What is Justification?

What is Justification?

According to the Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), the word Justification explains the judicial act of God, by which He pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified (those who believe). It is the act of a judge. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; and so the person justified is declared to be entitled to all the advantages and rewards arising from perfect obedience to the law (Rom. 5:1-10). Justification is not the forgiveness of a man without righteousness, but a declaration that he possesses a righteousness which perfectly and forever satisfies the law, namely, Christ’s righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 4:6-8). The sole condition on which this righteousness is imputed (see last weeks letter) or credited to the believer is faith in or on the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is called a “condition,” not because it possesses any merit, but only because it is the instrument, the only instrument by which the soul appropriates or apprehends Christ and His righteousness (Rom. 1:17; 3:25, 26; 4:20, 22; Phil. 3:8-11; Gal. 2:16). The act of faith which thus secures our justification secures also at the same time our sanctification; and thus the doctrine of justification by faith does not lead to recklessness (Rom. 6:2-7). Good works, while not the ground, are the certain consequence of justification.

Key Scriptures:

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Romans 4:4-5 “Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. ⁵ But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness…”

Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Be Encouraged:

Brothers and Sisters, this is the Good News of the Gospel, God declares you righteous in His sight when you put your faith in Jesus Christ alone. Jesus Christ lived the sinless life that we aren’t able to, thereby fulfilling the righteous demands of God’s Holy Law. He laid all of your sins upon Himself, thus allowing you to be forgiven and stand as innocent on the Day of Judgment. Brothers and Sisters, Jesus Christ is our Savior and we are helpless without Him. Think for one moment about how much love Christ has for you, and how despite being tempted at all points as we are, He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15). If you are in Christ, you are justified; you are righteous because the blood of Christ makes you righteous. Now that we have been saved and justified by faith alone let us honor Christ with the members of our body and strive to bury the old man of the flesh.

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