Justification

Justification.  Such a big intimidating word yet it can be the most beautiful word you have ever heard if you are a believer in Jesus Christ.  The doctrine of justification is the heart of what the gospel is.  Our position in Christ and our relationship to Christ hinges on this doctrine.  Simply, justification means that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone through grace alone.  

Who are we?

Our flesh nature is nasty and sinful.  One of my favorite passages to remind myself exactly what my flesh can look like and who I am apart from Jesus Christ is Romans 3.  Apart from Jesus Christ, we are dead in our sins.

10 As it is written:

   “There is no one righteous, not even one;
 11 there is no one who understands;
   there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
   they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
   not even one.”
13 “Their throats are open graves;
   their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
 14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
 16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.”
 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

This passage reminds us that NO ONE is good.  Who we are in our flesh isn’t pretty.  I talked about what this looks like in my life in part of my testimony, The Good Girl Syndrome.  

Who is Jesus?

Jesus is the second person of the Trinity.  Fully God and fully man, He was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life while on earth.  He died on a cross where He bore the full weight of the sin of mankind in order to pay the penalty that is required for sin. He was resurrected on the third day and then ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father.

Why is justification necessary?

God is Holy and can not tolerate sin. In our sinful state, we can not enter the presence of God.  We can not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ here on earth nor can we spend eternity in heaven with Him.  Sin separates us.  Jesus’ work on the cross removes the barrier and Christ’s righteousness is imputed (transferred) to the sinner.  Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, a sinner is declared righteous in the sight of God.

How are you justified?

A believer is justified when they are drawn to faith by the Holy Spirit.  They recognize their separation from God and their need for a Savior and in repentance confess this sin and need.

When does justification occur?

A sinner is justified once at conversion and does not have to “earn” God’s favor.  Once a believer is declared “not guilty” and “now righteous,” it is a complete work.  It is common for our flesh to want to feel like we have to work for or earn the work of justification, but when we do that, we diminish Christ’s work on the cross.  Tomorrow’s post will look further into this temptation as we look at Acts 15 and the Jerusalem Council.

Have you come to the point in your life where you believe that being aware of your sin and separation from God, you have repented of your sin and believed that by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone you can be declared righteous in the eyes of God?