|
Justification is the biblical word that means "made righteous." It means that our sins have been forgiven, we are declared "not guilty", and also declared righteous.
How Can I Have Justification?
To be declared righteous is the gift of God. In a phrase, justification is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. This may sound repetitive, but the word "alone" is crucial to understanding how you can be saved from God's wrath.
Grace Alone
Salvation is a gift of God and can never be earned or merited. " But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law." (Romans 3:21-28, NASB95) "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NASB95) "In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace." (Romans 11:5-6, NASB95)
Faith Alone
Justification is received by the sinner through faith, not through their own human efforts. "Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness," (Romans 4:4-5, NASB95) "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”" (Romans 1:16-17, NASB95) "But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:22-26, NASB95) "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith..." (Philippians 3:8-9, NASB95)
Christ Alone
There is no other mediator between God and man than the Lord Jesus Christ. No church, priest, saint, or anyone else can represent us before the Father. "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time." (1 Timothy 2:5-6, NASB95) "“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”" (Acts 4:12, NASB95) "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6, NASB95)
|
|
