What is justification?
Quick Answer
Justification is God's act of declaring guilty sinners righteous based on Christ's perfect righteousness, received through faith - as if they had never sinned.
Understanding Justification
Justification is a legal term describing God's declaration that a sinner is righteous in His sight. It is not about becoming righteous through moral improvement, but being declared righteous through Christ's righteousness credited to our account. The Greek word 'dikaioo' means to declare or pronounce righteous. When God justifies a sinner, He does not ignore sin or pretend it does not exist. Rather, through Christ's death, the penalty for sin has been fully paid. Christ bore our sins, and His righteousness is imputed (credited) to all who believe. This is the great exchange: our sin was placed on Christ at the cross, and His righteousness is placed on us through faith. Justification is instantaneous, complete, and irreversible - believers are forever right with God.
In the Old Testament
The concept of justification appears in the Old Testament through declarations of righteousness and the sacrificial system. Abraham believed God, and it was 'counted unto him for righteousness' (Genesis 15:6) - the classic Old Testament statement of justification by faith. The sacrificial system pointed to the need for atonement and the covering of sin, though animal sacrifices could never truly remove guilt. The Psalms speak of God not imputing sin and the blessedness of forgiveness (Psalm 32:1-2). Isaiah prophesied of One who would 'justify many' by bearing their iniquities (Isaiah 53:11).
In the New Testament
Paul's letters, especially Romans and Galatians, develop the doctrine of justification most fully. He argues that justification comes through faith in Christ, apart from works of the law (Romans 3:28). This was revolutionary - Gentiles could be justified on the same basis as Jews, through faith. James balances this teaching by emphasizing that genuine faith produces works (James 2:24), not contradicting Paul but showing that saving faith is never inactive. The doctrine of justification was central to the Protestant Reformation and remains foundational to understanding the gospel.
Key Scripture References
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Read full commentary →Romans 5:1“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Read full commentary →Romans 4:5“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
Read full commentary →Galatians 2:16“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ.”
Read full commentary →Romans 8:1“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”
Read full commentary →2 Corinthians 5:21“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Read full commentary →Related Concepts
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