Thinking about Justification

Almost all Christians would claim to believe we were justified by faith, and perhaps quote Romans 3:28, which says we are justified by faith and not by the works of the Law. If pressed, many Christians would define “works of the law” as the actions we take to conform to the requirements of the Law, rather than what the “law” actually accomplishes, which is to make us aware of our sin and lead us to Christ.

So lets back up and ask the question, justified by whose faith? Does our faith justify us? If we took a poll, would not a large group, perhaps even a majority, say our faith justifies us? But that would be a works based salvation would it not. Ah but you say faith is not a work.

Maybe we should back up again and consider “justified by whom?” Were we justified by what we did or by what Christ did on the cross? The free gift of justification to life was provided by Christ on the cross, Romans 5:18. So it was Christ’s faithfulness, even unto death on the cross, which provided the propitiation for the whole world. So then the question becomes, how did we “receive” that gift or have that gift applied to us individually?

So it would seem, then that our faith in Christ provides access to Christ’s free gift of justification by the grace of God. But does that too miss the mark? I think so. Would not our faith in effect “save us” then and make us the actual architect of our salvation?

So if our placing our faith in Christ does not automatically save us, then God must credit our faith as righteousness and spiritually place us “in Christ” which saves us because in Christ we receive the justification to life provided by Christ. Wow now that is a systematic theology that fits with all scripture.

 

These stepping stones to justification take us across the torrent of confusion:

Number 1 always starts with God. If God did not provide the grace of His revelation, both in what He has made, and the special revelation in His word, we would not even be able to have faith in God, and as Paul referenced, we might have faith in the "unknown god."

1) God reveals Himself to human kind, in two ways.

2) We are exposed to His declaration of the gospel of Christ. Thus without the work of the Holy Spirit, both in the inspired word, and in His leading of witnesses, we would not know what to put our faith in.

3) Some of those exposed to the gospel are unable to understand it, those who are described as the first soil of Matthew 13.

4) Others, understand the message, but do not commit fully, or do not discard their worldly treasures. These are described as the second and third soil of Matthew 13.

5) A "few" understand the message and fully commit, they go "all in" and therefore love God with all their mind, heart and soul.

6) These few are the ones whose faith God credits as righteousness, and are spiritually placed into Christ, thus these "few" are chosen for salvation.

7) Once God gives an individual to Christ, Christ has promised to not cast out, thus our salvation is eternal.

8) Once in Christ, we are justified, made righteous, forgiven, regenerated, made alive, and given the ministry of reconciliation.

The gospel of Christ

 

Romans 4:25 (NASB95) "He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification."

The word "because" appears twice in the above translation, to render the Greek preposition "dia" (G1223). When used to show instrumentality, the Greek word is often translated as "for" or "because." However in this verse "because" seems to be a little off target. Our transgressions (or wrongdoings in God's eye) did not cause Christ to be sacrificed. Rather Christ was sacrificed on account of our transgressions to provide a means of reconciliation. Ditto for justification. Christ was not sacrificed because our (past tense) justification, but rather Christ's death was on account of providing our future justification.

 

Romans 5:18 (NASB95) "So then as through one transgression [fn]there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness [fn]there resulted justification of life to all men.

The footnotes again indicate the Greek preposition is "eis" meaning into or for the purpose or result. Here is, I believe, a better version:
Rom 5:18 (CSB)
So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone.
Thus the phrase "leading to life" puts the justification as a future result of the one righteous act. Justification occurs when God places an individual spiritually into Christ where they are justified, made righteous, through the washing of regeneration.

 

Another verse where a similar Greek word is translated as "justification" by the NASB95 is Romans 5:16.
Here is how it is rendered:

Romans 5:16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.

However the last word seems to be off a bit, with "one righteous act" fitting the pattern of the passage. The Greek word means to "make, deem or declare" something as right according to the governing authority, i.e. God, law, or judge. Here Christ's sacrifice is in view.

 

Another Greek word (dikaioō - G1344) is often translated as "justified" but the idea is to be shown or manifested as righteous, or to be considered or reckoned as righteous. I think this is why sometimes the idea is wrongly presented that we are declared righteous, rather than made righteous by the washing of regeneration. One insight arising from this word's usage, is found in James 2:18-24, where our righteousness is shown or demonstrated by our works. Another example is in Matthew 11:19, "Wisdom" is shown to be righteous by her deeds.

And in Romans 2:13 we see that it is the "doers of the Law" who are shown as righteous. But again we must be careful to realize that just because a person does something righteous or right, it does not make his or her completely righteous in God's eyes. That only occurs when we undergo the washing of regeneration after being placed into Christ. For example, Abraham's faith was reckoned or counted or deemed righteous (Romans 4:4-5) but that did not make Abraham completely righteous and perfect, no he waited in the place called "Abraham's bosom" until after Christ's sacrificial death on the cross to be made perfect.

 

Romans 5:18: Justification = dikaiōsis (1347) noun
Romans 5:16: Justification = dikaiōma (1345) noun
Romans 5:9: Justified = dikaioō (1344) verb

 

With over 300 "views" why is the only response an effort to disparage? Why not post to edify and enlighten? Why not make an effort to study the topic and provide a response. Then there was the guy, seeking to justify himself, who asked the question, but who is my neighbor? And the answer of course is the one who showed mercy to the stranger. Post unto others as you would have them post unto you...

 

The Greek adjective "dikaios" (G1342) refers usually to the behavior of an individual, and refers to his or her efforts to live according to God's will, thus a just person will live by faith. Occasionally, it appears the word is used to describe someone who has been justified (G1344) by God.
Romans 5:19 (NASB95) For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
Mat thew 13:49 (NaSB95) “So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous,
Matthew 25:46 “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Act 24:15 having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
Hebrews12:23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
James 5:16Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of the righteous can accomplish much.

And there are several examples where the word is applied to Christ, i.e. the Righteous One.

However, the vast majority of the usages should be translated as "just" referring to a faithful believer's outward behavior toward others. By restricting the translation choice of righteous to God and those born anew, the confusion over justification (being made righteous in Christ) might be mitigated.

 

Once again, by a question's implication, a totally unbiblical view is attributed to me.

Did he quote my statement defining redemption as being transferred from the domain of darkness (in Adam) into the kingdom of His beloved Son (in Christ)? Nope

Did I say God puts everyone into Christ? Nope God only puts those whose faith He credits as righteousness into Christ.

Christ's "suffering and death upon the cross" provides the "means of salvation" for all humanity, but only those whose faith God credits as righteousness are placed into Christ and therefore receive the reconciliation provided by Christ's sacrifice.

Pay no attention to those who mis-characterize scripture to defend falsehood.

 

These stepping stones to justification take us across the torrent of confusion:

Number 1 always starts with God. If God did not provide the grace of His revelation, both in what He has made, and the special revelation in His word, we would not even be able to have faith in God, and as Paul referenced, we might have faith in the "unknown god."

1) God reveals Himself to human kind, in two ways.

2) We are exposed to His declaration of the gospel of Christ. Thus without the work of the Holy Spirit, both in the inspired word, and in His leading of witnesses, we would not know what to put our faith in.

3) Some of those exposed to the gospel are unable to understand it, those who are described as the first soil of Matthew 13.

4) Others, understand the message, but do not commit fully, or do not discard their worldly treasures. These are described as the second and third soil of Matthew 13.

5) A "few" understand the message and fully commit, they go "all in" and therefore love God with all their mind, heart and soul.

6) These few are the ones whose faith God credits as righteousness, and are spiritually placed into Christ, thus these "few" are chosen for salvation.

7) Once God gives an individual to Christ, Christ has promised to not cast out, thus our salvation is eternal.

8) Once in Christ, we are justified, made righteous, forgiven, regenerated, made alive, and given the ministry of reconciliation.

The gospel of Christ

 

Ever notice that Calvinists claim to be able to read my mind, yet cannot even present my views, as they misrepresent me without quotation?

1) Do I reject "penal substitutionary death of Christ?" Yes. That doctrine is just a Trojan Horse for Calvinism's Limited Atonement.

2) Did I say a person's faith is "being generated by the human will?" Nope We place our faith in the information provided by God's revelation. Every person that comes to faith has been drawn by the Father. (John 6:44)

3) Does the "weight" of being redeemed fall entirely upon the human? Nope Romans 9:16 says salvation does not depend on the person who wills but rather upon God.

4) Do the persons who "will faith" save themselves? Nope, the second and third soils of Matthew 13 willed but were not saved. It is God who saves.

Calvinists derail on topic discussion by misrepresenting the views of others. It is a vicious and vindictive practice that should not be condoned.