What does justification mean?

Martin Luther said that the teaching of justification is the teaching upon which the church stands or falls!  He saw this as being the foundation of all of Christian doctrine. 

Justification, in the biblical sense, means being declared “right” in God’s sight. 

When I am justified before God it is “just as if I’d” never sinned. 

Verses that pertain to justification:

These verses clearly show that being just before God is not a work that we are capable of doing.  God is who justifies the wicked, and to God’s standard, we’re all wicked!  We however are declared “just” or “right” in God’s eyes based on the work of Christ. If we try to justify ourselves, we will only fail, no matter how “good” we are. 

Images of Justification

This image below shows the separation that sinful mankind has with God, who is holy.  To bridge this gap, we must be holy as God is holy.  This is a Mission: Impossible. 

This image below shows that the work of Christ bridges the separation between sinful mankind and God.

Key Points about Justification

·         Justification is being just, or righteous.

·         Our justification comes from Jesus alone.

·         We are declared just.  We are not literally made holy, not yet.

·         Because justification is being declared just, it is instantaneous.

·         Justification is not a process, in which we are literally made to be holy.

·         The components of justification are by grace, through faith, on account of Christ, and without human merit.

·         Sanctification is a process in which we are being made holy.

·         Sanctification begins at the same instance as justification.

·         Sanctification will never be complete for us this side of heaven. 

Different Justification Definitions

Objective justification is the extent of Christ’s justifying work.  His death and resurrection have brought salvation to all men.  1 John 2:2 says, "He [Jesus] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the sins of the whole world." However, this does not mean that there is universal justification, that everyone is justified.  Just because Christ’s work justified the world to the Father, individuals must receive the benefits of this justification through faith.  Subjective justification is when an individual receives the benefits of Christ’s justifying work to himself or herself through faith.  Justification is forensic justification, in which we are declared just. 

Key Verses about Justification

Romans 4:1-5 “What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.”

Romans 4:25 “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”

Acts 13:38-39 “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.”