Justification

How are we justified? Freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Justification is when God declares us "not guilty" based on our faith in Jesus Christ, not based on works.

Our world is often concerned about justice. What is right? Who is right? How do we make things right? The yelling and chanting of protestors on street corners is a cry for what they believe to be justice. The judge, with gavel in hand and jury in sight, is a search for justice. The subtle passing of a law, is someone’s action towards justice. But why do we have this sense? Why do we want it so badly, yet know that it is often skewed or jaded? Micah 6:8 asks the question, “And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” God has given us a sense of justice as He is, Himself, just. 

Justice for us as sinful human beings, is to die and go to a very real place called hell. Why? We are guilty before God. We have sinned against Him. Compared to His righteousness, we are dirty (Isaiah 64:6). Yet… God made a way for us to be justified, to be made right in His sight. He made this way even though we do not deserve it. This article seeks to give understanding about the concept of justification, how we can be made right with a holy and perfect God in our imperfection.

The word “justified” in the Greek means to “render righteous or such he ought to be” (Blue Letter Bible). How are we justified, or rendered righteous? Freely, by His grace, through redemption in Jesus Christ. Justification is when God says “I declare you not guilty on the basis of your trust and faith in My Son and what He did.” 

Justification is also known as “starting out with God.” Romans 3:23-26 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifer of the one who has faith in Jesus.” 

We have all sinned but can be justified by God’s grace through Christ. It says that Jesus is a “propitiation by His blood.” This means that by His blood, the price for our sins was paid. It then says that this was to demonstrate His righteousness. He is the only one who is truly righteous; therefore, He is the only one who can save us from our sins. He is our Justifier. The last sentence of Romans 3:26 says that He is “the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” In other words, those who put their faith in Jesus Christ and what He did, will be justified. You are not putting faith in another religion, in works, or in good people; you are putting faith in Jesus Christ, believing that His work on the cross and in resurrection are enough to save you from your sin, enough to give you right standing with God. 

2 Corinthians 5:21: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” So, if we are in the courtroom of God, He says “not guilty” because we have been given the righteousness of Christ. We are in right-standing. We are JUSTIFIED. 

Knowing what justification is, let’s look into what grace is and why the two are so closely intertwined.

It may seem too easy: believe and be justified. It is all because of God’s work, not any of our works. James 1:21 says, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” This is salvation of our souls, not just from hell, but from barrenness and fruitlessness and self-striving. If you receive the implanted word, you are receiving the truth of Christ. It is by His grace that you can be forgiven, given new life. Many believe that you have to “clean up your act” before coming to God. But Jesus came because we CANNOT clean up our act. There are not enough righteous acts that we can do to “make-up” for our sins.

Grace is an unmerited resource given by God. It is not earned. Galatians 2:21 says, “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” If we set aside the grace of God, we are actually saying that righteousness comes through the law. Ever since the Garden of Eden, we are all born under the dominating influence of sin (Romans 5). The Israelites were given the Law to follow and instructions for sacrifices for when they broke God’s Law because “according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). This is why Jesus’ sacrifice was enough. He is perfect, and His blood covers our sins. However, some think that they still have to work for salvation, still have to follow certain laws or simply, do good things. And our world’s solution has been to create laws that are rigid, stiff, and highly demanding, with consequences in place to discourage people from sinning. Keep in mind as well that a works based faith brings about legalism. The law given to the Israelites says to be holy, perfect, and righteous, but there were no resources to do that. We cannot, on our own, reach God’s standard. The Holy Spirit did not abide in people until after Christ ascended into heaven. So now, we are under a New Covenant of grace. Jesus came to fulfill the Law that we could not live-up to (Matthew 5:17). Now, we just have to put our faith in the saving grace of Jesus! Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” If we could be righteous through the law, through works, then Christ died in vain! Galatians 5:4-5 says, "You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." The law reveals God’s will and character, fleshes out sin, and turns us to look to Christ.

So what is the connection here to justification?

When we are justified through Christ, we are partaking of His grace. Righteousness is imputed to us by grace alone. In other words, by God’s grace, Christ’s righteousness is accredited to our account in heaven. Here’s an example: If someone called you up and said, “I just made a deposit into your bank account of a million dollars,” that would change your bank account but would not change YOU. Of course it is a monumental change, but you still are who you are. Justification is not that God takes a second look and decides, “Wait, you are pretty holy and righteous.” He just puts the righteousness of Christ in our account. He gives us an acceptable standing in heaven. We are still human, and we will still sin, but we have accepted God’s grace and been justified by Christ. What about here on Earth as we are still sinful beings? Well, we need that same gracious source to be poured out in our words, attitudes, deeds, and relationships here on Earth. Remember, grace is a resource that God gives us, and we have now been given the Holy Spirit if we choose to have a relationship with Christ (put our faith in His saving work). 

Under the law is sin’s tempting power, enticing power, and polluting influence. Under grace, we can be transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). We can be made free! Grace is the way, not only to get out from the dominating guilt of sin, but the dominating practice of sin. 

What does grace look like after justification?

Sanctification. Grace is also for transforming and growing. The Holy Spirit pours out grace so that we can bear fruit and do ministry. Day-by-day, we are sanctified progressively. And what brings about further sanctification is the Spirit working in our times with God: time in His Word, time talking to Him in prayer, time spent with other believers in fellowship, time in service and sacrifice. He’s always working.

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” Romans 8:29-30

"But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel." Colossians 1:22-23