Reference: JUSTIFICIATION
American
The being regarded and treated as if innocent; or acquittal from the consequences of guilt before the tribunal of God. "Justification by faith" means that a person, on account of true and living faith in Christ as manifested by good works, will be delivered from condemnation on account of his sins; that is, his sins will be forgiven, and he be regarded and treated as if innocent and holy. Thus, besides the remission of sins and their penalty, it includes the restoration and everlasting enjoyment of the favor of God.
We obtain justification by faith in Christ. Yet neither this nor any other act of ours, as a work, is any ground of our justification. In acquitting us before his bar, God regards not our works, in whole or in part, but the atoning work and merits of Christ. He was treated as a sinner, that we might be treated as righteous. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus;" the moment we believe, our justification is as perfect as the infinite worthiness of our Redeemer. Its validity does not depend on the measure of our assurance of hope, nor on spotless holiness of life. Sanctification, indeed, or progressive growth in holiness, commences simultaneously with justification, and must in the end reach the same perfectness. Yet it is important to distinguish between the two, and to observe that, could the believer's holiness become as perfect as an angel's, it could not share with the atoning merits of Christ in entitling him to admission to heaven.
The best obedience of my hands
Dares not appear before thy throne;
But faith can answer thy demands,
By pleading what my Lord hath done."
True justification, by the gratuitous gift of the Savior, furnishes the most powerful motive to a holy life. It is followed by adoption, peace of conscience, and the fruits of the Spirit in this life; and by final sanctification, acquittal in the day of judgment, and admittance to heaven, Ro 3:20-31; 5; 8:1-4; 10:4-10; Ga 2:16-21; Eph 2:4-10.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Because from works of law no flesh will be made right before him, for through law is knowledge of sin. But now a righteousness of God has been manifested independent of law, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. read more. And the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ is for all and upon all those who believe, for there is no distinction. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being made righteous freely by his grace, through the redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth an expiatory sacrifice through faith in his blood, for proof of his justice, because of the passing over of the sins that have formerly occurred (in the forbearance of God), for proof of his justice at the present time, for him to be righteous, and who makes the man from Jesus' faith righteous. Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what law, of works? No, but by a law of faith. We therefore consider a man to be made righteous by faith independent of works of law. Or is God of Jews only and not also of Gentiles? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one, who will make the man of circumcision righteous from faith, and the man of uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make law void through faith? May it not happen! Instead, we establish law.
Consequently nothing is condemnation now to those in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to flesh but according to Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus freed me from the law of sin and of death. read more. For the impotence of the law, in that it was weak because of the flesh, God, having sent his own Son in a form of flesh of sin, and concerning sin, condemned sin in the flesh, so that the justice of the law might be fulfilled in us, those who walk not according to flesh, but according to Spirit.
For Christ is the end of law for righteousness, to every man who believes. For Moses writes in the righteousness from the law, that the man that does them will live in them. read more. But the righteousness from faith says thus: Thou should not say in thy heart, Who will ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down) or, Who will descend into the abyss? (That is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? The word is near thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart, that is, the word of faith that we preach: that if thou will confess with thy mouth, Lord Jesus, and will believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou will be saved. For a man believes in the heart for righteousness, and he confesses with the mouth for salvation.
knowing that a man is not made righteous from works of law, instead through faith of Jesus Christ. And we believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made righteous from faith of Christ, and not from works of law, because no fles But if, while seeking to be made righteous in Christ, we ourselves were also found sinful, then is Christ an aide of sin? May it not happen! read more. For if I build again these things that I torn down, I demonstrate myself a transgressor. For I, through law, died to law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And what I now live in flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me. I do not disregard the grace of God, for if righteousness is through law, then Christ died in vain.
But God, being rich in mercy, through his great love that he loved us, even us being dead in the transgressions, he made alive together with the Christ (ye are saved by grace), read more. and raised us up together, and seated us together in the heavenly things in Christ Jesus. So that in the coming ages he might show the transcending wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For ye are saved by grace through faith, and this a gift of God, not from you, not from works, so that not any man may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God preordained that we should walk in them.