Justification by Faith- The heart of the Gospel.
Wayne Duncan
What makes this the great anchor of Christian theology? What is it about this biblical cornerstone that has caused riot and revolution in the Christian Church throughout history?
We see that when this truth is lost the church spirals downward into darkness, the dark ages bearing witness to this fact. Deviation from this central truth will always lead to devastation.
Why is this statement of truth, so crucially important to the world? It's imperative to see this clearly for it is the way in which God had decided to bring, and keep His created into right relationship with Him. Seeking this reconciliation outside of this, is a wasted hope. Attempting to be in right standing outside of this truth is futile.
"The confession of divine Justification, touches mans life at it's heart, at the point of it's relationship to God. It defines the preaching of the church, the existence and the progress of the life of faith, the root of human security and mans perspective of the future" John Piper in "God is the Gospel" page 44.
Born out His love, God had a council in heaven ( Eph 1:11). It was decided, the terms, the condition of reconciliation unto eternal life. That eternal life was then made available to all who would believe in Jesus. Upon believing, coming to faith in God's provision of life, activates your Justification, you are then given righteousness, and seen as holy, blameless and perfect in His sight ( Eph 1:4), having been made perfect forever by the sacrifice of Jesus ( Heb 7:28). Were saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8). When we come into this life, we are born again (John 3 ). Our dead spirit comes alive, all the fullness of God dwells within this spirit, it's a new creation ( 2 Cor 5:17), alive to God, totally surrendered to God, eager to do what is good ( Titus 2:14) fully in love with God…
"All of the people I've know who have experienced gods peace were those who had a revelation of Justification by faith. That's the only way to ever have peace with God."
Andrew Wommack.
Those who do not believe the message and place faith in Jesus are not made righteous. A day is set where very person will appear before God ( Acts 17:30, Rev 20), and they will be judged ( Heb 9:27 ), those who believe in Jesus, and are therefore Justified ( Gal 2:16), will have eternal life ( John 3:16) in the presence of God. Those who are not reconciled to God, through the acceptance of Jesus punishment, judgment and death on their behalf, will themselves be judged, punished and given eternal death and separation from God.( John 3:16, Mark 16:16 2, Thes 1:6-10 )
"Justification by faith", protects the Gospel from the left and from the right. On the left or those who say we need the law, and works to be justified, even if we have faith. On the right are those who claim everyone (all humanity) are justified already, apart from faith.
A closer look at the definition of Justification.
Please note that as we explore these definitions, you will see the correlation between justification and righteousness.
Definitions:
"Justification is an instantaneous legal act of God in which he 1) thinks of our sins forgiven and Christ's righteousness belonging to us, and 2) declares us to be righteous in our sight."
"The verb justify in the New Testament (Gk. Dikaioo~ ) has a range of meanings, but a very common sense is "to declare righteous"
Wayne Grudum…Systematic theology, page 723
" justified. Paul uses the Greek verb for "Justified" 27 times, mostly in Romans and Galatians. It is translated "Justify" in all cased except two ( Romans 2:13, and 3:20, where it is translated declared righteous"). The term describes what happens when people believe in Christ as their Savior: From the negative viewpoint, God declares them to be not guilty; from the positive viewpoint , He declares them to be righteous. He cancels the guilt of their sin and credits righteousness to them"
"The legal declaration is valid, because Christ died to pay the penalty for our sin, and lived a life of perfect righteousness that can in turn be imputed to us. This is the central theme as stated in Rom 1:17 "a righteousness from God"
"The central thought of Justification is that, although people clearly and totally deserve to be declared guilty (vv9-19), God declares them righteous because of their trust in Christ. This is stated in several ways here.1) "freely" (as a gift for nothing) ..2) "by His grace", 3) "through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" and 4) "by faith"
NIV Study bible commentary from Romans 3:24 page 1750
Justification is when we are legally and relationally placed into right relationship with God.
This includes :
The total forgiveness of sins, the absolution of wrath, the imputation of Christ's righteousness, a creation of new life, the entrance into eternal life, the adoption as sons, the receiving of the inheritance, the removal of guilt, the destruction of shame, the removal of accusation, our perfection, our pardon, our freedom, our confidence, the removal the dividing wall of hostility and our hope of Glory. The ultimate prize resulting…His presence now, and forever more.
The "Twins"
Did you see how Justification and righteousness cannot be separated?
If your Justified, your righteous. If your righteous, your Justified. Technically, were Justified and then righteous, but they still accompany eachother.
An examination of the two words in Greek clearly presents this "twinship"…
Justified G1344
Δικαιόω dikaioō dik-ah-yo'-o
From G1342; to render (that is, show or regard as) just or innocent: - free, justify (-ier), be righteous.
Righteous G1343
Δικαιοσύνη dikaiosunē dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay
From G1342; equity (of character or act); specifically (Christian) justification: - righteousness.
The Greek word for Justified means Righteous, and the Greek word for Righteous, means Justified.
Sometimes you will even find the words used interchangeably in the bible.
Have a look at these scriptures.
Romans 4:5 ESV And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness
Romans 5:1 ESV Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
The above two scriptures show righteousness and Justification by faith.
The following scriptures show justification and righteousness apart from the law.
Romans 3:21: But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it -
Romans 3:28: For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
This clearly shows that although these are different words with different meanings, they both serve to explain what has happened to us when we step into right relationship with God.
So how do we get Justified?
The simple answer is "by Faith", or by believing.
Galatians 2:16-17 ESV yet we know that a person is not justified(Or counted righteous (three times in verse 16); also verse 17) by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ,(Or through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ) so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
(note that the foot notes here also include righteous in this explanation)
So here we clearly have it. When we believe in Jesus, we are Justified by faith in Christ.
Abraham was a shadow of this, he believed God and was declared righteous. (Rom 4)
Galatians 3:8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify(Or count righteous; also verses 11, 24) the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed."
This is supported by further scripture.
Romans 3:26 ESV It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Rom 3:28 ESV For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Rom 5:1 ESV Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we(Some manuscripts let us) have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we have also obtained access by faith(Some manuscripts omit by faith) into this grace in which we stand
This is consistent with Jesus appeal to "believe" in Him.
Have a look at what Jesus says about believing in Him in John. All passages are from the ESV bible.
John 1:12: Bt to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
John 3:15: that whoever believes in him may have eternal life
John 3:16: For God so loved the world,(Or For this is how God loved the world) that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life
John 3:18: Woever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God
John 3:36: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him
John 5:24: Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
John 6:29: Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
John 6:35: Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
John 6:40: For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."
John 6:47: Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
John 6:69: and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."
John 7:38: Whoever believes in me, as(Or let him come to me, and let him who believes in me drink. As) the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"
John 7:39: Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 8:24: I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins."
John 10:26: but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.
John 11:25: Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.(Some manuscripts omit and the life) Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
John 11:26: and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
John 11:27: She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."
John 11:40: Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"
John 12:46: I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
John 14:1: "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;(Or You believe in God) believe also in me.
John 14:12: "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
John 20:29: Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
John 20:31: but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Jesus spoke a lot about "believing in Him". These passages clearly show that Jesus was the Son of the loving Father God ,come to earth, so that whoever believes and receives Him, shall pass from death and judgment and condemnation, into eternal life, where steams of living water, the holy spirit and power will now flow. When we "believe", these come to us by grace through faith in Jesus. When we believe, were Justified, and made righteous. It's this Justification that results from believing in Him that positions us for every promise from God.
Is it our faith that Justifies us?
No were justified through faith in Jesus, it's not our faith that justifies us, it's faith in Jesus.
722 grudem
When do you get Justified?
We are justified the moment we believe. It's an instant event.
Galations 2:16 so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ
Galatians 3:8: And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify(Or count righteous; also verses 11, 24) the Gentiles by faith
This is evidenced by a new birth, and a new creation by the power and working of the Holy Spirit (and the Father) through regeneration.
Ephesians 1:13: In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
Who is Justified before God?
Those who believe in Jesus to be Savior, and trust in His sacrifice on their behalf. Those who have placed their faith in Him. This is clear from the passages we have studied.
No one can be Justified apart from belief in Jesus, there is no other way available to man, this is Gods prescribed, predestined plan of redemption.
Errors resulting from not understanding Justification.
1. A person is justified by obeying the law. (leads to legalism)
2. A person is justified by doing works. (leads to performance and ritual)
3. A person is justified by Jesus' faith. (undoes need for personal belief, no free will)
4. All humanity is already justified. (undoes Judgment day and Hell, no free will)
5. All will be justified. (leads to inclusion, cancels eternal hell, no free will)
6. There can be Justification without belief. (allows 3-5)
7. Jesus was Just a man ( Jesus came to show us who weve always been)
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