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
Wherefore by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified before God: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now distinct from the law the righteousness of God is manifest, receiving testimony from the law and the prophets; read more. the righteousness of God indeed by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath proposed as the propitiatory sacrifice through faith in his blood, in demonstration of his justice for the remission of past sins, through the patience of God; for a demonstration of his justice at this present time: that he might be just, though justifying him who is of the faith of Jesus. Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what law? of works? No: but by the law of faith. We conclude therefore that by faith a man is justified, without works of law. Is he the God of the Jews only, and is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, verily, of the Gentiles also: since it is one God who will justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith. Do we then abolish the law through faith? God forbid: but on the contrary, we give the law stability.
THERE is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath liberated me from the law of sin and of death. read more. For that which was impossible by the law, inasmuch as it was impotent through the flesh, God having sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in that flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled by us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is by the law, "That the man who doeth these things shall live by them." read more. But the righteousness that is by faith speaketh thus, "Say not 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 Christ up again from the dead.) But what saith it? "The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart:" that is, the word of faith which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart faith is exercised unto righteousness; and with the mouth is confession made unto salvation.
knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law; because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. For if seeking to be justified by Christ, we also ourselves should be found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? God forbid. read more. For if I build up again the very same things which I have pulled down, I stamp myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I should live unto God. I am crucified with Christ, yet I live; though no more I, but Christ liveth in me: and my present life in the flesh, is a life by faith in the Son of God, who hath loved me, and delivered up himself for me. I do not set at nought the grace of God; for if righteousness came by the law, truly Christ hath died in vain.
But God, being rich in mercy, through the great love with which he hath loved us, though we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved,) read more. and hath raised us up together with him, and made us sit down together in the heavenly regions in Christ Jesus. That he might shew forth in the ages to come the transcendent riches of his grace, in the kindness shewed to us in Christ Jesus. For by grace ye are saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not by works, lest any man should boast; for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, for which God hath before prepared us, that we should walk therein.