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
Therefore from the works of the law shall no flesh be justified before him: for by the law the knowledge of sin. But now without law the justice of God has been made apparent, being testified by the law and by the prophets; read more. And the justice of God by faith of Jesus Christ to all and upon all believing: for there is no distinction: For all have sinned, and failed of the glory of God; Being justified as a gift by his grace by the redemption which is in Christ Jesus: Whom God had set before a propitiatory by faith in his blood, for a manifestation of his justice by passing over of sins before existing, in the sufferance of God; For the manifestation of his justice now in time: for him to be just, and justifying him of the faith of Jesus. Where then boasting? It was excluded. By what law? of works? No: but by the law of faith. We reckon then man to be justified by faith without the works of the law. Or only the God of the Jews? and not also of the nations? Yes, also of the nations: Since one God, who will justify circumcision of faith, and uncircumcision by faith. Therefore shall we leave the law inactive by faith It may not be: but we should establish the law.
Therefore now no condemnation to them in Christ Jesus, walking not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus freed me from the law of sin and death. read more. For the impossibility of the law, in that it was weak by the flesh, God having sent his own Son in the likeness of the flesh of sin, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the justification of the law be filled up in us, not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
For Christ the end of the law for justice to every one believing. For Moses writes the justice of the law, That the man having done these things shall live in them. read more. And the justice of faith says thus, Thou shouldest not say in thy heart, Who shall go up to heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down:) Or, Who shall go down to the abyss? (that is, to bring up Christ 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, which we proclaim; For if thou confess in thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart is believed for justice: and with the mouth is confessed for salvation.
Knowing that a man is not justified from the works of the law, but through faith of Jesus Christ, and we believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified from the faith of Christ, and not from the works of the law: therefore from the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. And it; seeking to be justified in Christ, we were found also ourselves sinners, is Christ therefore the servant of sin? It may not be. read more. For if what I destroy, these I build again, I unite myself with the transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that. I might live to God. I am crucified with Christ: and I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in we: and what I now live in the flesh I live in the faith of the Son of God, having loved me, and given himself for me. I put not away the grace of God for if justice through the law, Christ died in vain.
But God, being rich in mercy, by his much love which he loved us, And we being dead in faults, he made alive together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved;) read more. And raised together, and seated together in heavenlies in Christ Jesus: That he might show in times coming the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and this not of you: the gift of God: Not of works, lest any one should boast. For we are his work, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.,