How do we find favor with God? How can we be restored to favor with God? How can we be made right with God?
Some are hoping to justify themselves or earn merit through works. When we speak of justifying or vindicating ourselves, we generally mean that we should be excused from any blame for the stated reason given, or we are not guilty of the wrong of which we are accused.
Charles G. Finney writes that justification “means not guilty. To justify an individual in this sense, is to declare that he is not guilty of any breach of the law.”
Justification, therefore, involves finding favor and acceptance. In the Biblical context, justification means being found righteous before God – righteous as opposed to an unrighteous sinner. By righteous, we mean being found obedient to God’s law. As sinners, we have broken God’s law and transgressed His moral standard.
Justification is a legal term and in the Bible is rooted in the Old Testament. It is first referenced in connection with Christ in Isaiah 53:11, and it is first introduced as a legal concept in Deuteronomy 25:1.
In the New Testament, Christ uses the word, and the book of Romans spends a great deal of time explaining justification. Its primary meaning is to be guiltless or to judge, declare, and pronounce righteous and, therefore, acceptable.
In our legal system, to not be guilty simply means that I have not broken the law in the matter under question. This may be considered a negative usage of justification. I am justified by what I did not do. However, the other element to justification is that I am righteous for obeying the law. This is the positive sense of justification, in that, I am justified by what I do.
Christ uses the term in two ways. First, Christ makes reference to those who wish to justify themselves (Luke 16:15) and being justified through our actions (Matthew 12:37).
Guilt implies wrongdoing. In justification, guilt from wrongdoing is canceled and removed, and the transgression is not charged to my account. If I have not transgressed God’s law, then I am righteous by obedience.
This all sounds good, until we run into justification by works. In Luke 16:15, we understand that seeking to justify ourselves is not right. In Genesis 15:16, we read that Abraham believed God and that the belief was credited to him as righteousness. Again, it may sound as if this is justification by works.
Was it the act of believing that justified Abraham, or was it God in whom He believed who justified Abraham? All of Romans chapter 4 deals with this one verse in Genesis 15:16. The argument in Romans chapter 4 is that works result in payment for what is due. If I have been diligent and obedient, then I am due recompense or wages. This is not justification but payment for what is due. Justification is instead by faith, and the One who justifies is Christ.
In Romans 3:23, Paul leads into chapter 4 by explaining that the wages of sin (recompense for works) is death. In other words, the only payment due to me for my works is death. Justification, therefore, renders me righteous, and it is through faith in Christ that I obtain justification. Romans 3:28 and 4:13 teach us that justification is by faith and belief in the righteousness of God.
Romans 4:16 explains that justification is by faith, so that justification may be by grace. It is grace which forgives sin and does not charge it to my account. Belief on Christ through faith results in justification. Yet it is not simply professing that Christ is the Savior of the world. Belief on Christ requires becoming His disciple. Righteousness involves a continued practice. Thus, our actions do matter. Right action (righteousness and obedience before God) is required of those who profess righteousness, and right action is the fruit of righteousness.
The basis of our righteousness is Christ Jesus. In nine verses in the New Testament, we read that our righteousness is through Christ. Romans 3:22-25, 5:17, 8:10, 10:4-6, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Galatians 2:19-21, Philippians 1:11, 3:9, 2 Peter 1:1
By the righteousness of Christ, the Bible primarily means Christ’s death on the cross and His sinless life. Just as sin is imputed to us vicariously through Adam who first introduced sin into the world, righteousness is imputed to us vicariously through Christ who became the Savior of the world. Romans 5:12-21 It is vicarious because Christ is our substitute. Just as in the Old Testament, where lambs were a substitutionary sacrifice, Christ Jesus took the penalty for our sin on Himself.
A response is required on our part to accept Christ, and that response is belief on Christ. Righteousness is, therefore, not by works. Titus 3:5, Romans 3:19-4:12, Romans 11:6, Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Timothy 1:9
Though we firmly believe in justification by faith, we must also understand the interplay between our actions and our standing before God. If we claim that our actions after justification do not matter, then we fall into the traps of Gnosticism and eternal security, both of which are plainly unbiblical. We are initially saved by faith, however, righteousness is required. Fruit and sanctification are inseparably intertwined. Right action (righteousness and obedience before God) maintain our standing before God. We must have the strength and grace of God to live a righteous life, and thankfully, we have the aid of the Holy Spirit today.
If we could be righteous before God on our own action, then we would not need Christ. To say that our actions do not matter is unbiblical. Therefore, right action is required, but we are not expected to live a righteous life on our own.
Still, self-righteousness and justification of self remain two spiritually deadly motives which must be surrendered to God.
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