DOWNLOAD PDF

The Definition of Justification
3: 21-31

Definition: Justification is the act of God whereby, negatively, He forgives the sins of believers and, positively, He declares them righteous by transferring all the obedience and righteousness of Messiah to them through faith (see the commentary on The Life of Christ, to see link click Bw – What God Does for Us at the Moment of Faith).

What it is not: Justification is not a reward for anything good we may have done; it is not something that we cooperate with ADONAI in doing (which is sanctification); it is not infused righteousness on the basis of works (Catholic justification); it is not accomplished apart from the satisfaction of God’s justice (it satisfies every claim of God’s holiness).

What it is: Justification is an utterly undeserved free gift of the mercy of YHVH (Romans 3:24; Titus 3:7); it is entirely accomplished by God the Father at salvation, and it results in sanctification; it is apart from any works we take, but the fact that we are justified is demonstrated by our works (James 2:21, 24-26). It is not that Ha’Shem overlooks our sin and guilt, but that the full and entire righteousness of Messiah be transferred to our spiritual bank account by faith. What is true of Him is true of us, minus His deity; you have already passed the final exam in God’s universe with an A-plus.

Scriptural proof: Genesis 15:6; Psalm 32:2; Isaiah 54:17; Jeremiah 23:6; Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 3:28 to 4:6, 5:1 and 9, 9:30 to 10:4; First Corinthians 6:11; Galatians 2:16, 3:8-9, 21 and 24.

Relation to the Trinity: Who justifies?

God the Father                 Jeremiah 23:6; Second Corinthians 5:19

God the Son                        Romans 5:9, 10:4; Second Corinthians 5:19 and 21

God the Spirit                    First Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 9:14 (indirect); Galatians 5:5

God                                           Romans 4:6 and 9:33

Proof of eternal security: Nothing can alter the fact that you are eternally secure. Justification is a divine gift that is perfect and cannot be taken back. Since we can do no works to gain our justification, we can do no works to lose our justification (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Ms – The Eternal Security of the Believer).