Justification

How then can man be justified with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? Job 25:4

God is absolutely righteous (just) – Deut. 32:4b “...a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.”

Man is unrighteous, guilty and condemned and needs to be justified.

Justification is an act that God does, once for all, for the believer on the basis of the death of Christ.

What does it mean to be justified?

To be declared “right”

We justify ourselves (declare ourselves to be right) – Lu 10:29; Lu 16:15

God is justified (declared to be right) – Lu 7:29; Rom 3:4

Justification is set in contrast to condemnation – Rom 5:16, 18; Rom 8:33-34

Justification is closely associated with righteousness – the verb, dikaioo, “to justify” (Strong#1344) is from the root word, dikaios(Strong #1342) which is translated “righteous” (41x); “just” (33x); “right” (5x); “meet” (2x)

Why do we need to be justified?

Because we have sinned

Those needing to be justified are described as “sinners” (Lu 18:13-14; Rom 5:8-9) and “ungodly” (Rom 4:5)

How is justification obtained?

Not by law-keeping! – Rom 3:20 “…by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight…”

Gal 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law…”

Source: “being justified freely by His grace” (Rom 3:24) (See also Tit 3:7)

Basis: “being now justified by His blood” (Rom 5:9)

Based on the propitiation (Lu 18:13-14) and redemption (Rom 3:24) supplied by the death of Christ

Reception: “being justified by faith” (Rom 5:1) (See also Gal 2:16b; Gal 3:8)

“Therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace…” (Rom 4:16)

What are the benefits of justification?

“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” (Rom 4:8)

“…being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by Whom also we have access…and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Rom 5:1-2)

“…whom He justified, them he also glorified.” (Rom 8:30)

What should be our response to being justified?

“Was not Abraham…justified by works...” (James 2:14-26)

Practical righteousness in our lives (our state) should reflect our justified standing before God.

Questions:

Has God ever justifiedmen by any meansother than faith? Will He ever do so in the future?

Is it scriptural to say that we have been “made righteous”?

Is it scriptural to say that “the righteousness of Christ” has been imputed to the believer?

Is justification the same as acquittal?