What Does Justification By Faith Alone Mean?
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009Some take the term “justified” to mean, “Just as if I’d never sinned.” Personally, I think this sells short the true meaning and biblical application of being justified. Being justified is a legal term meaning, “To be declared righteous.” It’s more than just the thought that I’ve never sinned. It implies that I’ve always done right as well. As if I’ve always been perfect in every way.
How does one obtain this justification? It’s only through faith in Christ alone. It is often misunderstood by the natural man that we are made right with God by the good things we do. Man-made religion has man working his way to God through his own good behavior. Whether that be going to church, reading his bible, saying prayers, being kind, etc… Sinful man is only made right in God’s eyes through faith in Christ.
Since man is hopelessly sinful and God is holy, man must be kept out of God’s presence. The only way for this condition to be remedied is to take on the righteousness of God Himself. This is plainly seen in 2 Corinthians 5:21 where, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ.” In other words, when we receive Christ, we take on His righteousness. The reason I am justified is not because I am good, but because the righteousness of God has been reckoned to us through faith in Christ alone.
Justification is a one-time process that happens at the moment of conversion. To put it simply one could say, “I have been saved from the penalty of sin.” Sanctification, on the other hand, would say, “I am being saved from the power of sin.” While glorification would say, “I will be saved from the presence of sin.”
The most complete passage that speaks on justification is Romans 3:21-26. Simply put, to justify is to declare righteous; to make one right with God. Justification is God declaring those who receive Christ to be righteous, based on Christ’s righteousness being imputed to the accounts of those who receive Christ.
Mike DeGuzman is a biblical life coach who speaks on a variety of topics that relate to marriage, parenting, and teenagers. Contact him at cbcdeguzman@gmail.com or (843) 812-7690.
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I was reading in Romans 8 about the “Law being fulfilled IN (not BY) us” and I realized that justification is not simply “He’s never sinned before.” Justification is more like me being credited with keeping the whole law, because Jesus kept it for me.
He takes my sin. I take His righteousness. That’s what Luther called “The Great Exchange.”