What is justification ?

[Doug]

What is justification?



Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Here we can see what justification is and how we receive it.

To be justified is to be righteous. Do both pocess and exhibit the righteousness of God.

No one can be justified by the law or good works.

In this dispensation as in all others we are only justified by faith, by believing what God has said.

Today we are justified freely, as a gift, by believing the redemption provided in Christ Jesus.



This is the gospel by which we are saved.

15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 15

We are all sinners who can not save ourselves.

Christ died for our sins; He was our substitute, He paid the full penalty and debt for our sin by his blood sacrifice.

He was buried.

He rose again for our justification ( to declare us righteous) and forgiveness of all our sin. He gives us His righteousness and eternal life.

All we have to do is believe the gospel.

Believing is being persuaded that something is true.

The moment you believe you have eternal life.

Trust the gospel of your salvation. Place your faith in Jesus Christ, in his blood, his death and his resurrection.

 

[1stCenturyLady]

When we truly repent from all our past sin, Jesus takes away those sins, nailing them to His cross. We are sinless of sins unto death and have received Christ's righteousness. 1 John 3:7 He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. John further proclaims the righteousness of the Christian in verse 9." Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. (Some add the word "practice" to this verse, but it not there.) This is why those who walk in the Spirit are not under the law as they do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. We are either in the flesh and damned as those who will not inherit the Kingdom of God, or in the Spirit and are assured eternal life.

Justification is the point where we become sinless. All our past sin has been wiped away. Jesus does this and nailed those sins of the past to His own cross. Before that point, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But that is our past, not our present.

John 8:34-36
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

We go from sinner to son (or daughter)

 

[Episkopos]

What is justification?



Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Here we can see what justification is and how we receive it.

To be justified is to be righteous. Do both pocess and exhibit the righteousness of God.

No one can be justified by the law or good works.

In this dispensation as in all others we are only justified by faith, by believing what God has said.

Today we are justified freely, as a gift, by believing the redemption provided in Christ Jesus.



This is the gospel by which we are saved.

15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 15

We are all sinners who can not save ourselves.

Christ died for our sins; He was our substitute, He paid the full penalty and debt for our sin by his blood sacrifice.

He was buried.

He rose again for our justification ( to declare us righteous) and forgiveness of all our sin. He gives us His righteousness and eternal life.

All we have to do is believe the gospel.

Believing is being persuaded that something is true.

The moment you believe you have eternal life.

Trust the gospel of your salvation. Place your faith in Jesus Christ, in his blood, his death and his resurrection.

As Christians we are justified by the life of Jesus....IF we are walking in that life. That's the catch. Jesus died for the sins of the world. But He was resurrected so that we might partake of the same kind of life (the eternal kind) that He lived among us. He who says he abides in Christ ought to walk exactly as He did.

 

[1stCenturyLady]

As Christians we are justified by the life of Jesus....IF we are walking in that life. That's the catch. Jesus died for the sins of the world. But He was resurrected so that we might partake of the same kind of life (the eternal kind) that He lived among us. He who says he abides in Christ ought to walk exactly as He did.

He who abides in Christ doesn't willfully sin.

 

[Episkopos]

"1stCenturyLady, post: 439954, member: 7883"]When we truly repent from all our past sin, Jesus takes away those sins, nailing them to His cross.

Yes!

We are sinless of sins unto death and have received Christ's righteousness.

Actually we can still be found to be sinners...unless we seek the Lord for entrance into His life.

1 John 3:7 He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. John further proclaims the righteousness of the Christian in verse 9." Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. (Some add the word "practice" to this verse, but it not there.) This is why those who walk in the Spirit are not under the law as they do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

Agree!

We are either in the flesh and damned as those who will not inherit the Kingdom of God, or in the Spirit and are assured eternal life.

If the situation persists...yes!

Justification is the point where we become sinless.

Actually sanctification...

All our past sin has been wiped away. Jesus does this and nailed those sins of the past to His own cross. Before that point, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But that is our past, not our present.

Amen!


John 8:34-36
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

We go from sinner to son (or daughter)

Again an amen!

 

[Episkopos]

He who abides in Christ doesn't willfully sin.

He who abides in Christ is holy as He is holy.

 

[1stCenturyLady]

Actually sanctification...

I see justification and sanctification as at the same time. People believe that sanctification is a process. I don't. I see it always referred to in the past tense. Oh, I believe there is a process, just not called sanctification. I believe when Jesus takes away our sin, we are immediately set apart unto good works - thus justification/sanctification. After that when we no longer have to deal with sin, we can go on to ministry and go from glory to glory. Thus the "process" is "glorification."

(You won't find my thoughts taught anywhere, they are my own thoughts. Of course, when I did ask God in prayer if the "process" is not called sanctification, then what is it called. Immediately, the answer came - "glorification." You may think I'm hearing things, or it was the pizza. But after all these years, I know the voice of my God.)

 

[Episkopos]

"1stCenturyLady, post: 439987, member: 7883"]I see justification and sanctification as at the same time. People believe that sanctification is a process. I don't. I see it always referred to in the past tense.

It is both an event AND a process. One is a gift from God...a gift of purity. And the other is a process of maturity. So there is purity AND maturity.


Oh, I believe there is a process, just not called sanctification. I believe when Jesus takes away our sin, we are immediately set apart unto good works - thus justification/sanctification. After that when we no longer have to deal with sin, we can go on to ministry and go from glory to glory. Thus the "process" is "glorification."

In certain people...yes! That's the idea.

(You won't find my thoughts taught anywhere, they are my own thoughts. Of course, when I did ask God in prayer if the "process" is not called sanctification, then what is it called. Immediately, the answer came - "glorification." You may think I'm hearing things, or it was the pizza. But after all these years, I know the voice of my God.)


I would say...FOR glorification. That is the purpose of sanctification. It is the GLORIOUS gospel after all. :)

 

[Enoch111]

Justification is the point where we become sinless.

Sorry sister, justification is the point at which we are DECLARED RIGHTEOUS by God, even though we are far from sinless. So you are quite mistaken.

God -- the righteous Judge -- expects absolute perfection from every sinner before he or she can enter Heaven. Since all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags in God's sight, we are looking at a situation which is essentially impossible. It should drive every sinner to despair.

And this is where the absolute perfection of Christ and His finished work on the Cross, and in His resurrection, comes into play. God sees His Son as the divine Substitute for every sinner who repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus God takes the perfect righteousness of Christ and clothes the guilty sinner with that "robe of righteousness". This is called "imputed righteousness". And this makes the sinner as righteous as God, and thus fit for Heaven.

But does imputed righteousness make anyone sinlessly perfect? Not at all. Christians can and do sin, and must deal with their present sin according to Scripture. But they remain righteous in Christ, which means that they must also forsake sins and idols constantly. Throughout the New Testament Christians are urged to mortify the flesh and to walk in the Spirit. Had they become sinlessly perfect, those exhortations would not be necessary.

 

[1stCenturyLady]

Sorry sister, justification is the point at which we are DECLARED RIGHTEOUS by God, even though we are far from sinless. So you are quite mistaken.

That is merely your opinion, but Scripture is the final authority and it says otherwise.

God -- the righteous Judge -- expects absolute perfection from every sinner before he or she can enter Heaven. Since all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags in God's sight, we are looking at a situation which is essentially impossible. It should drive every sinner to despair.

Yes, our own righteousness BEFORE CHRIST IS as filthy rags, that is why we are required to repent and be baptized in the Holy Spirit. It is He that gives us power, and it is He that works HIS OWN righteousness through us. We no longer do anything of ourselves, only by the Spirit. Our own righteousness is done by the flesh, but we are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, IF we have the Spirit of God in us, and if we do not have the Spirit of Christ, we do not belong to Him. You can call youself a sinner if you still have no power over sin, but I will walk in the freedom from willful sin Jesus gave me.

Thus God takes the perfect righteousness of Christ and clothes the guilty sinner with that "robe of righteousness". This is called "imputed righteousness". And this makes the sinner as righteous as God, and thus fit for Heaven.

So you believe that the blood of Jesus is like the blood of bulls and goats that merely covers our sin, instead of takes it away. How sad for you. The imputed righteousness is real, not an invisibility cloak. He frees us from sin, taking away even the desire to sin, transforming us into new creatures.

But does imputed righteousness make anyone sinlessly perfect? Not at all. Christians can and do sin, and must deal with their present sin according to Scripture. But they remain righteous in Christ, which means that they must also forsake sins and idols constantly. Throughout the New Testament Christians are urged to mortify the flesh and to walk in the Spirit. Had they become sinlessly perfect, those exhortations would not be necessary.

What you are describing is no better than those under the law, "forsaking sins and idols constantly." You seem to know nothing about the Holy Spirit's power in the life of a Christian from day one, though you speak out of both sides of your mouth and say to walk in the Spirit - something you obviously haven't experienced, or you'd know by that experience that you were dead to sin. You have much to learn and experience.

This is my advice to you:

Acts 2:38 “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

[Enoch111]

You can call yourself a sinner if you still have no power over sin, but I will walk in the freedom from willful sin Jesus gave me.

I do not call myself a sinner, since God sees me as a saint. But no Christian is sinlessly perfect, you included. The saints can and do sin, and both Scripture and life bear this out.

But you are claiming sinless perfection for yourself, which is simply SELF-DECEPTION.

Please note that the apostle John is the one who tells you that you are (1) deceiving yourself and (2) making God a liar.

1 JOHN 1 & 2
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Also, because you are self-deceived, you do not understand justification as presented in Scripture, and have called my explanation "your opinion". Now that is sad indeed.

 

[1stCenturyLady]

I do not call myself a sinner, since God sees me as a saint. But no Christian is sinlessly perfect, you included. The saints can and do sin, and both Scripture and life bear this out.

But you are claiming sinless perfection for yourself, which is simply SELF-DECEPTION.

Please note that the apostle John is the one who tells you that you are (1) deceiving yourself and (2) making God a liar.

1 JOHN 1 & 2
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Also, because you are self-deceived, you do not understand justification as presented in Scripture, and have called my explanation "your opinion". Now that is sad indeed.

You are putting words in my mouth. I never claimed to be sinless, only free from willful sin - sins unto death. There is a difference. Seems you don't know that.

I see your attempt to use 1 John 1:8 and 10 as if it was speaking of a Christian. That is a misuse of that scripture, and out of context of the whole epistle. Verse 7 is a Christian. Verse 8 and 10 are self-righteousness before Christ, and verse 9 in context with verse 8 is how to become a Christian. CONTEXT is important, otherwise you just look ignorant. Though I must say, it is a common mistake, and not just you that made it. But once taught in error, it caught on. People with itching ears like to find teachers that justify the sin these people have no power to overcome without having the Spirit.

You have so much to learn, and unlearn. Don't let your arrogance trip you up again. It is important to understand what the author means, not just what you want it to say.