What does it mean to be Justified by Christ?

In this article I am going to look at the doctrine of Justification in Christ. This theological principle offers security and encouragement to those who struggle and “much assurance” of the sufficiency of Christ when the Gospel of salvation is preached (1 Thessalonians 1:5). Our study delves into Systematic Theology and will explore the place of justification in this broader picture.

According to Strong's Concordance the Greek word that is used for Justification in the New Testament is dikaióō, which is a legal term that describes an acquittal, a process of absolution or an act of pronouncing ‘righteous’. Justification was made possible by Christ's sacrifice on the cross wherein He took our place and paid the legal fine on our behalf. So that, for those who call upon Jesus may have Him for an advocate. God stands up in the heavenly court and declares us righteous due to the finished work of Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest. The penalty for our sin is paid in full. Justification is past tense for all born again believers and the result is that we are brought out of condemnation and we are liberated to new life in the Kingdom of heaven. The Apostle Paul says by inspiration of God, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1 KJV). It’s important to note, that this legal declaration is enough for all time, even if sometimes our feelings don’t match this promise, God is faithful to carry us through as His children. Justification provides security of salvation because it is not based upon my goodness or performance but on the Person and finished work of Jesus. The Apostle Paul echoes this promise when he wrote, “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified (Romans 8:30 KJV). We can be sure that if we stand justified in the Gospel, that we were called by Him and we will one day be reunited with Him in Glory.

“..the root idea in justification is the declaration of God, the righteous judge, that the man who believes in Christ, sinful though he may be, is righteous—is viewed as being righteous, because in Christ he has come into a righteous relationship with God” (Ladd, G. E., A Theology of the New Testament, Eerdmans, 1974, p. 437).

Now we have established the essence of what Justification means, let’s take a quick look at how it is Biblically achieved. We approach this topic understanding that salvation is a complete work of God. In all three tenses of our doctrine of salvation we see the authorship of God, whether it be through Justification, helping us grow in progressive sanctification, or in the final glorification of our bodies. The Bible shows us the manner in which Christ achieved the gift of Justification on our behalf.

According to Romans 5:1, the only way someone can be justified is through “faith” and that this leads to “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. In other words, we can only trust and rely upon the atonement at the cross to receive forgiveness for our sins. This was shown many years before Jesus came to the earth in the scriptures given to ancient Israel. “And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 23:28 KJV) No work is allowed to be offered up to earn the gift brought to us by Christ’s atonement at the cross. No work is allowed on the “Day of Atonement”. This is reiterated in the book of Galatians 2:16,

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Justified by faith in Christ's sacrifice

The reformation solidified the five solas, which gave a helpful overview that reminds us salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone to the glory of God alone.

Jesus came to give His life as a substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf (2 Corinthians 5:21). He came to shed His blood as an atonement for our sins (Hebrews 9:22). He bore the wrath of God upon Himself as our Propitiation (1 John 4:10). He came to bring us a sin covering for our nakedness and shame (Psalm 32:1). He came to remove our sins away as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). And to forgive us and pay the penalty we owed. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23). And in so doing He would reconcile us from the kingdom of darkness back to God (Romans 5:10).

In conclusion, I would like to draw on a quotation from Charles Spurgeon which I have been greatly impacted by, and for me sums up the enormous magnitude and cost that God our Father achieved through the meritorious sacrifice of His Son at the cross. “There, poor sinner, take my garment, and put it on; you shall stand before God as if you were Christ, and I will stand before God as if I had been the sinner; I will suffer in the sinner's stead, and you shall be rewarded for works that you did not do, but which I did for you.” (Charles Spurgeon. “Essential Works of Charles Spurgeon”, p.36, Barbour Publishing). I am profoundly moved that God loved me so much that He would take my place and offer undeserved grace and mercy considering my helpless state as a wretched sinner in this world. This impacts me to want to press on for the goal which I have been called to in Christ. Contrary to those who theologically oppose the security for an elect and justified believer claiming it leads to using grace as a licence to sin.. this doctrine inspires me to turn from whatever does not glorify God and rather to strive to serve Him more faithfully.