Justification is a Provision of Salvation

Introduction

“…when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no award--yet receives such a gift anyway--that is a good picture of God's unmerited favor. This is what we mean when we talk about the grace of God.”[1]

“The basis for salvation is God’s grace. Since it takes an act of God through Election to call man to Himself through Jesus Christ, based on His love alone and not on man’s merit; and man is completely unable or unwilling to turn to or please God on his own; and due to sin, man is completely indebted to God under his holy and just condemnation; then, salvation from that condemnation demands an act of grace from God to save one who is indebted to Him. Grace must come from the one mankind is indebted to, “For by grace [the basis] you have been saved through faith [the instrument; Rom. 4:5]; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;” (Eph. 2:8).” [2]

So then, what does God’s grace provide? The next thing God’s grace provides after Reconciliation is Justification.

“Justification is God’s legal declaration and view of the believing sinner as righteous in standing at the moment of salvation (Rom. 3:24, 5:1); and is His exoneration of that believer as a consequence of that salvation (James 2:21-26). God’s justifying declaration removes the believer’s sin along with its condemnation and views the believer as righteous by virtue of Christ’s righteousness being accredited to his account (Rom. 3:21-28, 4:5; 5:9; Gal. 2:16-21).”[3]

1. What is the relationship between accusation and exoneration?

2. Do you think exoneration and forgiveness is the same thing? Why or why not?

3. Read Rom. 3:21-24. How has the righteousness of God been manifested (vv. 21-22)?

4. What “distinction” do you think v. 22 speaks of (vv. 22-23)?

5. On what basis is Justification made for all those who believe (v. 24)?

6. Read Rom. 3:25-28. What stands out most meaningful to you?

7. What Law reigns supreme in the life of the believer and how does that effect the believer’s perspective of himself?

8. Read Rom. 5:1-2. What does justification give to the believer?

9. According to these verses, activated faith in us “introduces” us into what (v. 2)?

10. Read James 2:23. How might this verse relate to the idea of Justification?

Key Verse

Gal. 2:16

Galatians 2:16 (NASB95)

“...knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”

Conclusion:

“The term Justification is forensic, meaning it is a legal declaration as with a judgment in a courtroom, so that the person justified is viewed by God as legally righteous (Rom. 5:19; 1 Pet. 4:18; 1 John 3:7) which brings the believer forgiveness of sin (Rom. 4:6-8).

The role of Faith in justification is that of being the instrument through which the declaration is accepted, and Christ’s righteousness is reckoned to the believers’ account (Rom. 3:20, 4:2-6, 10:10; Phil. 3:9).”[4]

It seems that there was a man in England who put his Rolls-Royce on a boat and went across to the continent to go on a holiday. While he was driving around Europe, something happened to the motor of his car. He cabled the Rolls-Royce people back in England and asked, "I'm having trouble with my car; what do you suggest I do?" The Rolls-Royce people decided to fly a mechanic over! The mechanic repaired the car and flew back to England and left the man to continue his holiday. As you can imagine, the fellow was wondering, "How much is this going to cost me?" So, when he got back to England, he wrote the people a letter and asked how much he owed them. He received a letter from the office that read: "Dear Sir: There is no record anywhere in our files that anything ever went wrong with a Rolls-Royce." That is justification.

Once the creator discovered the defect in the creation, one was sent to correct that defect. The repair was completed without a lingering record of the defect or the repair. That is what is meant by Justification.

God legally declares, based on Christ’s work, that there is not, nor is there any record that there ever was sin.

[1] G.W. Knight, Clip-Art Features for Church Newsletters, p. 53, emphasis added.

[2] Lex DeLong, TH601 Soteriology, Baptist Bible Seminary of Clarks Summit University, Jan. 2017, 3. [3]Ibid. [4]Ibid., emphasis added.