JUSTIFICATION

What is the meaning of Justification?

This is the gracious act by God in declaring (announcing, confirm, reveal) the sinner as being made right with God (righteous, lawful, law-abiding) when the sinner believes on Jesus Christ.
Justification is an act by a gracious God, it happens once immediately, not a process which happens over a period or time. No individual Believer is more justified than another, we each have the same righteousness. No amount of good works, self effort is able to make a person justified, only God can do this.

Another important fact about justification is that once God has declared a sinner righteous through the action of His Son, Jesus Christ, the sin question has been settled once and forever.

Note that justification is not the same as regeneration, that means to be born again, neither is it the same as forgiveness, though a believing sinner may be forgiven there is nothing to stop the believer from sinning again and need further forgiveness. Justification is once and for all, permanent and eternal.

Finally, justification is not the same as a pardon, someone who commits a crime and receives a pardon is still a criminal, there will always be a record of the crime even though pardoned. Justification by God means that He has forgotten all past, present and future sins. God, in His grace, has forgotten that we were ever sinners, though pardon and forgiveness are part of the Christian life justification has dealt with the sin problem for once and ever.

A question must be asked at this point:- How does/can a holy and pure God overlook the sin of a Believer as all our sins are a disobedience of God?

1) By His Grace.

What does "Grace" actually mean? It is a favour or action which is not deserved or earned in any way.
Romans 3:24

"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: "

This tells us that we are justified by grace, not because we have worked for it or deserve it.

 

2) By Faith.
Romans 8:28.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

A believer is justified by faith, not by keeping the Law of God, Romans 3:20, the Law shows us that we have sinned and all our sins and failures.

 

3) By the Blood of Jesus

The Believer is justified by His blood, Romans 5:9.

"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."

The price for sin must be paid, it must be dealt with by God. This was the reason for the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, as a human. He, a sinless person took the punishment on the cross, .Romans 4:25,

"Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

Now God can justify those who believe on Jesus.

 

4) Justified in life

Romans 5:18,

"Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. "

The free gift was given through Jesus for all people, justified to life.

Justification, the effect on a Believers life.
Romans 5:1-11.

"1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. "

Romans 5v1 Peace with God.
As a result of Justification we first have Peace with God, v1 and v10. Before we became justified by God we were His enemy, our thoughts and desires were totally against God, our righteousness, our life was as filthy rags, Isaiah 64:6.

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. "

Romans 5v2 Access to God
Being justified, made right with God allows a Believer to come to the throne of Grace, speak to God freely and have a wonderful fellowship with Him. This access is by grace in faith, we can approach God because of His grace, not by our actions in keeping the Law in any way.

Romans 5v2 The glory of God
Hope in the glory of God. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23..

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; "

Romans 5v3-6 The Believers life.
Each person in the world may be exposed to problems, sickness and problems, but a Believer knows that each may be for the growth and benefit of their spiritual life and under the full control of God.

General references in the New Testament

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

"39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. "

"16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

"11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith."

"13 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified."

"21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: "

"24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."

"28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

"30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith."

"1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: "

"9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."

"22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."

"1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

"31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

"33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."

"30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; "

"30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"

"11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

"19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. "

"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."

"8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham."

"6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."

"21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe."

"24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. "

"4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. "

"14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; "

"8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: "

"13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"

"7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

"4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh."

"7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith."

"20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

General references in the Old Testament