Basic Theology: Justification
Justification
Job 25:4, How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman?
The question asked in is still being asked today!
God has provided a perfect and entirely satisfactory way of justifying the ungodly.
Romans 3:26 & 4:5, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,
Justification Definition
Justification is the declaring of a person to be just or righteous. It is a legal term signifying acquittal.
In the ancient time, it was obvious that a wealthy and important citizen would not be treated in a law court in the same way as an insignificant person.
For example, in the ancient Code of Hammurabi, is a well-preserved Babylonian code of law of ancient Mesopotamia, dated back to about 1754 BCE, it is laid down that if a citizen knocked out the tooth of another citizen his own tooth should be knocked out. But if the victim was of a lower position it sufficed to pay a small fine.
Nobody expected strict justice in human tribunals, but the biblical writers were sure that God is a God of justice. Throughout the Bible justice is of fundamental importance.
Acts 13:38-39, Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
V38, through believing we receive “forgiveness of sins”
V39, we are “justified”
Justification is more than forgiveness!
It is to be cleared of all blame and to be free from every charge.
1. In an earthly court, a judge cannot both forgive a man and justify him at the same time, for if he forgives him then the man must be guilty and therefore he cannot be justified.
2. On the other hand, if the judge justifies him, he does not need forgiveness.
God, however, undertakes both to forgive the sin and to justify the sinner. Forgive the guilty and condemned sinner and to place him in a new position where there is no charge against him at all!
Romans 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
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