Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - JUSTIFICATION

 JUSTIFICATION

One of the basic tenets of the Christian faith is that of justification - that process by which a person is justified or made right before God. None of us are right before God by our own volition, as seen in Romans 3:10 - “There is none righteous, no, not one…” It is then only a pardon by God that can actually make us right with Him and, by such a pardon, make us acceptable in His presence. Such a pardon means that not only are our trespasses against Him forgiven but that they are considered to have never happened at all. The slate is completely wiped clean.

Now, this process is believed to come about by faith. Faith in God’s promises and in what He has done by manifesting Himself in the form of a human, coming to earth, and taking upon Himself the punishment due to us for not living up to His standards. We know this because of this statement: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Justification refers to that process by which He brings us up to the standard He requires and not only dismisses any punishment that we might deserve but wipes clean the history of our transgressions. “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28). “[H]aving been justified by faith” (Romans 5:1) is a theme repeated in the Bible as well as this: “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ…” (Galatians 2:16).

So if we are made right with God through faith, is that all? According to the Bible, it may not be. The Bible does state that we are not justified by the works of the law but we can be so by the works of faith. This seems to be fairly clearly stated in the case of Abraham for it states in Romans 4:2 that: “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.” But James 2:21 asks: “[w]as not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Issac his son on the altar?” Although Abraham was not made right with God by works according to the law, he was justified by works according to faith. So it goes on in James to explain the need for proper works along with pure faith.

Do you see that faith was working together with his works, 

and by works faith was made perfect? 

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 

“Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 

And he was called the friend of God. 

You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 

Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works 

when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 

For as the body without the spirit is dead, 

so faith without works is dead also. 

(James 2:22-26)

One is apparently made right with God by faith in his promises and by the works that are based on those promises, not by works based upon the law.

It may initially seem a bit confusing but it really isn’t if you think about it.