Doctrine of Justification

Introduction

The word justified simply means, “pronounced or treated as righteous.”  In biblical Christianity, justification is the act of God not only forgiving the believer’s sin, but imputing to them the righteousness of Christ.  The Bible tells us that justification only comes by faith.  Justification is not earned through our own works.  Justification is being covered by the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  The teaching of justification by faith separates biblical Christianity from all other belief systems found in the world.  Every religious system, and even in some branches of systems called Christianity, man tries to work his way to God.  When looking at God’s Word, we find that justification is by faith, without works.

THE TRAGEDY OF SIN

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

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

1. It’s a tragedy… “All have sinned” refers to the deeds all people commit as they defy God’s law and violate His will. Both Gentiles and Jews; all people on earth are guilty. Nobody is righteous before God. We have all failed Him and we all deserve punishment.

Romans 3:10–12 KJV 1900

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

2. This is pretty clear, God finds none righteous; this is because there are none righteous. There’s never been a truly righteous man apart from Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

3. Sin requires a payment and that payment is death, however, we aren’t without hope!

THE TRUTH OF JUSTIFICATION

Before I explain the truth about justification, let’s look at what justification is not

It’s not Pardon

A pardon is a government decision to allow a person to be relieved of some or all of the legal consequences resulting from a criminal conviction. A pardon may be granted before or after conviction for the crime, depending on the laws of the jurisdiction. Pardons can be granted in many countries when individuals are deemed to have demonstrated that they have "paid their debt to society", or are otherwise considered to be deserving of them. Pardons are sometimes offered to persons who were either wrongfully convicted or who claim that they were wrongfully convicted.

It’s not Parole

Parole, both a procedure by which a board administratively releases inmates from prison as well as a provision for post-release supervision, comes from the French word parol, referring to "word," as in giving one's word of honor or promise. Over time it has come to mean an inmate's promise to conduct him- or herself in a law abiding manner and according to certain rules—in exchange for release. Persons under parole supervision served terms of incarceration and were released to live and work in the community under supervision, with continued adherences to the law monitored (Senate Research Center, 1999).

Romans 3:24 KJV 1900

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

1. We are justified, literally, declared righteous, by God's grace through the finished work of Christ on the cross. “Freely” is the same Greek word used for the phrase “without a cause.” in John 15:25 - in this verse, the Lord tells us that He was hated freely, or without a cause, and in Romans 3:24, we find that we are justified by Him, freely - without a cause. There’s no explanation in us. Just as there was nothing in Jesus deserving of man’s hatred, there is nothing in us deserving of justification. All reasons for justification are all found in God.

2. We are justified without a cause, it’s by God’s grace and God’s grace alone that we have justification. Grace is unmerited favor; we have contributed nothing to it, and we cannot do anything to deserve it.

Romans 5:6–9 KJV 1900

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.

3. We can know God loved us because of the death of Jesus. While we were yet sinners…in our cases, we weren’t even born yet, but God’s promised King gave up everything - his own life - on behalf of people who had rejected Him! On behalf of you and I who at that time weren’t even alive, but He knew us, and even then, He made a way for us to be justified!

4. Here it is, verse 8…It’s the single action which completely proves that God loves us! While we were yet sinners - a human race that was rebelling and rejecting Him - Christ chose, by the will of the Father, to die for us!

THE TRANSACTION BY FAITH

Romans 3:21–22 KJV 1900

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 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:

Romans 3:25 KJV 1900

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;

1. We obtain God's righteousness when we place our faith in Christ as our Savior.

2. Humanity has sinned, and we all deserve judgment, but God is faithful and righteous so that people can be justified with Him through faith.

3. The law cannot save us, but God reveals a righteousness that will save us without the law! Here it is! The heart of God’s plan of salvation in Jesus Christ. It’s salvation that is offered without the law, without our own earning and deserving, without our own merits! It is a transaction by faith!

Romans 5:1 KJV 1900

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

4. “justified by faith” is a legal decree…We were found guilty before the court of God’s law, but because of the work of Jesus Christ, the righteousness of God is given to all who believe!

Conclusion

The believer is justified by faith because God gave His Word and God keeps His Word.  Faith is helplessness reaching out with total dependence on God.  It’s having confidence in God’s promise, which brings us hope!  Faith is not a mindless stab in the dark, rather it’s a leap into the security of God’s Word and promise.  I’m thankful that the righteousness we receive through justification rests on God’s integrity and not our own!  Through Jesus and His work on the cross and His resurrection from the grave, justification is offered to anyone who believes!