What is justification? Technically speaking, many simply view justification as the act or action of showing something or proving something to be right or reasonable. However, what’s “right” or “reasonable” has no clear objective platform to speak from because “right” and “reasonable” may vary considerably from one individual to another or from one situation to another.
As a result, the more common definition of this word varies greatly from its biblical definition and the work that’s required to bring about spiritual or complete moral and ethical “justification.” In the context of the one true God, His Son, Jesus Christ, and spirituality as spoken of in the scriptures, justification comes from a different angle, is based upon a dissimilar foundation, and exceptionally unique to genuine, grace-based, Christianity.
According to God’s Word, “there is none righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). Therefore, the universality of humanity’s sin poses a significant problem, actually an insurmountable difficulty, for any and all individuals when it comes to justification before a Holy, sinless, and righteous Lord. All men and women are not only born in sin (Eph 2:3), but all have also committed numerous actual transgressions, which render them liable to separation from a Holy and sinless, righteous God and ultimate condemnation/judgement. Romans 3:9-20 documents this human difficulty as the universal experience of both the Greek (heathen) / Gentiles (Romans 1:18-32) and of the Jews (Romans 2:17-28; 3:9) alike.
The perfection of God’s Law requires, by necessity, its perfect observance! Therefore, how is one’s justification, as a sinful individual, to come through the Law (Romans 3:10-11)? If anyone had truly kept the law, God could not / would not hold him/her guilty (Romans 2:12-13). However, such obedience has never existed, except in Jesus Christ Himself.
The modern-day notion of God being a good-natured, more or less nonchalant ruler, is conclusively not the Lord of the scriptures, nor the one Whom we love, believe, rely upon and faithfully serve.
I Corinthians 15:3 declares, “Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures.” Romans 5:6 affirms that while we, as sinful humans were helpless in our sin, “Christ died for the ungodly.” Therefore, our justification comes in/through His blood and it is in/through Him that we are saved from God’s wrath as Law-breakers.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Romans 5:8-10
Therefore, as a result, there is no reconciliation and no justification available to men and women except through, by, and in Christ!
Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; Whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation (full payment) in His blood through faith.
Romans 3:24-25
Now that’s an indescribable gift, and as an act of the Almighty, can never be removed, voided, outdone, or taken away!
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1
By GRACE (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense) … His & Yours, — Pastor Frank