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
Inasmuch as, by works of law, shall no flesh be declared righteous before him, - through law, in fact, is discovery of sin. But now, apart from law, a righteousness of God hath been manifested, borne witness to by the law and the prophets, - read more. A righteousness of God, through faith in JesusChrist, unto all that have faith; for there is no distinction, - For, all, have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; Being declared righteous freely by his favour through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: - Whom God hath set forth as a propitiatory covering, through faith in his blood, for a showing forth of his righteousness, by reason of the passing-by of the previously committed sins, In the forbearance of God, - with a view to a showing forth of his righteousness in the present season, that he might be righteous even when declaring righteous him that hath faith in Jesus. Where, then, the boasting! It is excluded. Through what kind of law? Of works? Nay! but through a law of faith: For we reckon that a man is to be declared righteous by faith, apart from works of law. Or, is God the God, of Jews only, and not of the nations also? Yea! of the nations also: - If, at all events, God is one, who will declare righteous - the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through their faith. Do we then make, law, void through means of our faith? Far be it! On the contrary, law, we do establish!
Hence there is now, no, condemnation unto them who are in Christ Jesus; For, the-law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath set thee free from the law of sin and of death; - read more. For, what was impossible by the law in that it was weak through the flesh, God, by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, condemned sin in the flesh, In order that, the righteous requirement of the law, might be fulfilled in us - who, not according to flesh, do walk, but according to spirit;
For Christ is an end of law, for righteousness, unto every one that believeth. For, Moses, writeth that - as touching the righteousness that is by law, The man that hath done it , shall live thereby; read more. Whereas, the righteousness by faith, thus speaketh - Do not say in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? That is, to bring, Christ, down, Or, Who shall descend into the abyss? That is, to bring up, Christ, from among the dead; But what saith it? Near thee, is the declaration, In thy mouth and in thy heart, - that is, the declaration of the faith, which we proclaim: - That, if thou shalt confess the declaration with thy mouth - That Jesus is, Lord, and shalt believe with thy hear - That, God, raised him from among the dead, thou shalt be saved; - For, in heart, it is to be believed unto righteousness, and, by mouth, it is to be confessed unto salvation.
Knowing, however, that a man is not declared righteous by works of law, nor at all save through faith in Christ Jesus; even we, on Christ Jesus, believed, that we might be declared righteous - by faith in Christ, and not by works of law; because, by works of law, shall no flesh be declared righteous. Now, if in seeking to be declared righteous in Christ we, ourselves also, were found sinners, - is Christ, therefore, a minister, of sin? Far be it! read more. For, if, the things that I pulled down, these, again, I build, a transgressor, I prove, myself, to be. For, I, through means of law, unto law, died, that, unto God, I might live: - With Christ, have I been crucified; and, living no longer, am, I, but, living in me, is, Christ, - while, so far as I now do live in flesh, by faith, I live - The faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up in my behalf. I do not set aside the favour of God; for, if, through law, is righteousness, then, Christ, without cause, died.
But, God, being rich in mercy, by reason of the great love wherewith he loved us, Although we were dead by our offences, gave us life together with the Christ, - by favour, ye have been saved, - read more. And raised us up together, and seated us together in the heavenlies, in Christ: That he might point out, in the oncoming ages, the surpassing riches of his favour in graciousness upon us, in Christ Jesus; For, by his favour, have ye been saved, through means of faith, and this hath come to pass - not from you, of God, the free-gift! Not from works, lest anyone should boast. His, in fact we are - his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus upon a footing of good works, which God prepared beforehand, that, therein, we might walk.