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 the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the law is the knowledge of sin. But now, apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; read more. even a righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe; for there is no distinction; for all sinned, and are coming short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; Whom God set forth as a propitiation, through faith in His blood, for the manifestation of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the formerly-committed sins in the forbearance of God: for the manifestation of His righteousness in the present time, to the end that He may be righteous, even when declaring righteous him who has faith in Jesus. Where, then, is the boasting? It was excluded. By what manner of law? Of works? Nay; but by a law of faith. For we reckon that a man is justified by faith, apart from works of law. Or is He the God of Jews only? Is He not of gentiles also! Yes, of gentiles also; if, indeed, God is One Who will justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith. Do we, then, make void the law through faith? It could not be! Yea, we establish the law.
Consequently, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and death. read more. For, what was impossible under law, wherein it was weak through the flesh. God, sending His Own Son in likeness of sinful flesh, and, respecting sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one who believes. For Moses writes that the man who did the righteousness of the law shall live thereby; read more. but the righteousness which is of faith speaks thus: "Say not in your heart, who shall ascend up into Heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down); or, who shall descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)." But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart; that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if you shall confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and shall believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
yet knowing that a man is not justified by works of law, but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of law; because by works of law no flesh shall be justified. But, if while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is, then, Christ a minister of sin? It could not be! read more. For, if I am building up again, what I pulled down, I show myself to be a transgressor. For I through law died to law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and no longer am I living, but Christ is living in me; and, in so far as I am now living in flesh, I live in the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for, if righteousness is through law, then Christ died needlessly!
but God, being rich in mercy, on account of His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in our offenses, made us alive with Christ (by grace ye have been saved), read more. and raised us up with Him, and made us sit with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus; that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace ye have been saved through faith: and this, not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any one should boast; for we are His workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God before prepared, that we should walk in them.