What Is Justification?

 

Is there a reason you need to be justified? What exactly does justification mean? Can you be justified by good deeds? Or is justification by faith?

Most people consider the topic of justification to be deeply theological and just too difficult to understand. Yet the basic concept can be made plain with an examination of the Scriptures.

Just what is justification?

The New Testament was preserved in the Greek language, and “justification” is translated from one of two Greek words. The first is dikaiosis. This word “denotes the act of pronouncing righteous, justification, acquittal; its precise meaning is determined by that of the verb dikaioo, to justify … signifying the establishment of a person as just by acquittal from guilt” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1997, p. 614).

The other Greek word for justification is dikaioma. Vine’s says this word “is a declaration that a person or thing is righteous.” The definition further signifies “a sentence of acquittal, by which God acquits men of their guilt.”

These Greek words mean that when God acquits and absolves us of all blame and guilt for our sins, we become just and innocent in His sight. Justification comes as a result of God’s initiative toward us through His grace, and by our faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. This is noted in the following scriptures:

• “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ” (Romans 3:23-24).
• “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:8-9).

Our future eternal life in God’s coming Kingdom depends on being justified by God. We need to have our sins forgiven by Him, and that is all made possible by Christ’s shed blood.

What is required for a person to be justified?

The answer is faith. We are justified by faith. “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28).

Justification requires a deep belief in Christ and in the acceptance of His shed blood for the remission of sins. Even doing all kinds of good deeds of the law will not justify anyone.God responds to those who have faith. “In His forbearance God has passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Christ” (Romans 3:25-26).

Justification requires a deep belief in Christ and in the acceptance of His shed blood for the remission of sins. Even doing all kinds of good deeds of the law will not justify anyone.

Notice Acts 13:39: “By Him [Christ] everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

Jesus Christ died for our sins. He rose from the dead to provide justification for all who acknowledge and repent of their sins. Those who symbolically are buried in the waters of baptism and rise up again to live a new life in Christ live in a justified state.

Baptism pictures our being joined with Christ in His death and burial, and also in His resurrection to life. Because He is worthy to live, we are declared worthy to live in union with Him. So we are justified in His name. “But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

“Therefore, as through one man’s [Adam’s] offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s [Christ’s] righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life” (Romans 5:18).

From then on, those who have been justified shall live by faith. Galatians 3:11 says: “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith.’”

What must a justified person do?

The Bible says the just are to live by faith. Therefore, the new life in Christ will be a life of faith and obedience to God’s laws. Lawlessness and transgressing God’s commandments are behaviors that are unacceptable to God in the justified Christians. So a lawful life of obedience to God is what a just person will do to demonstrate his or her faith.

The apostle James stresses that good works will accompany faith in the just man: “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when He offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled, which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:20-24).

Jesus Christ perfectly obeyed the law in all its spiritual intent. He wants us to live a lawful, obedient, righteous life as well. God has standards for what a “just” man will do, living a life of obedience and faith. So ultimately “not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified” (Romans 2:13).

God has specified what a just person will do: “But if a man is just and does what is lawful and right; if he has not … lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, nor defiled his neighbor’s wife … if he has not oppressed anyone, but has restored to the debtor his pledge; has robbed no one by violence, but has given his bread to the hungry and covered the naked with clothing; if he has not exacted usury nor taken any increase, but has withdrawn his hand from iniquity and executed true judgment between man and man; if he has walked in My statutes, and kept My judgments faithfully—he is just; he shall surely live!” (Ezekiel 18:5-9).

Christians are to be just by God’s reckoning. If a just person falls into a sin, he or she must seek forgiveness from God and atonement for the sin by the blood of Christ. Because, “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin” (Romans 4:7-8).

What is justification and its outcome?

Notice the end result of the justification process from God’s perspective: “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:30).

A great blessing is in store for those who are justified—being glorified! This refers to receiving eternal life and reigning with Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God (Zechariah 14:9; Revelation 5:10).

Paul also sums up the outcome of being justified: “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7).

What is justification? It’s a legal acquittal given to us by God. We must have faith in God and in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Each of us must acknowledge and repent of past sins, be baptized for the forgiveness of our sins and believe that those sins are forgiven. We must then commit to living our lives according to God’s will as revealed in the Bible. This is the process of justification, and it is why being justified by God is so important for our salvation.

Learn more about how God wants us to respond to Him by downloading our free booklet Change Your Life!

Justification: How Can We Be Justified?

 

Christ’s willingness to die for our sins made possible the gift of justi“Through one Man’s righteous act [Jesus Christ’s sacrifice] the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life” (Romans 5:18).

Justification is a legal standing before God, in which we are absolved from all blame and guilt. A person is justified through his or her faith in Jesus Christ, whose shed blood “cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7 ). Being justified will lead to eternal life.

The Bible mentions that grace, faith and the blood of Christ are what justify a person. Justification is not something we can earn. We cannot be justified of past sins by the deeds of the law (Romans 3:20 ), though once justified, we must strive not to earn the death penalty again.

Justification is a life-long process. Our faith in Christ is continually perfected in good works (James 2:22 ). When we sin, we are to confess those sins to God, and He is faithful to forgive (1 John 1:9 ). Therefore, “who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies” (Romans 8:33). Read more about how we can be justified in the related articles.

ficationChrist’s willingness to die for our sins made possible the gift of justification. What is justification? How does it fit into God’s plan for you?. What is justification? How does it fit into God’s plan for you?

What Causes Violence?

 

Violence fills today’s news. It seems there is one vicious and violent act after another. What is the cause of violence, and will it ever end?

A recent headline from Oklahoma read, “Police Identify Victim, Suspect in Fatal Hobby Lobby Warehouse Shooting.”

Atlanta: “Man Charged With Shooting, Killing Clark Atlanta Baseball Player Sitting in Car, Police Say.”

Then there are the ones that make national news, like this one from Uvalde, Texas: “At Least 19 Children, 2 Adults Killed After Shooter Opens Fire at Texas Elementary School.”

And even as this was being written, a gunman killed eight at a mall in Allen, Texas.

The images of the horror that take place every time this happens rightly get people upset. We should be moved by the loss of life and destruction of families in these circumstances. Everyone would like this problem to be fixed. 

The source of violence

Why do people do these things to each other?

What does Scripture have to say about the subject? The following verses give us a clue as to what God has to say about what motivates people:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matthew 15:19).

God’s Word tells us these things come from the heart of men. That is where they begin and are manifested into evil actions.

No matter where one stands on the issue of the availability of weapons, one thing should be agreed upon: In order for a gun or a knife or a baseball bat to do something evil, it has to have an evil person using it. (Of course, tragic accidents can occur to innocent people when they are careless, but this article is focused on intentional violence.) Like all murder and violence, it begins in the heart of a person.

The pathway to violence

In the school where I work, I am part of a team that is tasked with identifying and dealing with potential or active threats made at or toward our campus from students or other outside individuals. In this role I had the opportunity to attend a week-long conference hosted by the Texas School Safety Center.

One thing that numerous presenters kept referring to was that in most school shootings, there is a trail of indicators that the shooter leaves that hint at his future plans. This is known as the pathway to violence (Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management for Educators and Administrators, Texas School Safety Center).

It has four main steps: ideation, planning, preparation and implementation. 

• Ideation: Potential school shooters are expressing thoughts or fantasies (verbally to friends or on social media) considering the use of violence to address a real or perceived grievance, threat or provocation. 
• Planning: They begin giving thought and consideration not only to the idea of committing violence, but to the who, what, when, where and how of doing so. Expressions may begin to refer to timing, location, targets, means, methods, etc.
• Preparation: Beyond just acquiring weapons, this stage involves attempts to prepare for the violence and to develop or acquire the means and methods to engage in harm to target(s) or victim(s). They may try to obtain the means to fulfill their plans (e.g., weapons, tools, particular clothing, etc.). They may adjust plans if they encounter barriers or see opportunities that support their violent ideas and plans. They may also test boundaries to practice accessing secure areas.
• Implementation: The person of concern moves to carry out the violent plan.

The research behind this indicates there is rarely a spontaneous implementation of targeted violence. However, the rate at which an individual might move through these stages may vary.

A major point that was highlighted at the training was that if a person is discovered early on the pathway, then the likelihood of preventing a mass shooting goes up. Notice that during the first stage there is “a real or perceived grievance, threat or provocation” that has been unresolved. Essentially, the person of concern feels like violence is his only way to deal with a problem that has been going on too long.

For some, the unresolved problems could include bullying, social isolation, feeling like a failure, loss of a relationship, family problems, abuse, etc. For most it is not just one thing, but a multitude of unresolved things that have added up over months and years until the person reaches a boiling point and feels there is no way out.

It is critical that if someone notices a person struggling or having changes of behavior or mood, he or she should say something to the person or let a trusted adult know. (The txssc.txstate.edu website on threat assessment advises: If you see, hear, know something, say something and do something. This goes for students, parents, teachers or any community member.)

The pathway to violence in the story of Cain

When we consider this pathway to violence, we can see it as a reflection of what is described in Scripture.

“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:14-15).

When we give in to our own desires (allow them to take over our thoughts), we then act on them (carry them out). The result of this is death (spiritually and, in the case of a violent outburst, literally, in taking the lives of others).

The point of all this is that the act of violence begins with a thought. The means by which it is carried out is not the core issue; it goes much deeper into the heart of the individual. The apostle John tells us that hatred is the same as murder in 1 John 3:15.

Hatred comes from within. It has been around since the beginning of man, as we see in the example of Cain and Abel. Cain became the first murderer, probably using just a rock or club or his bare hands. How did it all start? Cain’s offering was not respected by God, and he became angry. God called him out: “Why has your countenance fallen?” Cain was visibly upset.

It seems that Cain was jealous that Abel’s offering was accepted but his offering wasn’t respected. It wasn’t Abel’s fault, but Cain seemed to blame him anyway.

Listen to what God said to Cain

Notice in Genesis 4:7 what God told Cain to do:

“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

God told Cain he needed to rule over, get control of, his emotions. In this sense, we are all like Cain. We’ve all had angry thoughts about a situation or how someone wronged us.

God tells us all the same thing He told Cain: we need to rule over our attitudes.

The apostle Paul later wrote: “‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27).

We can take great comfort knowing that Jesus Christ will return and usher in a new way of life for all mankind.God understands that we have emotions, that we are going to get angry. Sometimes it’s justified, and sometimes it’s not, but we feel angry anyway. Either way, we are to rule over it. We are to go and deal with it in a right spirit, seek to reconcile with the other person, before the day is gone so we do not let Satan gain a foothold in our heart. Going to bed angry makes for a bad night’s sleep and then a bad start to the next day. 

Paul also said, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). Sometimes it is not possible to reconcile, and sometimes the abuse and injustice are so great, we can’t even go to the perpetrators. But even then, we need to rely on God, and leave vengeance to Him (verse 19).

We must trust in God, and with His help, we can grow to have the peace of God that allows us to control our anger.

Failing to address these issues, as we saw with the pathway to violence, can lead to horrible outcomes. In the case of a Christian, it can mean his or her very salvation. If hatred of your brother is the same as murder, and murderers have no place in God’s Kingdom (Revelation 21:8), then we need to make sure our minds and hearts are not allowed to be hateful.

Christ tells us in Mark 7:20-23 that what comes out of us is what defiles us.

King David understood this, and he prayed fervently to God:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

A Christian’s source of defense

As the world descends into greater chaos and hatred, undoubtedly there will be more incidents of murder and mass shootings. Even the best plans of prevention, defense and securing schools won’t be able to stop all of them. It’s a tragic reality of the world today that has been going on since mankind began.

With this in mind, some conclude that they should prepare to defend themselves by arming themselves.

As Christians we have a Defender who never sleeps or takes a break and who can be in all places at once. We need to rely on Him to defend us.

In Psalm 59:9, King David wrote that “God is my defense.” We, too, need to be more trusting in our God to defend and strengthen us.

The ultimate solution to violence

Ultimately, there is only one solution that will end all anger, hatred and violence and the sorrow and suffering that follow it. We are told in 1 Thessalonians about how Christ will return:

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

“Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

We can take great comfort knowing that Jesus Christ will return and usher in a new way of life for all mankind. The eventual result of God’s way is what we see in Revelation 21:4:

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Only a change in people’s hearts will truly end the problem with gun violence. We eagerly wait and look for that day when Christ will return to put all nations under His feet and to bring the peace of His Kingdom to this world.

In the meantime, we need to carefully follow the instructions given in James 4:8:

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Sin Separates Us From God

 

If left unchecked, sin will destroy the most important relationship a Christian can have. Sin separates us from God, so how can we overcome sin?

The Bible tells us that sin is enticing and spiritually deadly.

James explained the process that leads to sin: “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:14-15).

The apostle John noted the continuing challenge of sin in 1 John 1:8: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” He includes himself in this statement!

True Christians are admonished to overcome and conquer sin. Paul encouraged the Christians in Rome: “Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts” (Romans 6:11-12). We must not let sin continue to rule our lives.

How deadly is sin?

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (verse 23). All sins are deadly. We have all earned death, but God offers life through the sacrifice of Christ.

It is a matter of either eternal life in God’s Kingdom or eternal death!

Satan was the instigator of sin

Satan lied in the Garden of Eden to convince humans to disobey—to choose the way that actually produces death. Adam and Eve’s sin and feelings of guilt led them to hide from God (Genesis 3:8).

Satan still deceives in order to lure us into sin. He possesses the ability to broadcast his destructive attitudes into our minds. He is a master of deception and the originator of lies (John 8:44), and his spirit “now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind” (Ephesians 2:2-3).

God wants us to repent and draw close to Him. Our loving Father wants us to be part of His eternal family.If we are striving to obey God, rather than allowing Satan to wrongly influence our lives, there will be a daily battle going on in our minds (Galatians 5:17). We will be endeavoring to abstain “from fleshly lusts”—uncontrolled physical desires—and resisting Satan the devil (1 Peter 2:11; 5:8-9).

It will mean “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience” (2 Corinthians 10:5-6).

The process of overcoming sin, then, requires rejecting the subtleties of Satan and developing more of the mind of Christ.

Christ’s suffering teaches us an important lesson about sin

Christ’s life was worth more than all of humanity. He was sinless, yet He was willing to die to pay the penalty for all sins committed on earth. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Imagine the weight of responsibility that rested on His shoulders. Without His sacrifice, all of humanity, including you and me, would have no hope of ever having our sins forgiven and eventually receiving eternal life.

After fervently praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and then being brutally scourged, Jesus Christ was crucified. It was during this time that He uttered seven short sentences recorded in the Gospels (see “Seven Last Sayings of Jesus”).

His fourth cry is of special significance, as it pertains to the grim and serious consequences of sin. Christ uttered these words as recorded in Matthew 27:46: “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying . . . ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’”

Why was Jesus forsaken?

King David once wrote, “I have not seen the righteous forsaken” (Psalm 37:25). To be forsaken means to be abandoned or left helpless. Being forsaken is a horrific experience, but to be forsaken by God would be the worst!

Surely His Father had not forsaken Him, as Jesus had previously declared, “The Father has not left Me alone” (John 8:29). But at this point, God did momentarily leave Him helpless. Why?

There was a reason. The prophet Isaiah had prophesied that Jesus would take on Himself all the sins of humanity: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

Therefore, since Jesus was now bearing the sins of the world, God would not intervene to ease anything associated with the penalty of sin. Sin causes suffering, and Christ bore its full weight, including the emotional trauma of comprehending how sin distances us from God!

Sin separates us from God

Sin and God are totally incompatible. Unless repented of, sin will sever the relationship and contact we have with God.

Notice Isaiah 59:1-2: “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”

Sin separates us from God. This spiritual principle was true while God was dealing with Old Testament Israel (Deuteronomy 31:17-18). And it will continue to be true into the future (Micah 3:4).

Important facts about sin

Since sin results in alienation from our Heavenly Father, we need to understand what sin is and the consequences it carries.

1. What is sin? “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4, King James Version). The opposite of sin, then, is obedience to God. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
2. There are no exceptions with God when it comes to sin. He will not compromise with sin. That knowledge should motivate you to “not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts” and to not let it “have dominion over you” (Romans 6:12, 14).
3. It is sobering to consider what God means when He defines the punishment for those who deliberately and willfully persist in disobeying Him (Hebrews 10:26-31; see “What Is the Unpardonable Sin?”).
4. Every time we sin, we are responsible and held accountable for the barbarous torture, suffering and ultimate death of our Savior Jesus Christ. He died for our sins!

Practical steps to overcoming sins

Considering the deadly effects of disobedience, how can we overcome sin?

1. Desire to please God. The process of overcoming sin should begin with a deep-seated and genuine desire to please God. The psalmist wrote: “With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:10-11). In his psalm of repentance, David recognized that all sins are committed against God: “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight” (Psalm 51:3-4). We should deeply desire not to disappoint God by taking sin lightly.
2. Pray. It is through prayer that we can have daily and regular contact with God. The closer we are in our walk with God, the more He will help us conquer our desires to succumb to sin.
3. Study the Bible. It is by saturating our minds with the Word of God that we will be able to resist Satan’s influences and stand firmly against temptations. One way we overcome the forces of evil is to devote time daily to the study of the Bible. It means putting on “the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles [margin: schemings] of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).
4. Love not the world. The apostle Paul cautioned true Christians: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). Likewise, the apostle John warned us not to love this world or society (1 John 2:15-17). He concluded that the present world’s systems will not last: “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (verse 17).
5. Receive God’s Holy Spirit. Christ dwells in us through the power of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 2:20). Our understanding of our calling to inherit eternal life is made clearer “according to the working of His mighty power” (Ephesians 1:18-19). We are sealed to ultimately inherit eternal life—and God guarantees that sealing (2 Corinthians 1:22). True Christians are not left to battle by themselves. In our time of need, our faithful High Priest is ready to help and support us (Hebrews 4:15-16). We can boldly come before His throne of mercy, and if we are genuine in our desire to obey and please God, we may rely on Him to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

Important! In order to receive God’s Spirit, we must accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, repent of our sins, be baptized and have the “laying on of hands” (Hebrews 6:2). These are vital steps God requires before He will offer us His Holy Spirit.

Do you see the need to change, but wonder what to do? Then download our booklet Change Your Life, which will lead you through the biblical process of conversion, including repentance and the receiving of the Holy Spirit.

Your offer from God

God has created us with free choice, and He will not force any person to obey Him.

God wants us to repent and draw close to Him. Our loving Father wants us to be part of His eternal family. That is a goal we should all strive for, but God leaves it up to us to choose this wonderful plan and incredible future He has prepared for us.

He is ready, willing and able to assist those who genuinely seek Him (Isaiah 55:6-7).

May you be among those who do!