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What Is The Truth About Justification By Faith? |
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In the introduction to his lectures on the Book of Galatians Luther stated in 1531 that if the teaching of justification were lost, all of the Christian teachings would be lost. In connection with Galatians 3:13 he asserted that the teaching of justification must be learned carefully, because in it all the other teachings of the Christian faith are to be understood. When the teaching of justification is safe, the other teachings of the Bible are safe as well.
What Luther said makes it clear that the teaching of justification by faith is essential to a proper understanding of the Christian faith and all the other teachings of the Bible. If justification by faith is not understood, the Bible remains a sealed book. Luther himself learned this when the Lord enabled him to discover this teaching through his study of Romans 1:16,17. Upon learning this teaching Luther said he felt like he had been reborn and had entered paradise.
The purpose of this lesson is to learn what this essential teaching of the Bible is and why we cannot afford to lose it.
1. What is justification?
Dt.25:1 If there is a dispute between men and they go to court, and the judges settle their dispute, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, . . .
Pro.17:15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them together are detestable to the Lord.
Lk.7:29 And all the people and the tax collectors, after they heard him, justified God, by having been baptized with the baptism of John.
Ro.3:23,24 . . . for all have sinned and lack the praise of God, being declared righteous as a gift by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;
Ro.4:6-8 . . . just as David speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness without works, “BLESSED ARE THEY WHOSE WICKED DEEDS WERE DISMISSED AND WHOSE SINS WERE COVERED; BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NEVER TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”
The Truth Is:
2. In justification what sins does God forgive?
Ps.103:2,3 Bless the Lord, . . .Who forgives all your iniquities, . . .
1 Jn.2:2 And he (Jesus) himself is the appeasing sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
The Truth Is:
3. Who needs the forgiveness of sins and justification?
Ps. 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.
Ro.3:10-12 . . . as it is written: “THERE IS NO ONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE, THERE IS NO ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NO ONE WHO SEEKS GOD OUT. ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME WORTHLESS; THERE IS NOT ONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.
Ro.7:18,19 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh; for the desiring is present in me, but doing the morally good is not; for the good that I desire to do I do not do, but the evil that I do not desire to do this I do.
Ps.19:12 Who can discern his errors? Pardon my sins of ignorance.
Ro.6:23 For the wages of sin is death, . . .
The Truth Is:
We all need the forgiveness of sins and justification, for:
4. What has God done to accomplish our justification?
2 Cor.5:21 God made him who knew no sin to be sin in place of us, in order that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Ro.4:25 . . . who (Jesus Christ) was delivered up to death on account of our sins and was raised on account of our being declared righteous
1 Jn.2:2 And he himself is the appeasing sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
2 Cor.5:19 . . . God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s sins against them,. . .
The Truth Is:
God accomplished the justification and forgiveness of all people:
What Luther said makes it clear that the teaching of justification by faith is essential to a proper understanding of the Christian faith and all the other teachings of the Bible. If justification by faith is not understood, the Bible remains a sealed book. Luther himself learned this when the Lord enabled him to discover this teaching through his study of Romans 1:16,17. Upon learning this teaching Luther said he felt like he had been reborn and had entered paradise.
The purpose of this lesson is to learn what this essential teaching of the Bible is and why we cannot afford to lose it.
1. What is justification?
Dt.25:1 If there is a dispute between men and they go to court, and the judges settle their dispute, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, . . .
- Justify means the opposite of condemn. In court the judge declares the accused person innocent, that he is righteous and not subject to punishment.
Pro.17:15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them together are detestable to the Lord.
- This verse speaks of unjust judges. It also shows that justify means the opposite of condemn. There are about twenty Old Testament verses in which justify means to declare righteous.
- So justification is a judicial act in which a judge declares the accused person righteous.
Lk.7:29 And all the people and the tax collectors, after they heard him, justified God, by having been baptized with the baptism of John.
- In this verse the people justified God and declared God was right. So it is clear that the word justify means to declare righteous in the New Testament as well as in the Old Testament.
Ro.3:23,24 . . . for all have sinned and lack the praise of God, being declared righteous as a gift by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;
- In the Bible God is the Judge who graciously justifies sinners, that is, he declares them righteous, not because they are, but for the sake of Jesus’ redeeming sacrifice.
Ro.4:6-8 . . . just as David speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness without works, “BLESSED ARE THEY WHOSE WICKED DEEDS WERE DISMISSED AND WHOSE SINS WERE COVERED; BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NEVER TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”
- As proof that God justifies, or credits righteousness, apart from a person’s works and efforts, Paul quoted David’s words from the Old Testament that God forgives sins.
- Justification, then, is a judicial act of God in which he declares the sinner righteous and his sins forgiven. Justification, being declared righteous, is synonymous with being declared forgiven.
The Truth Is:
- Justification is a judicial act of God in which he declares the sinner righteous for the sake of Jesus’ redeeming sacrifice.
- Forgiveness of sins is the same as justification. It merely states the same truth in a different manner.
2. In justification what sins does God forgive?
Ps.103:2,3 Bless the Lord, . . .Who forgives all your iniquities, . . .
- In justification God forgives all our sins.
1 Jn.2:2 And he (Jesus) himself is the appeasing sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
- In justification God forgives the sins of all people everywhere.
The Truth Is:
- In justification God forgives all our sins.
- In justification God forgives the sins of all people everywhere, not just the sins of a certain elect number of people. Note: God’s forgiving all people their sins is called objective, or universal, justification. See the Bible verses and explanations under Question #4 below for more information about this objective justification.
3. Who needs the forgiveness of sins and justification?
Ps. 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.
- Everyone needs the forgiveness of sins and justification, because everyone is conceived and born into sin.
Ro.3:10-12 . . . as it is written: “THERE IS NO ONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE, THERE IS NO ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NO ONE WHO SEEKS GOD OUT. ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME WORTHLESS; THERE IS NOT ONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.
- Everyone needs the forgiveness of sins and justification, because everyone has failed to do the good that God requires.
Ro.7:18,19 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh; for the desiring is present in me, but doing the morally good is not; for the good that I desire to do I do not do, but the evil that I do not desire to do this I do.
- Everyone needs the forgiveness of sins and justification, because everyone has a sinful nature that is morally wicked and causes them to sin everyday.
Ps.19:12 Who can discern his errors? Pardon my sins of ignorance.
- Everyone needs the forgiveness of sins and justification, because everyone commits sins everyday, even sins they are not aware of.
Ro.6:23 For the wages of sin is death, . . .
- Everyone needs the forgiveness of sins and justification, because everyone is subject to the punishment of death and damnation for their sins.
The Truth Is:
We all need the forgiveness of sins and justification, for:
- We all were conceived and born into sin. We have a sinful nature, which is corrupt and inclined only to sin.
- We all are sinners who have failed to do the good God requires.
- We all commit sins every day, even sins we are not aware of.
- We all are subject to the punishment of death and damnation for our sins.
4. What has God done to accomplish our justification?
2 Cor.5:21 God made him who knew no sin to be sin in place of us, in order that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
- God charged our sins against Jesus and credited Jesus’ righteousness to us.
Ro.4:25 . . . who (Jesus Christ) was delivered up to death on account of our sins and was raised on account of our being declared righteous
- Having charged our sins against Jesus, God made him suffer our punishment of death.
- God raised Jesus from the dead to show us that he had accepted Jesus’ sacrificial death for our sins and that he has forgiven our sins.
1 Jn.2:2 And he himself is the appeasing sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
- Jesus’ death was his reconciling sacrifice and offering to pay for the sins of all people and to restore them to God’s favor.
2 Cor.5:19 . . . God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s sins against them,. . .
- Through Jesus’ sacrificial death for the sins of all people God reconciled the sinners of the world to himself and restored everyone to his peace and favor.
The Truth Is:
God accomplished the justification and forgiveness of all people:
- By charging their sins against Jesus and crediting Jesus’ righteousness to them.
- By punishing Jesus for the sins of all people and raising him from the dead to declare their sins forgiven.
- By not charging people’s sins against them for the sake of Jesus’ sacrificial death, which has reconciled all people to himself.
- Note: This is called objective, or universal, justification.
5. To whom does God offer the forgiveness of sins and justification?
Lk.24:47 . . . and repentance and the forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name to all the nations –
Mk.16:15 Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
The Truth Is:
God offers the forgiveness of sins and justification to all people everywhere.
6. Who actually receives the forgiveness of sins and is justified?
Ro.3:28 We are of the opinion, therefore, that a person is declared righteous by faith without works of law.
Ro.3:21,22 But now a righteousness of God apart from law has been made known, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, that is a righteousness of God by means of faith in Jesus Christ, for all those who believe; for there is no distinction.
The Truth Is:
Those who believe Jesus Christ is their Savior receive the forgiveness of their sins and are justified. Through faith in Jesus they are credited with his righteousness for their salvation.
7. What is saving faith?
Jn.17:3 And this is eternal life, that they come to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Ro.10:14 How will they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
1 Tim.1:15 This statement is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I myself am foremost.
Pro.3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Ro.4:4,5 Now to the one who works his wages are not considered as a favor but as what is owed to him; but to the one who does not work, and who places his faith upon him who declares the godless righteous, his faith is credited for righteousness, . . .
Eph.2:8,9 For by this grace you have been saved through faith; and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ro.3:22 . . . that is a righteousness of God by means of faith in Jesus Christ, for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; . . .
The Truth Is:
Saving faith:
8. What blessings are received through justification by faith?
Ro.5:9 Therefore, having been declared righteous now in his blood, so much the more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him.
Ro.5:1 Therefore, because we have been declared righteous as a result of faith, we keep on having peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph.2:19 Consequently you are no longer strangers and aliens; on the contrary, you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God, . . .
Lk.23:43 And he said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The Truth Is:
Having been justified through faith in Jesus Christ, the believer is blessed with:
Lk.24:47 . . . and repentance and the forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name to all the nations –
Mk.16:15 Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
The Truth Is:
God offers the forgiveness of sins and justification to all people everywhere.
6. Who actually receives the forgiveness of sins and is justified?
Ro.3:28 We are of the opinion, therefore, that a person is declared righteous by faith without works of law.
- A person is justified, meaning he is declared righteous and forgiven, by means of faith in Jesus Christ. So it is the believer in Jesus who receives forgiveness of sins and is justified.
Ro.3:21,22 But now a righteousness of God apart from law has been made known, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, that is a righteousness of God by means of faith in Jesus Christ, for all those who believe; for there is no distinction.
- Through faith in Jesus Christ a person receives Jesus’ righteousness that God credits to all who believe in Jesus.
The Truth Is:
Those who believe Jesus Christ is their Savior receive the forgiveness of their sins and are justified. Through faith in Jesus they are credited with his righteousness for their salvation.
- Note: This is subjective, or personal, justification, in which the believer receives through faith the righteousness of Christ and is declared righteous. Through his faith the believer applies God’s objective, or universal, justification to himself.
7. What is saving faith?
Jn.17:3 And this is eternal life, that they come to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
- This verse and the next one show us that saving faith includes knowing the one true God, Jesus Christ, salvation by faith, and the other essential teachings of the Bible.
Ro.10:14 How will they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
1 Tim.1:15 This statement is trustworthy and worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I myself am foremost.
- Saving faith accepts as true the essential, or fundamental, teachings of the Bible, such as about the one true God, Jesus Christ, and that Jesus Christ did save the sinners of the world.
Pro.3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
- Above all saving faith includes a personal trust in God and in his promise of salvation through faith in Jesus.
Ro.4:4,5 Now to the one who works his wages are not considered as a favor but as what is owed to him; but to the one who does not work, and who places his faith upon him who declares the godless righteous, his faith is credited for righteousness, . . .
- Trusting God and his promise of salvation in Christ Jesus is faith. Such faith is not a work that God is obligated to repay with forgiveness. Thus faith is not a good work the believer does by which he earns the right to be saved from hell and to be in heaven.
- To the believer in Christ Jesus God credits Jesus’ saving righteousness. This righteousness is God’s gift to the believer. The believer’s faith itself has earned nothing.
- It is not the faith itself that saves, in the sense that the faith is a good work which earns a saving righteousness, rather it is the object of the faith--Jesus Christ, which saves.
Eph.2:8,9 For by this grace you have been saved through faith; and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
- Faith in Jesus Christ is a gift of God. The believer does not work that faith in himself. Thus the believer cannot boast that he is righteous and has earned the right to be forgiven and in heaven because he believed while others did not. If God had not worked the faith in the believer’s heart, he would not have believed either.
Ro.3:22 . . . that is a righteousness of God by means of faith in Jesus Christ, for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; . . .
- Faith is merely the means through which God gives Jesus’ righteousness that saves and enables the believer to be in heaven. Faith is a hand that receives the saving righteousness of Christ, which God gives to the believer.
The Truth Is:
Saving faith:
- Includes a knowledge of the true God, of Jesus Christ the Savior, of the way of salvation through faith, and the other essential, or fundamental, teachings of the Christian faith and Bible. (Knowledge)
- Includes accepting the above as true and valid. (Assent)
- Requires above all a personal trust in God and his promise of salvation through Jesus Christ. (Trust)
- Is not a good work in itself that earns a righteous standing before God and saves. It is a gift of God, the object of which--Jesus Christ--saves.
- Is the hand that receives God’s gift of righteousness and salvation.
8. What blessings are received through justification by faith?
Ro.5:9 Therefore, having been declared righteous now in his blood, so much the more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him.
- Through justification (being declared forgiven and righteous) by faith we are saved from God’s wrath and punishment.
Ro.5:1 Therefore, because we have been declared righteous as a result of faith, we keep on having peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
- Through justification by faith we have God’s peace; he is not angry with us anymore because of our sins.
Eph.2:19 Consequently you are no longer strangers and aliens; on the contrary, you are fellow citizens of the saints and members of the household of God, . . .
- Through justification by faith we are God’s people and the members of his family.
Lk.23:43 And he said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
- Through justification by faith we have eternal life in heaven.
The Truth Is:
Having been justified through faith in Jesus Christ, the believer is blessed with:
- Being delivered from God’s wrath and punishment and having God’s peace.
- Being one of God’s people and a member of his family.
- Eternal life in heaven.
9. Can we be certain justification saves us?
Tit.1:2 . . . on the basis of the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, . . .
Ro.8:38,39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor demons nor things present nor things to come nor power nor height nor depth nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Truth Is:
Justification by faith in Jesus Christ makes our salvation certain, for:
10. Why is justification by faith so important to the Christian faith?
2 Tim.3:15 . . . namely that from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus.
Gal.1:6,7 I am astonished that you are so quickly turning yourselves away from the Christ who called you to be in grace for a different gospel, which is not even another gospel; unless there are some who are throwing you into confusion and are intending to pervert the gospel of Christ.
Tit.3:5,7 . . . having been declared righteous by his grace, we became heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Rev.7:10,12 . . . and again and again they call out with a loud voice: “Salvation is our God’s, who sits on the throne, and the Lamb’s!” “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen!”
The Truth Is:
Justification is all important to the Christian faith, because:
For your personal study before the next lesson:
A. Read:
Genesis, chapters 43-49, a chapter a day
Luke, chapters 22-24, Acts, chapters 1-4, a chapter a day
B. Complete the following review questions. Write out your answers in the spaces provided.
1. Define the term justification.
2. One church teaches that justification means to be made righteous, that God enables individuals to become more and more righteous in their manner of living until finally they have become saints who are able to enter into heaven. How does this teaching compare to your answer above and to the Bible’s meaning of justification?
3. Some churches teach that Jesus Christ died only for the believers, so only they have been justified. Compare their teaching to what the Bible teaches. Are they correct? What Bible verse can you cite to support your answer?
4. Some believe they can become perfect. Compare their belief to what the Bible teaches. Are they correct? What Bible verse can you cite to support your answer?
5. Check which of the following statements are correct.
a. Justification and forgiveness of sins are the same thing.
b. A person is justified because his faith is a good work which he does that makes him righteous and saves him.
c. Those who are justified are considered by God to be holy and perfect.
d. Objective, or universal, justification means God has declared all the believers to be righteous.
e. God offers the forgiveness of sins and salvation to all people.
f. All people have the forgiveness of their sins.
g. Only believers in Jesus have the forgiveness of their sins.
h. Subjective, or personal, justification means that the believer by his faith in Jesus has applied to himself the forgiveness of sins Jesus obtained for all people.
i. Saving faith is a gift of God.
6. When was objective justification accomplished?
7. When does subjective justification take place?
8. True or false: The Bible and all its teachings can be correctly understood without an understanding of justification by faith.
9. What makes Christianity different from all the other religions of the world?
Tit.1:2 . . . on the basis of the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, . . .
- God does not lie. His word on justification by faith and his promise of salvation through it are true and certain.
Ro.8:38,39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor demons nor things present nor things to come nor power nor height nor depth nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Justification by faith makes our salvation certain and convinces us that nothing can separate us from God’s love for us in Jesus Christ.
The Truth Is:
Justification by faith in Jesus Christ makes our salvation certain, for:
- God’s Word, which is true, has said all who believe in Jesus Christ are justified and will be saved.
- Nothing can separate us from God’s love in Jesus Christ.
10. Why is justification by faith so important to the Christian faith?
2 Tim.3:15 . . . namely that from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus.
- Justification through faith in Jesus Christ is the wisdom that comes from God for our salvation. It teaches us what is the way to saved.
- Justification through faith in Jesus Christ is the heart and core of Scripture. It is the central truth of the Bible. If one does not understand this teaching, he has missed the point of what the Bible is about. The Bible remains a sealed book and its message a hidden mystery to him.
Gal.1:6,7 I am astonished that you are so quickly turning yourselves away from the Christ who called you to be in grace for a different gospel, which is not even another gospel; unless there are some who are throwing you into confusion and are intending to pervert the gospel of Christ.
- Justification through faith in Jesus is the only gospel and source of salvation.
- Justification through faith in Jesus sets Christianity apart from all the other religions of the world, which are false religions that in some way make salvation depend upon what people do to save themselves. Christianity alone upholds what God in his grace has done to save us without any works or efforts on our part.
Tit.3:5,7 . . . having been declared righteous by his grace, we became heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
- Justification alone gives us hope, confidence, and comfort.
Rev.7:10,12 . . . and again and again they call out with a loud voice: “Salvation is our God’s, who sits on the throne, and the Lamb’s!” “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen!”
- Justification gives all the praise and the glory for salvation to God and Jesus Christ.
The Truth Is:
Justification is all important to the Christian faith, because:
- It is the central truth of the Bible, which teaches us that the way of salvation is through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
- It separates and distinguishes Christianity from all the false religions of the world, which teach a salvation by works, not by the grace of God through faith alone in Jesus Christ.
- It alone can comfort us and give us the confidence of salvation.
- It gives all praise and glory to God for our salvation.
For your personal study before the next lesson:
A. Read:
Genesis, chapters 43-49, a chapter a day
Luke, chapters 22-24, Acts, chapters 1-4, a chapter a day
B. Complete the following review questions. Write out your answers in the spaces provided.
1. Define the term justification.
2. One church teaches that justification means to be made righteous, that God enables individuals to become more and more righteous in their manner of living until finally they have become saints who are able to enter into heaven. How does this teaching compare to your answer above and to the Bible’s meaning of justification?
3. Some churches teach that Jesus Christ died only for the believers, so only they have been justified. Compare their teaching to what the Bible teaches. Are they correct? What Bible verse can you cite to support your answer?
4. Some believe they can become perfect. Compare their belief to what the Bible teaches. Are they correct? What Bible verse can you cite to support your answer?
5. Check which of the following statements are correct.
a. Justification and forgiveness of sins are the same thing.
b. A person is justified because his faith is a good work which he does that makes him righteous and saves him.
c. Those who are justified are considered by God to be holy and perfect.
d. Objective, or universal, justification means God has declared all the believers to be righteous.
e. God offers the forgiveness of sins and salvation to all people.
f. All people have the forgiveness of their sins.
g. Only believers in Jesus have the forgiveness of their sins.
h. Subjective, or personal, justification means that the believer by his faith in Jesus has applied to himself the forgiveness of sins Jesus obtained for all people.
i. Saving faith is a gift of God.
6. When was objective justification accomplished?
7. When does subjective justification take place?
8. True or false: The Bible and all its teachings can be correctly understood without an understanding of justification by faith.
9. What makes Christianity different from all the other religions of the world?
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