What is justification by faith, part 2?

by Rick Brentlinger
(Pace, FL, USA)

We learned in What is justification by faith, part 1, that justification by faith is a legal declaration by God that a guilty sinner is innocent of sins, adjudicated not guilty by God as the judge of all the earth, Genesis 18:25, Romans 14:10, Rev 20:11-12, and the once guilty sinner has been given the righteousness of Christ as a free gift.

This legal declaration is based on the historical truth that Jesus has already paid for our sins and God the Father has accepted His payment. Therefore, when you repent of your sins and trust Jesus Christ, you can be saved without working to earn your salvation.

Justification by faith separates true Bible believers from all religious cults, from Catholicism and from everyone else who teaches salvation by faith plus something. The Bible presents justification by faith plus nothing meaning without any human works to earn salvation, as the only way to be saved.

6. The Channel of Justification

Biblical faith is defined as complete trust or confidence in God’s grace based on what God says in the Bible. To be justified means that when we trusted Christ, God declared us righteous.

In plainer words, God has taken away our sins and has freely given us the righteousness of Christ. So when the Bible says that we are "justified by faith" what does that mean, Romans 3:28; 5:1?

Will God justify us in exchange for our good works? Yes No

Will God justify us in exchange for our baptism?
Yes No

Will God justify us in exchange for joining the church? Yes No

Will God justify us for being kind to our fellow man? Yes No

How does a sinner get the perfect righteousness of Christ?  It is received "by faith," Romans 5:1, as a free gift, Romans 5:17, 6:23. The channel of justification is not our good works. The channel of justification is not our church membership. The channel of justification is not completing catechism or getting baptized.

God justifies sinners who believe in Jesus, apart from human works. God justifies, gives His righteousness as a free gift to everyone who receives God’s gift of righteousness: “much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness” Romans 5:17. Have you received the gift of righteousness? Yes No

7. The Example of Justification

Abraham is our example of justification by faith, based on believing God instead of doing good works in a vain attempt to earn salvation, Genesis 15:6, Galatians 3:6, Romans 4:4-6. Remember that Abraham lived 430 years before the Law was given, Galatians 3:17, Exodus 12:40. Abraham is used by Paul, Romans 4:2-6 and James, James 2:23, as an example of faith.

8. The Results of Justification

When God justifies a believing sinner, what happens? God credits my account with all the righteousness of Christ, Romans 4:3-5. Although I am still a sinner, God now sees me as perfectly righteous, as pure and sinless as Christ Himself.

a. I have the righteousness of Christ because God has given it to me as a free gift, Romans 4:4-5.

I have the righteousness of Christ instead of my own righteousness. Because I am “in Christ,” everything has changed. In Christ I am a new creature, ___ ______ are passed away and behold, all things are become ____, 2 Cor 5:21.

Because I am in Christ, He is made unto me wisdom, ___________, sanctification and redemption, 1 Cor 1:30.

In God’s eyes, because He has justified me (has freely given me the righteousness of Christ), I am as righteous as Jesus Christ, 1 John 3:7. It is as if I had never sinned and as if I have kept God’s law perfectly.

b. I have peace with God because He has paid for my sins, forgiven my sins and given me His righteousness, Romans 5:1. Because God had paid for my sins, His wrath has been appeased and we are at peace.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1.

c. I have no condemnation because when God looks at me, He sees me as sinlessly perfect in Christ, Romans 8:1.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1, John 3:18, 5:24.

9. The Evidence of Justification

James says that Abraham was "justified by works," James 2:14-22. This is how we "show our faith" and this is how we prove to men the reality of our justification. God does not justify us on the basis of our works. That is not at all what James says. Instead, our outward works demonstrate the fact that God has already justified us by His grace inwardly. See also 1 John 2:29; 3:7; 3:10. 

10. The Hope of Justification

Justification guarantees that we will one day be in heaven with Jesus. God glorifies everyone He justifies because justification is not based on our good works. It is based on Jesus having already paid for our sins and God freely giving us the righteousness of Christ based on Jesus satisfying the justice of God. This is another facet of eternal security.

"Whom He justified, them He also glorified." Romans 8:30. Glorification is guaranteed and in the mind of God, is already done because it is all God’s work, completely unrelated to our works.

What is justification by faith, part 1

What is justification by faith, Part 3

What is justification by faith, Part 4

What is justification by faith, Part 5

Is blood atonement
necessary for salvation?

Can I get saved
by being a good person?

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