Justification, Part 1 (ABC-1902)

Definition

From various references:

Dictionary of Bible Themes 6676 justification

The acquittal, or declaration of being righteous, before God as judge.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Justification

It is a declarative act of God by which he establishes persons as righteous; that is, in right and true relationship to himself.

Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms Justification, Justification by Faith

justification refers to the divine act whereby God makes humans, who are sinful and therefore worthy of condemnation, acceptable before a God who is holy and righteous.

The Handbook to Bible Study Justification

God’s act whereby He declares that a person has met all His standards for holiness

Easton’s Bible Dictionary Justification

As regards its nature, it is 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 (q.v.) of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. 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

Etymology

Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew Words Defined and Explained Justification, Justify

The Greek noun for “justification,” dikaiōsis, is derived from the Greek verb dikaioō, meaning “to acquit” or “to declare righteous”

It is a legal term used for a favorable verdict in a trial

The word depicts a courtroom setting, where God, as the Judge, determines the faithfulness of a person to the Law.

Explanation

Jewish view of Justification

One becomes righteous (justified) before God when he/she obeys all that is required by the Law (covenant).

Romans 2.13

Matthew 7.21

But there is the problem of sin

the Scripture declares man is depraved

Romans 3.9-20

Romans 3.23 - all have sinned

God’s solution

God dealt with, not overlooked, sin -

Romans 3.21-26

God provided One who fulfilled all Righteousness

Hebrews 10.5-7

Matthew 3.15

God provided the justice required by His own Law - the blood of a sinless man

Romans 3.25

Hebrews 10.11-14

God accepts all sinner through Jesus Christ

Romans 3.25-26 - God passed over the sins previously committed

God’s Method of Justification

1.) Freely by Grace

Romans 3:24 NKJV

24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

“freely” - Grk. DOREAN, without cost, without reason

Compare with John 15.25 - “they hated my without cause”

there is nothing in us that would cause God to justify us

2.) by Faith

Romans 3:28 NKJV

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

Galatians 2.16

Galatians 3.11

Acts 13.38-39

3.) by His blood

Romans 5:9 NKJV

9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Romans 4.25 - He was delivered up for our offenses

The Results of Justification

Romans 5:1–2 NKJV

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

1.) We have peace with God

sin - made us enemies of God, condemned to death

by Christ’s righteous act - God now looks at us in favor

Romans 5.9 - saved from wrath

2.) We have access by faith to God

justification makes it possible for us to enjoy benefits of God’s grace

3.) We have hope in the glory of God

justification enables us to look forward in faith to the glory of God

note - Romans 3.23 - all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory

Romans 5:18 NKJV

18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

4.) We are justified for life

Justification is unchanging because it is not based on our works

Justification is based on the eternal righteous work of Christ

Case Study

Reconciling Romans 4.2 and James 2.21

Romans 4.2 - Abraham was not justified by works, but by faith

portrays Abraham as God sees him and his heart

James 2.21 - Abraham was justified by works, and not by faith only

portrays Abraham as men and history sees him

only by his “works” can history see Abraham as righteous before God.

Therefore - man is justified by faith alone, but must not be alone. It must be demonstrated for the world to see.

Conclusion

Justification is more than “forgiveness”

forgive - to stop feeling angry or resentful towards someone for an offence or mistake

when a man is forgiven, the sin is not really abolished

when a man forgiven, the possibility of committing another sin remains

Justification is more than “pardon”

pardon (v) - to release from the legal consequences of an offence or conviction

when a man is pardoned, the crime is still on record.

Justification declares the believer in Jesus Christ a righteous person before God without any record of having committed any offence.

Quote from WMB

227 Now, if I did do it, I’m guilty. But you could forgive me, and I wouldn’t be guilty. But yet I’m not justified, because I actually done it. 228 But the word, justified, is though you never done it. Amen. It’s not even regarded, at all. How is it done? In God’s Book of the Sea of Forgetfulness, your old book and marriage is divorced and dead, and it’s not even in the memories of God. Amen. You are justified. “Therefore being justified.” It was accused. You was accused. You never done it, in the first place.    65-1125 - The Invisible Union Of The Bride Of Christ    Rev. William Marrion Branham    http://table.branham.org