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 that by the deeds of the law, shall no flesh be justified in the sight of God. For by the law cometh the knowledge of sin. Now, verily, is the righteousness that cometh of God declared without the fulfilling of the law: having witness yet of the law, and of the prophets. read more. The righteousness, no doubt, which is good before God cometh by the faith of Jesus Christ: unto all, and upon all them that believe. There is no difference: For all have sinned, and lack the praise that is of valour before God: but are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus - whom God hath set forth for a mercy seat through faith in his blood, to show the righteousness which before him is of valour, in that he forgiveth the sins that are passed, which God did suffer to show at this time: the righteousness that is allowed of him, that he might be counted just, and a justifier of him which believeth on Jesus. Where is then thy rejoicing? It is excluded. By what law? By the law of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. We suppose, therefore we hold, that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also the God of the gentiles? Yes, even of the Gentiles also. For it is God only which justifieth circumcision, which is of faith: and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then destroy the law through faith? God forbid. But we, rather, maintain the law.
There is, then, no damnation to them which are in Christ Jesus: which walk not after the flesh but after the spirit: For the law of the spirit, that bringeth life through Jesus Christ, hath delivered me from the law of sin, and death: read more. For what the law could not do, inasmuch as it was weak because of the flesh - that performed God, and sent his son in the similitude of sinful flesh, and by sin damned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness required of the law might be fulfilled in us, which walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit.
For Christ is the end of the law to justify all that believe. Moses describeth the righteousness which cometh of the law, how that the man which doth the things of the law shall live therein. read more. But the righteousness which cometh of faith, speaketh on this wise, "Say not in thine heart, 'who shall ascend into heaven?'" That is nothing else than to fetch Christ down. Or, "Who shall descend into the deep?" That is nothing else but to fetch up Christ from death. But what saith the scripture? "The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thine heart." This word is the word of faith which we preach. For if thou shalt knowledge with thy mouth that Jesus is the Lord, and shalt believe with thine heart that God raised him up from death, thou shalt be safe. For the belief of the heart justifieth: and to knowledge with the mouth maketh a man safe.
know that a man is not justified by the deeds of the law: but by the faith of Jesus Christ - and therefore we have believed on Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the deeds of the law: because that no flesh shall be justified by the deeds of the law. If then, while we seek to be made righteous by Christ, we ourselves are found sinners, is not then Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. read more. For if I build again that which I destroyed, then make I myself a trespasser. But I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ. I live verily, yet now not I, but Christ liveth in me. For the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God, which loved me, and gave himself for me. I despise not the grace of God: For if righteousness come of the law, then is Christ died in vain.
But God, which is rich in mercy through his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead by sin, hath quickened us together in Christ - for by grace are ye saved - read more. and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly things through Christ Jesus. For to show, in times to come, the exceeding riches of his grace, in kindness to us ward, in Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye made safe through faith, and that, not of yourselves: For it is the gift of God, and cometh not of works, lest any man should boast himself. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, unto the which God ordained us before, that we should walk in them.