Justification

A friend of mine, a minister who was speaking to our local church body, asked how many of us could offer a scriptural definition of justification. While a number of theologians have addressed the subject over the years, how many of us really have a dynamic and living understanding of justification? What is justification? What relation to our salvation does it have? Before what judge and by what standard are we made just? How is it that we are made just? When and to what degree are we just? All of these are important questions. Most Christians would have (at least I hope) a basic answer to these. But when asked to explain, many would come up short. Having an understanding of justification that can be easily and thoroughly communicated is necessary for us to give an account of the hope that lies within us. Indeed, as we shall explore together, this is the first step of our salvation!

First, let us consider the dictionary definition of justification.

We assert that justification, as biblically used, is part of the salvation, or new birth, process. It is a component. Obviously, justification, which comes from the word 'just', implies that some kind of standard for judgment is or will be applied, at which point the state of justified will be shown. In other words, there must be some kind of law or standard that defines what it means to be guilty or just. As Christians, we must look to the Bible as the Holy Spirit gives us understanding to find our answers. Further, we must discover how a person or nation can move from the state of guilt to just. We will begin our study with the scriptures which explain that God is the justifier and the prime mover in this important process. Read the 8th chapter of Romans. In the 30th verse we are told, “Moreover whom he (God) did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” You will notice that this verse describes God as the agent in all of these acts. For now, suffice it to say that God is the one who justifies man by His own power and will. This will come as a surprise to many who believe that they have a very active role in their salvation. Many have said, “I have found Christ” or “When I decided to become a Christian”. We must understand that, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 and “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” John 6:44. Further, we are told in Psalm 3:8 “Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people.” And again, 2 Thes. 2:13 “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The first lesson of justification is that God is THE author of justification and salvation. We did not chose Him. He chose us. In fact, prior to the beginning of the ages, He predestinated each person and nation to their own unique role in the drama of ages. We must accept the words spoken in Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

We see in all these verses and many more that Jesus truly is “the Author and Finisher of our faith” Heb. 12:2. God is the one who is active. In the verses in Romans that we read above, you and I are not even mentioned, except as the ones that God is acting upon. Recall that at Calvary, Jesus was truly alone. No man was there asking Him to make the atoning sacrifice that ratified and put into effect the New Covenant. Rom. 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” This should clearly show us that the covenant of salvation was drawn up with only one signature; that of Jesus Christ, God’s legal representative. As many of the most important covenants of the Bible, the New Covenant is a unilateral act by God. He did not consult us and ask if we would participate. He is God and does not leave such important decisions to man in his fallen state! It is the pride of man, the carnality of the flesh, that tells us that we were the ones who accepted Christ. It is the folly of man to believe that he can do anything to rectify his own mortality. It is the choice of God, not man, that accomplishes salvation and justification in our lives. We can glory only in that God is great and merciful to us and that His will cannot be thwarted, even by our own stubbornness and sin. Phil. 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” To God be the Glory, great things He hath done!!