomans 1, Galatians 1: The Reformation Was the Recovery of the Gospel Romans 1:17: The Just Will Live By FaithRomans 3:21-26, Romans 8:1: Justification!Romans 3:21-24: The God of JustificationRomans 8:29-30: The Sovereignty of Salvation, Part 21 Corinthians 1, Romans 1: The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon2 Corinthians 5:21: The Great ExchangeGalatians 3, Romans 8: Justification by Faith AloneGalatians 3:6-14: Justification by Faith AloneGalatians 4:4-5 No Hope Without It2022 G3 Regional Conference: JustificationIn Bible Study:Romans 1:17: Sola Fide: The Centerpiece of the ReformationRomans 3:21-26: The Heart of the GospelRomans 3:27-31 Three Great Implications  Romans 4:1-8: Abraham, Paul, and DavidRomans 4:9-17: Getting the Gospel RightRomans 4:18-25: The Nature of Saving FaithRomans 4:23-25: The God who SavesRomans 5:1 Explaining the Benefits, Part IRomans 8:1-4 Life in the SpiritGod's Golden Chain of Salvation, Part IVRegeneration and Conversion: An Immediate Work of God, I (OT Survey)The Bold Preaching of Martin LutherThe Heart of the GospelThe Reformers III The Road to the Reformation: Wycliffe to LutherIn Print:Phillipians for You: Chapter 10, The Great change pg: 159-161Root & Fruit: Harmonizing Paul and James on JustificationThe Heroic Boldness of Martin Luther

It has been brought to my attention that on an Expositor Podcast, I made a statement that justification is “paperwork” in heaven. That was a poor  choice of words that comes across in a dismissive manner of this glorious doctrine that is the heart of the gospel. As I spoke extemporaneously without notes, I searched for an analogy without giving previous forethought. In the spur of the moment, my spontaneous words fell short of the mark. If I have caused confusion or offense, I apologize. I want to clarify and reaffirm what I have taught many times for half a century. Justification is a forensic declaration by God that imputes the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ to the one who believes in Him. This judicial pronouncement immediately and eternally affects the believer’s standing before God. This is the glory of the gospel. Apart from any human works or self-merit, God makes the forensic declaration that the believer is given a right standing before Him and full acceptance with Him. In justification, God clothes the believer with the perfect righteousness of Christ. He credits or reckons the righteousness of Christ to the one who believes in Him. Previously under divine wrath, there is now no condemnation for the believer because of this core truth of justification by faith alone. Concerning one’s daily life, it is regeneration that gives new life in Christ. The new birth gives a new heart, new mind, new affections, and a new disposition. In the one who is born again, God produces a radical change in the human nature. This includes definitive sanctification, which leads to lifelong progressive sanctification. The divine act of regeneration gives eternal life to the spiritually dead soul. It is the beginning of a new life that changes one’s daily walk in sanctification. To be clear, justification declares the guilty sinner who believes in Christ to be righteous, but it does not infuse righteousness into the believer. Justification is not a divine work in us, but one that is pronounced about us. Regeneration and sanctification is the work of God in us that radically changes how we live our daily life. Justification affects my eternal standing before God, while regeneration and sanctification affects my daily walk with Christ. In the links below, you will find links for what I have taught over an extended period of time: In Exposition:Romans 1: The Gospel Preaching of the Apostle PaulRomans 1, Galatians 1: The Reformation Was the Recovery of the Gospel Romans 1:17: The Just Will Live By FaithRomans 3:21-26, Romans 8:1: Justification!Romans 3:21-24: The God of JustificationRomans 8:29-30: The Sovereignty of Salvation, Part 21 Corinthians 1, Romans 1: The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon2 Corinthians 5:21: The Great ExchangeGalatians 3, Romans 8: Justification by Faith AloneGalatians 3:6-14: Justification by Faith AloneGalatians 4:4-5 No Hope Without It2022 G3 Regional Conference: JustificationIn Bible Study:Romans 1:17: Sola Fide: The Centerpiece of the ReformationRomans 3:21-26: The Heart of the GospelRomans 3:27-31 Three Great Implications  Romans 4:1-8: Abraham, Paul, and DavidRomans 4:9-17: Getting the Gospel RightRomans 4:18-25: The Nature of Saving FaithRomans 4:23-25: The God who SavesRomans 5:1 Explaining the Benefits, Part IRomans 8:1-4 Life in the SpiritGod's Golden Chain of Salvation, Part IVRegeneration and Conversion: An Immediate Work of God, I (OT Survey)The Bold Preaching of Martin LutherThe Heart of the GospelThe Reformers III The Road to the Reformation: Wycliffe to LutherIn Print:Phillipians for You: Chapter 10, The Great change pg: 159-161Root & Fruit: Harmonizing Paul and James on JustificationThe Heroic Boldness of Martin Luther

How should the expositor begin to develop a good introduction?

Why is it important to have a good sermon outline?

How long should we spend in sermon preparation?

Every expositor needs to properly use systematic theology in their preaching.

How does the preacher deal with pride in his own heart?

Why is it important for the expositor to have a good introduction?

What are the benefits of reading Puritan sermons?

What are the benefits of reading the sermons of the Puritans?

Dr. Lawson answers some popular questions he is asked by young men regarding ministry.

What books have had the greatest influence on me in preaching?

Why is the word "therefore" so important in preaching?

There is a variety of men who have different times in my life have been greatly used by God to shape my approach to biblical preaching.

The preacher steps forward seemingly as a "naked man." What other tools should he take with him in the pulpit?

Like an athlete who has a pre-game routine, so every expositor has steps they should take prior to standing to proclaim God's Word on Sunday Morning.

Whoever holds the Word of God and who preaches the Word of God, he is to be the worship leader in the church.

How are we to respond in the pulpit to a national or international crisis?

Dr. Lawson discusses the numerous advantages to writing or drafting a sermon manuscript.

In the last chapter of 2 Timothy, Paul issues a strong charge to Timothy. He says, "Preach the Word," and then Paul tells him how to do just that.

Join Dr. Lawson as he discusses the responsibility of every expositor to train other men for the work of ministry.

A church bookstore is a great companion to an expository pulpit and can aid the congregation in further study and inquiry.

If there is one book in the Bible that needs to be moved to the forefront in preaching, it is the Gospel of John.

What are the different moods of verbs that the preacher needs to have at his disposal?

An average becomes a good preacher and a good preacher becomes a great preacher by simply preaching the Psalms.

As you exposit the Scripture there are three key aspects of the listeners that you must always have before you.

There are many demands that are made upon the expositor, not the least of which, is the vast amount of time in preparation to preach. How does one balance these responsibilities and family life?

One of the ways an expositor learns to preach well is to read the sermons of great men throughout church history. What does the expositor learn from church history that will aid in his own preaching?

One of the tasks an expositor is called upon to perform, especially the one who is a pastor, is the conducting of a funeral service which includes a sermon.

There are many different ways to prepare an expository sermon. Dr. Lawson walks you through the steps of how he prepares a sermon.

What tools are required to prepare for an expository sermon? This element is critical in your preparation for pulpit ministry.

One of the most important decisions any expositor makes is which book in the Bible to preach. How do you make such a critical decision?

The place where an expositor prepares his messages is very important. Dr. Lawson takes us into his study and tells us why.

The issue of time management is very important in the life of the expositor. Listen as Dr. Lawson takes us through a typical week of sermon preparation.

When it comes to the man who stands to preach, he must be an example of what he is preaching.

There are several ways and manners in which to approach expository preaching. Dr. Lawson explores the different tracks of exposition upon which the expositor or preacher can preach.

Many men say they are an expositor but in reality they are not. There is some room for diversity but it is greatly necessary to develop a truly biblical definition for expository preaching.

There is great wisdom in having a variety of men who influence your preaching. Each expositor needs a "Mount Rushmore" from whom you draw and have shape you in the likeness of their preaching.

How do you get to the next level in your expertise in being an expositor? Listen to hear Dr. Lawson's answer.

Most churches are not use to listening to an expository sermon. How does the expositor move your people in the direction of desiring to hear expositional preaching?

According to Dr. Steven Lawson some of the most strategic time in pastoral ministry are the 15 minutes after the sermon. Learn why and how to use that time for ministry.