Decoding Christian Lingo

Decoding Christian Lingo -Justification

Justification - More Than a Pardon

Introduction:

Have you ever felt like you weren’t enough?

Like no matter how hard you try, you just keep falling short?

You pray, but it feels like God is distant.

You read the Bible, but you struggle to understand it.

You go to church, but you still wonder if God is truly pleased with you.

It’s like carrying a weight on your shoulders that never lifts—the constant pressure to be good enough, do enough, and try hard enough to earn God’s approval.

And maybe, deep down, you ask yourself:

👉 Does God really love me as I am, or do I need to earn it?

This is one of Satan’s greatest traps—a lie designed to keep believers stuck in a cycle of performance-based religion and condemnation.

Tension:

Maybe no one has ever said it out loud, but if we’re honest, the way we live proves that we believe these lies:

“If I just read my Bible more, maybe God will be pleased with me.”

“If I could just stop sinning so much, maybe God would love me more.”

“If I could be a better Christian, maybe I’d finally feel accepted.”

Do you see the pattern?

👉 Every one of these thoughts is based on performance.

And here’s the problem—when you base your faith on performance, failure will always lead to condemnation.

You’ll always feel like you’re not praying enough, not reading enough, not doing enough.

But Romans 5:1 tells us something powerful—it shatters these lies and reveals the life-changing truth about justification.

Let’s look at three powerful truths about Justification.

Main Points:

🎯 Point #1: Justification Gives You Peace with God

Justification Gives You Peace with God

Many Christians don’t have peace because they believe the lies that they are not good enough and are treating justification like a pardon.

They believe Jesus forgave them, but they still feel unworthy.

They know they’ve been set free, but they still feel like they need to prove themselves.

They walk around like ex-convicts instead of children of God.

Romans 5:1 AMP

THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

What Is Justification?

1️⃣ Justified - means "to declare righteous or to make right with God."

This is why Paul says we have peace with God.

Justification is God’s legal declaration that a sinner is righteous in His sight—not because of their works, but because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

What Justification IS NOT:

🚫 It’s not about being perfect – We still struggle with sin. 🚫 It’s not something we earn – No amount of good works can justify us. 🚫 It’s not just forgiveness – It’s more than having your sins erased; it’s being credited with Christ’s righteousness.

What Justification IS:

✅ A legal act – God declares you righteous in His heavenly court. ✅ A gift of grace – You can’t earn it; you can only receive it. ✅ Instant and permanent – The moment you put your faith in Jesus, you are justified forever.

2️⃣ By faith" – Not by effort, not performance based, you cannot earn righteousness—it is given to you by believing in Jesus.

3️⃣ Peace with God" – No more striving, no more wondering if you're good enough. You are fully accepted in Christ.

Pardon Vs Justification

A pardon is when a judge forgives a guilty person of their crime.

Their record still shows they committed the crime—they just don’t have to suffer the penalty.

They are no longer punished, but they are still guilty in history.

Left feeling the guilt, shame, with no escape (Condemnation).

Justification Means You Are Declared Righteous—As If You Never Sinned

Justification doesn’t just forgive you—it erases your guilt completely and credits you with righteousness.

In justification, God not only removes your sin but also declares you perfectly righteous in Christ.

It’s as if you never sinned in the first place.

Illustration:

Picture yourself in a courtroom, guilty of every sin you’ve ever committed. The evidence is stacked against you.

The judge is about to sentence you when Jesus steps forward.

A pardon would mean the judge says, “You're guilty, but I’ll let you go.

Justification means the judge erases your record—and in its place, He puts Jesus’ perfect record.

When God looks at you, He doesn’t see your past—He sees Jesus’ righteousness.

This truth will change your life

That’s why you can have peace. You are not just forgiven—you are righteous in Christ.

🎯 Point #2: Justification Is a New Identity, Not Just a Second Chance

Justification Is a New Identity, Not Just a Second Chance

2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

A lot of people think salvation is like getting a second chance—as if God just wipes the slate clean and says, “Try again, don’t mess up this time.”

But justification isn’t a second chance—it’s a completely new identity.

A second chance means you still have to prove yourself.

A second chance means your past mistakes are still part of your record.

A second chance means you could mess it all up again.

But justification means you are not the same person anymore.

Your old life is gone. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Your past is erased. (Psalm 103:12)

Psalm 103:12 KJV 1900

As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

You are covered in Christ’s righteousness. (Romans 3:22)

Romans 3:22 KJV 1900

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:

This is one of the most powerful exchanges in history:

Jesus became sin so that we could become righteous.

He took our punishment, and in exchange, He gave us His perfection.

Illustration: The Prisoner Given a New Identity

Imagine that same pardoned prisoner. He finally steps outside the prison gates—but instead of being left on his own, something unexpected happens:

A man hands him a new identity—not just a clean slate, but a completely new life.

A new name.

A new inheritance.

A new status as part of the royal family.

That’s justification. You are not just released—you are reborn.

🎯 Point #3:Justification Frees You from the Prison of Guilt and performance based religion

Justification Frees You from the Prison of Guilt and performance based religion

Galatians 2:21 NKJV

I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

So many Christians live in a prison of guilt and performance, constantly wondering:

“Am I doing enough for God to love me?”

“Does God still accept me even when I fail?”

“If I could just pray more, serve more, read more, then maybe I’d finally feel close to God.”

They treat their relationship with God like a spiritual performance review—as if their worth is based on their last "good deed."

But here’s the truth: If righteousness could come through your works, then Jesus died for nothing.

Justification sets you free from the exhausting cycle of trying to earn what Jesus has already given you.

Illustration:

Imagine running on a treadmill. You’re exhausted. You’ve been running for hours, trying to reach the finish line.

But every time you think you’re getting closer—the treadmill speeds up.

Pray more.

Serve more.

Give more.

Be better.

No matter how hard you try, you never arrive.

That’s what performance-based religion feels like. You’re always running, always striving, but never feeling secure in God’s love.

But here’s the good news: Justification means you can step off the treadmill.

You don’t have to perform to be accepted.

You don’t have to work to earn God’s love.

You don’t have to live in fear of falling short.

Jesus already ran the race for you—and He finished it.

How to Live in Justification

✅ Stop Trying to Earn God’s Love – You already have it. (Romans 5:8) ✅ Stop Walking in Condemnation – Your past is erased. (Romans 8:1) ✅ Live with Confidence, Not Fear – You are fully justified, fully accepted, fully loved. (Hebrews 4:16)

You are not just pardoned—you are justified.

You are not just forgiven—you are free.

So let me ask you: Are you still running on the treadmill, or are you resting in what Jesus already finished?

Conclusion:

So let me ask you: Are you still running on the treadmill, or are you resting in what Jesus already finished?

Closing Prayer:

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