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 by works of the Law no flesh shall be accepted as righteous: for by the Law is the knowledge of sin. But now, apart from the Law, the righteousness which is of God, to which the Law and the Prophets bear testimony, read more. even the righteousness which is of God through faith in Jesus Christ, hath been made manifest to all and for all believers. For there is no distinction. For all have sinned, and fail of obtaining the glory which cometh from God; being accepted as righteous freely, by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom, in his blood, through faith, God hath set forth as a propitiatory sacrifice, in order to manifest his righteousness, on account of his passing by, in his forbearance, the sins committed in former times; in order to manifest his righteousness at the present time, so that he may be righteous, and accept as righteous him who hath faith. Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay; but by the law of faith. We conclude therefore, that a man is accepted as righteous through faith, without the works of the Law. Or is God [the God] of Jews alone? Is he not also the God of gentiles? Yea, of gentiles also. Seeing there is but one God, who will accept the circumcised as righteous by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then make void the Law through faith? Far be it! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
There is then now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life set me free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. read more. For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God hath done, who on account of sin sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and passed sentence of condemnation on sin in the flesh; so that what is required by the Law might be accomplished in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
For Christ is the end of the Law, so that every one that believeth may obtain righteousness. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the Law: "The man that hath done these things shall live by them." read more. But the righteousness which is of 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 up Christ from the dead. But what saith it? "The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart;" that is, the word concerning faith, which we preach; for if thou shalt acknowledge with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth so as to obtain righteousness, and with the mouth professeth so as to obtain salvation.
but knowing that a man is not accepted as righteous by the works of the Law, but by faith in Christ Jesus, we also have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be accepted as righteous by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be accepted as righteous. But while seeking to be accepted as righteous in Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Far be it! read more. For if I again build up what I pulled down, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the Law died to the Law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and no longer do I live, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness come through the Law, then did Christ die for nought.
but God, who is rich in mercy, on account of his great love wherewith he loved us, gave to us, even when dead through our trespasses, life with Christ,by grace have ye been saved, read more. and raised us up with him, and caused us to sit with him in the heavenly regions in Christ Jesus, that he might show in the ages to come the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace ye have been saved, through faith; and this is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any one should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God before prepared that we should walk in them.