Thematic Bible: Justification before God


Thematic Bible






The result of one trespass was condemnation for all men. The result of righteousness was justification (acquittal), which brings life for all men. Verse ConceptsAtonementJesus Christ, Obedience OfJustification Under The GospelSalvation, Possible To All MenLife In ChristCondemnation Of The WickedAll PeopleLife Is In ChristPatience In Relationships





If You, Jehovah, should record our sins, O Jehovah, who could stand? Verse ConceptsImperfection, Influence OfLegalismSelf Righteousness, And The GospelSin, Universality Of

Do not enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight no man living is righteous. Verse ConceptsJustification, Necessity OfSelf JustificationSin, Universality OfWorthinessGod SuingAll Have SinnedServant Leadership

Truly I know it is so, but how can a man be righteous before God? If one wished to argue with God, he could not answer or respond to him once in a thousand times.

But Israel, pursuing after a law of righteousness, has not attained to that law. Why? It is because it was not based on the principle of faith, but on that of works. They have stumbled at the stumbling stone.


Some men came down from Judea to teach the brothers. They said: You cannot be saved unless you become circumcised according to the custom of Moses. Paul and Barnabas had an intense (harsh) dispute and debate with them. They concluded that Paul, Barnabas, and others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders to settle this question. The congregation sent them on their way. They passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the nations. They brought great joy to all the brothers. read more.
Then they went to Jerusalem where the apostles and elders and congregation greeted them. They declared all the things that God had done for them. The believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stated: It is needed to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses. The apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. After much discussion Peter got up and said: Men and brothers you know that God made a choice among us, that I would preach the good news to the nations that they may hear and believe. God knows their hearts and showed that he accepted them by giving them Holy Spirit just as he did to us. He made no distinction between them and us and purified their hearts by faith. Why do you test God by placing a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, one that our fathers were not able to bear? We believe we are saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, as they also are. The crowd kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul. They declared the miracles and wonders God performed through them among the people of the nations. When they finished talking James said: Brothers listen to me: Simeon declared how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name. The words of the prophets agree to this for it is written: I will return and will build again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. I will rebuild its ruins. I will restore it. (Amos 9:11,12) That the rest of mankind might seek after Jehovah, and all the nations, upon whom my name is called, Jehovah said, who is doing these things. (Amos 9:12) Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Therefore it is my decision not to trouble those of the nations who have turned to God. We should write to them that they should abstain from things polluted by idols, from fornication, from things strangled and from blood. Moses has been preached in the synagogues from old times until now every Sabbath day. The apostles and elders along with the whole congregation desired to send chosen men to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers. They wrote letters as follows: The apostles, elders and brothers send greeting to the brothers who are of the nations in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Since we have heard, that certain ones who went out from us have troubled you with speeches, subverting you, saying: You must be circumcised, and keep the law. We gave no such commandment! It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul. These men have endangered their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things in person. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things. You should abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these you will do well. Farwell (best wishes).


If it is by grace then it is no longer on the basis of works. Otherwise grace is not grace (undeserved kindness). But if it is of works then it is not by grace. Otherwise works are no longer works. Verse ConceptsJustification Under The GospelSalvation Not By WorksSaving GraceSalvation, Boasting ImpossibleJustified By GraceWorks Of The LawGrace Verse LawGod's GraceDebt

I saw that they did not walk uprightly according to the truth of the good news. Therefore I said to Cephas, in front of them all: If you, being a Jew, live as the nations do and not as the Jews, why do you compel the people of the nations to live like the Jews? We are Jews by birth, and not sinners from the nations. Yet we know that a man is not righteous by the works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ. We believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be righteous by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law. The works of the law justify no one. read more.
We sought to be righteous in Christ. And we were found to be sinners. Is Christ a minister of sin? God forbid. If I build up again the things that I destroyed, I prove myself a transgressor. I, through the law, died to the law that I might live to (for) God. I have been impaled with Christ. It is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me. The life that I now live in the flesh (physical body) I live by faith. This is the faith that is in the Son of God. He loved me and gave himself up for me. I do not reject the grace (totally undeserved gift) of God: for if righteousness is [gained] through the law, then Christ died for nothing.



Where is the boasting? It is excluded. Is it by law? Is it by works? No, it is by a principle of faith. Verse ConceptsSalvation, Boasting ImpossiblePride, Evil OfSelf Righteousness, And The GospelJustification By FaithBoasting ExcludedFaithFaith KjvBoastinglaw













Moses writes down the righteousness that is of the law. The man who has practiced those things shall live by them. Verse ConceptsEffect Of The LawLife Through Keeping The LawWorks Of The Law

Whoever obeys the whole law and yet stumbles in one point is guilty of breaking all of it. Verse ConceptsJudaismLaw, Purpose OfLegalismStumblingFound GuiltyAll Sins Being EqualBreaking The Ten CommandmentsGuiltBreaking Chains

Who will bring any charge against the ones God has chosen? It is God who justifies (makes righteous). Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yes rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

The one who pronounces me innocent is near. Who will bring a case against me? Let us confront each other! Who accuses me? Let him draw near to me! Verse ConceptsGod, Present EverywhereGod, Righteousness OfSalvation, Nature OfNearness To GodGod Vindicatesaccusationsvindication

Weapons forged against you will not prevail! You will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of Jehovah and this is their vindication from me, declares Jehovah. Verse ConceptsProtectionSecurityHelp From GodJustification Under The GospelImputed RighteousnessGod VindicatesEzekiel InvasionGod Protector Of IsraelJudgementcondemnationaccusationsvindicationprospering


For this reason it is by faith that it may be according to grace (divine influence) (loving-kindness). The promise may be sure to all descendants! This is not only to that which is of the law, but to that also which is by the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. Verse ConceptsAdoption, nature ofCertaintyGuaranteePaul, Teaching OfGod, Grace OfJustification Under The GospelJustification By FaithChildren Of AbrahamJustified By GraceRighteous By FaithUnder The LawGraceThe promises of GodPromises concerningFaithDadsAcceptanceFaith KjvGod's GracePromisesHaving FaithStrength And FaithFaith In Godorder

It was by the transgression of the one that death ruled as king through that one. Even more so shall those who receive the abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, rule as kings in life by the one, Jesus Christ. The result of one trespass was condemnation for all men. The result of righteousness was justification (acquittal), which brings life for all men. Through the disobedience of one man many have been made sinners. Yet through the obedience of one man many will be made righteous. read more.
The law came that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased God's loving kindness increased even more. And what for? Just as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness to everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

If God is one he will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we nullify the law through faith? No we do not! In fact, we establish (continue) (stand by) (uphold) the law.

To those without Law I became like those without Law that I might gain them. I am not without law to God, but under the law to (toward) (of) Christ. Verse ConceptsJustification By FaithThe Law Of ChristWithout The LawStaying Strong And Not Giving UpStaying PositivePositive ThinkingNever Giving UpNot Being Alonelawactingfreeorderflexibilitychrist



All the descendants of Israel will be declared righteous, and they will praise Jehovah.' Verse ConceptsPraising GodA Righteous PeopleSolar Eclipse





The one who pronounces me innocent is near. Who will bring a case against me? Let us confront each other! Who accuses me? Let him draw near to me! Verse ConceptsGod, Present EverywhereGod, Righteousness OfSalvation, Nature OfNearness To GodGod Vindicatesaccusationsvindication


I count all things to be loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. I suffered the loss of all things. Yet I count them as refuse (garbage) (dung) that I may gain Christ. I want to be united with him. I no longer want a righteousness of my own that is gained by obeying the law. The righteousness from God is by faith in Christ.

He spoke to those who stood before him: Take the filthy garments from him. Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you and I will clothe you with rich apparel. I said: Let them set a clean headdress upon his head. So they set a clean headdress upon his head, and clothed him with garments. The angel of Jehovah was standing nearby.

([Psalm of David]) Blessed is the person whose transgression is forgiven and whose sin is pardoned. Blessed is the person whom Jehovah no longer accuses of sin and who has no deceitful thoughts.


He ordained in advance the ones he called. He declared righteous the ones he called. He also glorified those he declared righteous. Verse ConceptsBeing ChosenBlessings, SpiritualJustification, Results OfOnce Saved Always SavedJustification Under The GospelGod's Call, ResultsCalledGlorificationRejoicing In ChristJustification

Do not make false accusations. Do not put an innocent person to death. I will condemn anyone who does this evil thing. Verse ConceptsInnocence, Teaching OnAcquittalDo Not MurderFar From OneJudicial PunishmentFake FriendsaccusationsAcquitting The Guilty


I tell you the tax collector and not the Pharisee was right with God when he went home. He who exalts himself will be humbled! He who humbles himself will be exalted! Verse ConceptsHumilityPromotionIndividuals going homeHumbling Oneself