What does it mean to be justified?
Justification is God's declaration that a person is righteous, not on the basis of who they are or what they have done, but on the basis of Christ. In it, the Judge accepts the sinner for Jesus' sake, pardoning their sins and crediting Christ's righteousness to them.
This question arose from studying Does James contradict Paul? Is it faith or works? and What is grace?.
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What the Scripture says
It is a legal declaration, not a moral change
Justification is a courtroom word, the verdict of the Judge: 'righteous.' Paul says we are 'justified by faith apart from the works of the law,' and asks, 'Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died… who is at the right hand of God.' God is the one who justifies; the verdict is His, and it is final.
We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 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.
Its ground is Christ, not our record
We are 'justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.' God set Him forth as a propitiation, and 'being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God's wrath through him.' The basis is the blood and righteousness of Christ, not anything in us.
being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 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;
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him.Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.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.
Its instrument is faith: counted, not achieved
'To him who doesn't work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.' Blessed is the one 'whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.' Faith is not the merit; it is the hand that receives what is freely given.
But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.”Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
It is the great exchange
For 'him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.' On the cross Christ bore our sin; through faith we receive His righteousness. Our condemnation is transferred to Him; His righteousness is credited to us.
For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.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.
All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all.All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Its fruit is peace and salvation
'Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.' Those He justifies, He glorifies, and we stand 'heirs according to the hope of eternal life.' Justification is not the end of the story; it is the peaceful foundation of everything that follows.
Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.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.
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
Studying the Word naturally opens more of it. Follow what you just read: it leads somewhere.
Continue this trail
What is faith, exactly?→“Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”What is repentance?→““Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”Does grace mean I can live however I want?→“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”What does it mean that Christ's righteousness is 'imputed' to us?→“For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.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.”Is it okay to have doubts sometimes?→“Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”Is repentance a one-time decision or a lifelong posture?→“Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:”What is the kingdom of God?→“and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”What is the difference between grace and mercy?→“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.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.”How are justification and sanctification related?→“Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”What does it mean to walk by faith and not by sight?→“for we walk by faith, not by sight.(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”How do I know my repentance is genuine?→“For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world works death.For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”Did God choose me to be saved before I chose Him?→“even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love;According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”Doesn't God want everyone to be saved?→“Tell them, As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn, turn from your evil ways; for why will you die, house of Israel?Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”Can anyone resist God's grace?→“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day.No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”What price can buy forgiveness?→“none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him. For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)”What does it mean that God remembers our sins no more?→“and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know Yahweh; for they shall all know me, from their least to their greatest, says Yahweh: for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”What are the parables of the kingdom about?→“He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.”Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.”Is it too late for me to come to Jesus?→“All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out.All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”Explore further
Does James contradict Paul? Is it faith or works?→Our Walk with Him trail“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”What does the Bible mean by being 'holy'?→Our Walk with Him trail““Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘You shall be holy; for I, Yahweh your God, am holy.Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.”Hold onto these
Verses to meditate on
We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.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.
Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
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