Justification by Faith. What did you say? "Justification?" Why in the world should any person be interested is such a thing? The reason is simple: justification is one of the greatest truths of the Bible. There is no more important truth for the Christian. If this truth is lost, all other truths become meaningless. It is as vital as any in the Bible. It is also rarely used by many groups of Christians. Ironically, while being the most important truth, it is often the most misunderstood or neglected truth. It is neglected because it is not properly understood. Many simply have not been taught its meaning. Justification is also disregarded because it undermines the unbiblical teaching of some Christian groups.

What does this "justification" have to do with being right with God? It has everything to do with it. If you will patiently read this booklet and ask God to guide your understanding, I believe it will inspire one of the most wonderful understandings that God has ever given to anyone.

History teaches us that the people of God can and have gone through long times neglecting great truths of the Scriptures. I believe that the truth of being justified by Jesus Christ is one of those great neglected truths. I will even say that I believe with all my heart that the revelation of the righteousness of God will be God’s means for a great revival of the Gospel among all Christians. Please . . . read on and open your heart!

JUSTIFICATION IS A BIBLICAL PHRASE

"Justification by faith" expresses the very heart of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul used the strongest terms possible to convey the fact that the Gospel is the one truth a Christian cannot compromise. He said that only one Gospel exists.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you. Let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8 KJV)

Paul’s words are much graver than even what we may think. What he is saying is that the preaching of something other than the Gospel leads to the opposite of justification: condemnation. The judgment that results for those who do not preach the biblical Gospel is that they do not obtain what the Gospel promises. They are damned rather than redeemed. The solemn fact is, if one is wrong concerning the nature of the Gospel every other doctrine that follows will be corrupted. The correct understanding of the Gospel is the one thing, on which the Church stands or falls.

Paul describes the nature of the Gospel in this manner: That, Jesus Christ, out of the graciousness of His heart (by grace), makes right with God (justification) all those who trust in Him (through faith in Jesus Christ). It is freely given as a gift to all who trust in Him. What Jesus does in justifying us is God’s good news - the Gospel.

For the apostle Paul this was the bedrock of his faith and preaching. It is the one universal truth for all Christians of all times and in every place. A revival of the understanding of justification by faith is needed today. I believe that it will only begin as we return to the powerful truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At the very heart of this Gospel is that Jesus has justified by His grace all those who come to Him in faith. To explore this Word of God, let us examine the meaning of the phrase, "justification by faith."

The message of justification is deeply rooted in the ancient writings of the Old Testament. The promise of the prophet Isaiah was that the Messiah would JUSTIFY Israel.

As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11 NAS) [My italics]

JESUS WAS THE EMBODIMENT OF JUSTIFICATION. Jesus’ whole life was the work of justification. Some may say that Jesus did not teach it. The deeper truth is that Jesus WAS justification. He was the "Lord our righteousness." He was the "Just One" Who became our sacrificial Lamb. When Jesus died to receive our penalty for sin and gave to us His own righteousness by the Cross, He justified us.

The very idea of substitutionary atonement in the Old Testament was based on justification by faith. One had to trust that God accepted one’s animal as the means of atonement - being made right with God. That is why Paul calls Jesus the "just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Romans 3:26) He is the spotless Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.

"Justified by faith" or its equivalent appears throughout the N.T. to refer to the work of salvation by God for sinful and lost Humanity. Paul in his epistles uses the word justify in the past tense (justified) most often, treating it as a completed action in the believers life. It is expressed as "justified by faith":

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:28)

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1 KJV)

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Gal. 3:24)

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Gal 2:16)

In other cases the expression is "justified by Christ," or "the just shall live by faith," or we find the word justify is used nearer the word faith, with the intent to connect them directly.

But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. (Gal. 2:17)

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. (Gal 3:11)

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. (Gal 5:4,5)

The most helpful way to state this truth is to say we are, "justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ." This longer form is used to clarify the meaning of justification in Scripture. When one understands the simpler statement (justified by faith) in the way it is used in the Bible, the additional modifiers, such as "alone," are not really necessary. They are implied in the very meaning of the words justification and faith. The word "alone" is supplied only because of the unbiblical teaching that justification comes through faith plus obedience. Let us look at the concise, clear, and Biblical meaning and intention of each of these three words – "justified by faith."

JUSTIFICATION IS A LEGAL TERM

We can best begin to understand this word by considering its common usage. Usually, it is used to refer to a position before a judge or jury. It means, fundamentally, to win a favorable verdict or a sentence of acquittal. Justification does not mean to make one right or better. It means to receive a verdict of acquittal. It does not mean improvement, it means to vindicate. 

Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked. (Exodus 23:7 KJV)

If there is a dispute between men and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, (Deuteronomy 25:1 NAS)

Then hear Thou in heaven and act and judge Thy servants, condemning the wicked by bringing his way on his own head and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness. (1 Kings 8:32 NAS; Cp. 2 Chronicles 6:23 NAS)

Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away the rights of the ones who are in the right! (Isaiah 5:23 NAS)

The word acquit or vindicate could be substituted for the word justify in these verses. (As it is in some translations.) IT DOES NOT MEAN TO PERFECT, OR IMPROVE. IT MEANS TO WIN A VERDICT AT THE BAR OF JUDGMENT.

One may ask, "You do not really mean acquit here do you? Certainly no one is innocent before God." This is a good question. I will answer this later when I speak about justification as being right with God and when I talk about the nature of God’s "reckoning or imputing righteousness."

OUR GREATEST NEED IS TO BE RIGHT WITH GOD. We are not right with God because we are not righteous. We have no basis to relate to God. We can only be right with God if we meet His standard. That standard is HIS OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS. If we had God’s righteousness, then we would be able to relate to God. But our tragic condition is that we CANNOT reach God’s standard.

Only God can solve our tragic problem. Only God can declare a person righteous. If one is not right with God, then one cannot become holy. Therefore, the first question for the sinner is, "How shall we, having sinned, having broken the holy Law, having violated the will of God, be treated, as to acceptance before Him?"

WE CAN ONLY BE ACCEPTED THROUGH CHRIST’S OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS ALONE!

THE GREATEST PROBLEM WE HAVE IS THAT BECAUSE OF SIN WE ARE UNABLE TO RESPOND TO GOD, AND THUS BE RIGHT WITH GOD THROUGH OUR OWN MEANS.

Ephesians 2:1 says that we "were dead in trespasses and sins." Dead people cannot do anything, let alone respond to God. Unless He would help us to come to Him we would be lost forever. "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." (John 6:44) The most serious part of Sin is that God’s holiness has been offended. The Human family offended God through unbelief. The first man and woman did not believe what God had said. Romans 2:21 states that the offense of Humanity was not glorifying or honoring God as God. This dishonoring is rooted in unbelief concerning the very nature and character of God. The character of God is that He is good and true. The first family (and all their descendants after them did not believe this) and thus God was dishonored.

This unbelief and consequent dishonoring led to our separation from God. The result of our being separated from God is that our nature as human beings is corrupted. "We have turned everyone to his own way." (Isaiah 53) Our "heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:" (Jeremiah 17:9) "There is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Psalm 14:3) "For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not." (Ecclesiastes 7:20) "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:" Rom 7:14-24). We are Fallen. Our sin nature consists of a will against God and patterns of sinfulness in our hearts and lives. We have become unlike God, which is the opposite of our original creation purpose: to bear His likeness and image (Genesis 1:26).

Understanding that justification means to DECLARE us righteous, and not MAKE us righteous, is extremely important. The most basic need of Humanity is not only deliverance from sin, but from guilt before God. The offended Holy God must first be placated. First, a man must be right in the sight of God, then He will be freed from sin. We usually think of this the other way around. Nevertheless, the truth of Romans 2 teaches that, it is because God is not honored as God that provokes God to give us over to sin. The way we honor God as God is to believe Him through Jesus Christ. It is the wrath of God that most threatens the Human Race. When we are right with God, we are not turned over to sin. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are freed from sin and are made right with God!

Understanding what I am going to say next about justification is very important. It does not simply mean pardon. It does not only mean, "you were wrong, but now you are forgiven." There is a sense that we are pardoned. We know we have sinned but, through Jesus, are given a new chance.

However, WHAT JUSTIFICATION MEANS, IN ITS ESSENCE, IS THAT YOU ARE RIGHT, AND IN THE COURT OF GOD YOU HAVE BEEN PROVEN RIGHT. THIS IS WHAT ACQUITTAL MEANS. "How can this be?" you might ask. We were not innocent. We were guilty! I agree with you completely. Still, if you and I really understand justification, we must accept, that, what Jesus did, causes God to accept us and treat us as though it did not happen. Since we are "in Christ" by faith, we are counted as just, before God. GOD’S VERDICT IS "NOT GUILTY." IT IS AS THOUGH, THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS, WE NEVER FELL AWAY FROM GOD!!

Were we Fallen? Yes, "in Adam" we fell or were corrupted by sin. Did we sin? Yes, "in Adam" we sinned. Yet "in Christ" we are pronounced innocent. The most wondrous truth of the Gospel is that, through Jesus Christ, God accepts us as though we have not sinned. If God still looks at us as if we were sinners (even in the past) we would not be accepted, free from guilt and shame, nor could be considered righteous by God (Psalm 130:3,4). A pardon is given to those indicted, found guilty in a court of law, sentenced, and then the sentence has been commuted to release from incarceration. However, justification means more than pardon. Jesus not only took our demerit. He gave us His MERIT. We are attributed, counted, reckoned, or imputed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ! It means that God looks at us as IN JESUS and declares us right and proven right - just as Jesus is.

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN BE ACQUITTED OF OUR SINS? IT IS BECAUSE GOD COUNTS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST TO US. WE ARE INNOCENT PEOPLE IN CHRIST!

It is easy to understand what counted, reckoned or imputed (depending on the English translation of the word logizomai) means. We need to think about what happened when Jesus took our sin and penalty of death. When Jesus took our sins God did not MAKE Jesus a sinner. He was not a sinner by nature. Yet because Jesus offered up His life to God for us, God COUNTED or attributed our sins to Him. It was not a "mental game" with God. It is not "legal fiction." A literal transfer of our sins to His account takes place. Nevertheless, Jesus Himself was not a sinner!

When one is justified God does not MAKE them righteous. What God does is COUNT or attribute the righteousness of Christ to the one who believes. Therefore God, because of Jesus’ work of atonement, provides His righteousness, which God counts as ours when we believe in Christ. This means that our salvation takes place outside us. It was accomplished outside us two thousand years ago. The ascended Jesus Christ as our High Priest before God maintains it for us. My salvation is "IN CHRIST." I do not do it. I trust in the One who did it for me.

We can see that the whole work of Christ in redemption is for our justification. "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Romans 4:25) Jesus died to take our sin and was resurrected FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION. Why is this? We needed MORE than the remission of sin. We needed righteousness to stand before God. Jesus’ resurrection, which included his Ascension and glorification, was necessary for us. Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven is essential for our salvation and justification. Through His Ascension He represents us with His righteousness before God. "It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8:34)

The reason Jesus ascended bodily into Heaven or into the very Presence of God was to stand at the "right hand" of God for us. Why the right hand? The right hand of God symbolizes the righteousness of God. "According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness." (Psalm 48:10) Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7). The Sanhedrin had just condemned Stephen to death for blasphemy. Nevertheless, God allowed Stephen to know that before God he was not condemned. He had an "Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (1 John 2:1) Stephen was right with God through Jesus although he was all wrong with his own nation and religion.

One day, Christ will no longer stand at God’s right hand as mediator. Christ will assume His place on the throne and God will be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:28) But at this time, He is our great High Priest (Hebrews 3:1; 4:14). He is the Lamb of God (John 1:29). He is the mediator between God and Humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus is our righteousness.

In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. (Jeremiah 33:16; cp 23:6)

He is the Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18) which is His Body. While we are on earth, our Head represents us in Heaven as our righteousness before God. Something of Christ in Heaven is connected to us now. Something of us is now before God in Heaven. How is this possible? Because we are "in Christ" by faith. (1 Corinthians 1:30) "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ . . . " (Romans 8:1) Jesus has already stood before the White Throne of judgment for us. We are not condemned. We are declared just - justified. NOW!

Next, we need to know what faith means in common usage. First, it means far more than knowledge or acknowledgment. It means trust or reliance. "Reliance upon a thing or person supposed to be trustworthy, this is Faith."

To have faith means more than to have an opinion, belief or conviction. Some make the mistake of faulting those who hold to "faith alone." They claim it is "easy believism" or mere "mental assent." The issue is not one of "easy believism" or "uneasy legalism." The issue is the clear meaning of faith as presented in Scripture. The phrase "easy believism" betrays the lack of understanding of what is meant throughout Scripture by saving faith. Paul quotes Genesis 15:6 when speaking of saving faith in Romans chapter four. "Abraham believed God and it was counted (imputed, reckoned) unto him for righteousness." This faith is an attitude of trust in the character of God. Some say it this way, "Abraham BELIEVED God," with the emphasis on "believed." However, it should be said, "Abraham believed GOD," with the emphasis on God. FAITH IS TRUST IN THE CHARACTER OF GOD!

To have faith in a commander does not mean merely to entertain a conviction, a belief, however positive, that he is skillful and competent . . . No, to have faith in a commander implies a view of him in which we either actually do, or are quite ready to, trust ourselves and our cause to his command.

For example, when one gets on a plane one does not simply hold an opinion as to the competence of the pilot. One literally entrust one’s life into his hands. This is faith as trust (fiducia) or reliance.

Faith must have something worthy of trust as its object or end. In the Gospel, the object of faith is Jesus Christ. By faith we place our souls in His hands. The whole of one’s relationship to God is a commitment of trust.

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19 KJV)

Peter says that we entrust our souls to God because we believe Him to be a faithful Creator.

We must be careful of our definitions of faith. Some have alluded to Hebrews 11:1 as a definition of faith. It is not a definition, but, a description of what happens because of faith. Faith is not a power or faculty in itself which "moves" or "compels" God. It is an attitude of confidence in God Himself. It always points to the One in whom it is placed. Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, they all treated the hoped-for and the unseen as solid and certain because they all relied upon the faithful Promiser . . . It was reliance on the Promiser. It was taking God at His Word.

We must always remember that the quality or power of our faith is based on what or in whom we trust and not in our faith itself!

IF OUR FAITH IS IN THE OMNIPOTENT, ETERNAL, LIVING GOD, WHO BECAME THE MAN, JESUS CHRIST, THEN OUR FAITH IS MOST EXCELLENTLY AND WONDERFULLY FOUNDED. Reliance upon the Maker of Heaven and Earth is the most powerful faith. Not because of the believer, but because of Whom the believer believes. Faith is so great, effective, and powerful for us because it is in Jesus Christ. His is the Glory, the Kingdom, the Power forever. It is faith in the One worthy of all "power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory and blessing." He is the "Blessed and Only Potentate the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen." (1 Tim 6:15,16)

DOES FAITH + OBEDIENCE = JUSTIFICATION?

Some may claim that we honor God through obedience as part of our salvation. The simplest answer to this is found in Romans. Paul received a new understanding of obedience that the Gospel teaches or makes possible. In Romans 1:5 Paul speaks of "the obedience of faith". While some have attempted to say that Paul meant that true faith is obedience, THIS IS THE VERY OPPOSITE OF WHAT HE MEANT. Paul claims that TRUE OBEDIENCE is FAITH! This is a radical transformation of the meaning of obedience for a one time Pharisee. Still, we can see that this is consistent with the claim for justification by faith. We can also marvel at the beauty of it. Throughout Romans and his other epistles, Paul declares and constantly argues for faith as the basis for salvation. The obedience of faith is that, by believing, we have reached or showed the highest form of obedience possible. By faith in God we have truly obeyed Him because we totally trust in Him to be God. We trust in God’s means of saving us - Jesus Christ alone! By faith in Jesus Christ we truly obey God’s call to, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." (Isaiah 45:22)

Some will say that obedience is obeying enabled by the "grace of God." They may say that we are justified by grace in that "grace" or the "Holy Ghost" enables us to act righteously. They then conclude we are justified by the righteousness, which God enables us to produce in our own lives. The serious flaw in this interpretation is that our righteousness is never complete or perfect. This is what Paul is explaining in Romans chapter seven. The believer is never righteous or holy enough in this life to merit God’s verdict or pronouncement of righteous. It is true that righteousness is produced in cooperation with grace or the Spirit. But it is not SAVING RIGHTEOUSNESS. Only Jesus Christ’s righteousness is sufficient to save us! Our righteousness by the Spirit is a RESULT of salvation, not FOR our salvation.

Neither is the baptism of the Holy Ghost a baptism of justifying righteousness. The Spirit is given to the one who is justified by faith. In Acts Peter explained to the counsel of elders that God had given the Holy Ghost to Cornelius’ household as a result of justifying faith.

And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. (Acts 15:8-11 KJV)

It is clear that, throughout the New Testament, God gave His Spirit to those who were justified by faith. It was their faith in the work of Christ which made it possible for them to receive the GIFT of the Spirit. It is a "gift" because Jesus Christ earned it by His death, resurrection, and glorification. When He ascended He gave gifts to men. The gift of the Holy Ghost comes by Jesus’ work of justification. In all instances faith was first because it was the most important. Everything in the believer’s life is contingent and dependent on their justification by faith.

DOES "FAITH" SAVE US OR DOES GOD?

It is good that we understand something else about faith. WE CANNOT FALL INTO SATAN’S TRAP OF MAKING FAITH A "SAVIOR" OR AN IDOL. WE DO NOT TRUST IN OUR FAITH!

If we emphasize the power of one person’s faith over another, we are in danger of making faith an idol. When we spend time being anxious over whether we trust enough or if we have enough faith to do this or that, we are in danger of trusting more in our ability to believe than in the power of Jesus Christ. To focus any attention on the power of one’s faith is to take away from the greatness and graciousness of Jesus Christ. When we truly believe we turn our eyes to Jesus and "faith forgets itself" in the presence of Him Who is Faithful.

It is good that we understand something else about faith. WE CANNOT FALL INTO SATAN’S TRAP OF MAKING FAITH A "SAVIOR" OR AN IDOL. WE DO NOT TRUST IN OUR FAITH!

If we emphasize the power of one person’s faith over another, we are in danger of making faith an idol. When we spend time being anxious over whether we trust enough or if we have enough faith to do this or that, we are in danger of trusting more in our ability to believe than in the power of Jesus Christ. To focus any attention on the power of one’s faith is to take away from the greatness and graciousness of Jesus Christ. When we truly believe we turn our eyes to Jesus and "faith forgets itself" in the presence of Him Who is Faithful.

The little word "by" in "justified by faith" (Romans 3:28; 5:1; Galatians 3:24; et. al) is important, both for what it means and for what it does not mean. First, it does not mean "on account of." This would make justification a reward for how much faith we have. We know that justification is "by grace" (Rom. 3:24; 4:16; 11:6; Eph. 2:5, 8). If we are made right with God based on how good or strong our faith is, then we are not justified as a gift. We are rewarded for our faith.

What "by" means is that through faith we are justified. Faith is like an instrument through which justification comes to us. It is an attitude of receiving. It is "submitting ourselves to the righteousness of God." (Romans 10:3) By illustration, the hostage does not rescue himself, but simply receives the rescue. Also, the banks of the river do not cause the waters to flow, but merely receive waters. So faith does not cause salvation, but is simply an attitude of receiving, trusting in, or submitting to the waters of salvation.

Some have made the serious mistake of teaching that the "means of grace" are the means of salvation. There is only one means of salvation. That is faith in Jesus Christ alone. Subsequently, there are many means of grace: baptism, the Lord’s Supper, prayer, Scripture reading, preaching, et. al. It is crucial that one understands that faith is the "way," the "by," through which we come to Christ. When we come to Him, we do it by faith. When we come by faith we are saved.

Tragically, many Christians speak of justification as an ongoing or future tense process in their Christian life. What is being taught as justification is sanctification. This is the basic view of the Roman Catholic Church. It is their view that grace is infused into the believer giving them the ability to become righteous in themselves. Ironically, one is not justified in this life (except certain saints), and therefore those who hold to this definition of justification are not saved - either according to the Bible’s teaching or by their OWN theology!!

This is not how Paul taught it. The ongoing process of the Christian life is called sanctification. While Paul does not separate sanctification from justification, he does distinguish them. Justification (being right with God) is first and is the basis for sanctification (being made like Christ). One cannot hope to live a holy life unless they are right with God. What some are trying to do is live a holy life to get right with God. This is not redemption. This is a self-justification. Self-justification does not glorify God. Christ-justification does!

When we are justified, we then have all that we need to live a holy life unto God. We live our lives to God out of gratitude and not out of the desire to avoid Hell or claim Heaven. When we seek to be righteous to be saved, we are doing it for ourselves. However, when we live a holy life out of the deepest gratitude for what Jesus has done, we do it for God. Let us remember: No one will bow down and sing praise to the "white robes" given to the saints. It is not our own righteousness we will magnify in Heaven. We will all worship the Lamb of God, who has redeemed us to God by His blood, forever and ever. The glory is Christ’s alone!