Dr. Barcly with Something to Think About - JUSTIFICATION

JUSTIFICATION

    According to the dictionary, justification in theology refers to that act of God whereby humankind is made or accounted just, or free from guilt or penalty of sin.* In other words, it is the means by which we are made right with God. Although it is often stated that we are made right with God through faith…

Therefore, having been justified by faith, 

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… 

(Romans 5:1)

…there are, in fact, seven different statements in Scripture about our justification by God.**

In fact, Scripture states very clearly that we are, indeed, justified by God.

 

It is God who justifies. 

(Romans 8:33)

In addition, the Bible says that we are

…justified freely by His grace 

through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

(Romans 3:24)

All of this is possible because of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ and, therefore, the Bible also indicates that we:

now [having] been justified by His blood… 

…[and] saved from wrath through Him.

(Romans 5:9) 

It was accounted to him [Abraham] for righteousness. 

[B]ut also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him 

who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 

who was delivered up because of our offences, 

and was raised because of our justification. 

(Romans 4:22,24-25)

And as previously noted, Romans 5:1 states that we have been:

   

justified by faith

But it appears that it is not only by the above that we can achieve a degree of justification, even though the Bible indicates that it is primarily by faith that salvation is obtained. In Matthew it says:

“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” 

(Matthew 12:37) 

And again in James it states:

Was not Abraham our father justified by works 

when he offered Issac his son on the altar?

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

…was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works 

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

(James 2:21,24-25)

Just another example indicating that salvation may be by faith…

For by grace you have been saved through faith… 

(Ephesians 2:8)

…but it may take more than faith alone for one to be justified and made right with God.

For as the body without the spirit is dead, 

so faith without works is dead also. 

(James 2:26)

And that should be something for us all to think about.

*dictionary.com

**Adapted from Romans Volume 2 God’s River Chapter 1 Pg 9-16 by Donald Grey Barnhouse