Justification
Definition: Justification is God's act of grace by which
He pardons a sinner and accepts him as righteous on account of
the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Remission of sin,
absolution from guilt, and freedom from punishment are part of
justification.
In order to be justified, a person must be given a righteousness
equivalent fo God's perfect righteousness. Hence, imputation precedes
justification. Inputation is the charging to the account of one
person something which properly belongs to another. The Lord Jesus
Christ shares his perfect righteousness with the believer, Rom.
3:22; 4:11; 9:30-32; 4:4,5 **.
Because righteousness has been imputed to us, God calls us "justified".
"Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness."
Hence, imputation of righteousness on the basis of faith brings
about justification.
The means of justification is redemption, Rom. 3:24. "Being
justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus."
Justification produces reconciliation. Rom. 5:1
Because God the Father is satisfied (propitiation), we are freely
justified.
Justification occurs at the moment of a person's faith in Jesus
Christ, Rom. 3:28; 5:1; Gal.3:24.
Justification does not occur through keeping the Law of Moses,
Gal. 2:16.
Justification during the believer's lifetime is described in James
2:21-25. This is the function of the Faith-Rest principle in living
the Christian Way of Life under grace.
The principle of temporal justification is found in Matt. 11:19
and Luke 7:35.