Justification
In previous essays, we considered the subject of justification as it related to the covenant of redemption. This justification established our righteous standing before God. It was brought about by the redemption that is in Christ Jesus and by God’s free and abounding grace. Rom. 3:23, 24 states this principle thus: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
There is more to the subject of justification than just being justified from our sins before God. If we do not follow the biblical rule of II Tim. 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,” then we will become hopelessly confused and think the scriptures to be contradictory.
The scriptures teach justification through the blood atonement of Jesus Christ by the free grace of God. The scriptures also teach that we are justified by faith without works. In addition, the scriptures teach that we are justified by works. Supporting verses for these last two principles are as follows:
1. Rom. 5:1 ‑ “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. James 2:21, 22 ‑ “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect.
3. Rom. 3:19, 20 ‑ “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. 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.”
While there may appear to be contradictions in the scripture, there are no real contradictions. When we make the proper application of the scriptures, they will all harmonize. How do we harmonize what appears to many to be contradictions on the subject of justification? Are we justified by God’s free grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus alone without any exercise of faith on our part or good works on our part? The answer is yes. Are we also justified by our activity of faith without works? Again the answer is yes. Are we justified by works? Again, the answer is yes.
In the next few essays, we will attempt to clarify the subject of justification and show the harmony in what, on the surface, appears to many people to be contradictions.
One of the keys to understanding the subject of justification is to understand the meaning and use of the word itself. The word, justify, means to make or declare righteous. It is a courtroom term. It is generally used in connection with legal proceedings. For instance, when a person is tried in a criminal court on accusations of committing a crime and he is acquitted by the verdict of not‑guilty, then he is justified. The word is used in the scriptures to mean the opposite of condemned or condemnation. Thus, when you are tried you are either justified or condemned.
To understand how that in one instance we are justified by the blood of Jesus through God’s free grace and without works or faith on the part of those justified, in another instance we are justified by faith without works, and in a third instance we are justified by works, we need to know where the trial takes place and what we are being tried for.
There are three courtrooms in the scriptures in which the term justification is used. There is the courtroom of heaven. There is the courtroom of our heart and mind. In addition, there is the courtroom of men’s opinions. In the next few essays, we will attempt to show how that in the courtroom of heaven we are justified by the blood of Christ by God’s free grace alone. Then we will attempt to show how that in the courtroom of our heart and mind we are justified by faith in the atoning work of Christ without our works. Afterwards we will attempt to show how that we are justified by works in the courtroom of men’s opinions.