foundation 3: Justification & righteousness
What does justification & righteousness mean?
Definition: Justification is the action of declaring or making righteous in the sight of God. It is a declaration of the act of the grace of God by which He declares the sinners free from the guilt and consequences of their sin, through faith in the atonement of Christ. We are justified through Christ Jesus. He made us righteous. Righteousness is to be in right standing with God. To be in right standing with God is to be and live holy. To live according to the Word of God. This is being in obedience. Not because we have to, but because we love Him (John 14:15, 1 John 5:3, 1 John 4:19).
Romans 3:9-26 (NKJV) - What then? Are we better [than they]? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." "Their throat [is] an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit"; "The poison of asps [is] under their lips"; "Whose mouth [is] full of cursing and bitterness." "Their feet [are] swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery [are] in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes." Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those 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 no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth [as] a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 5:18-19 (NKJV) - Therefore, as through one man's offense [judgment came] to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act [the free gift came] to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV) - For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Definition: Justification is the action of declaring or making righteous in the sight of God. It is a declaration of the act of the grace of God by which He declares the sinners free from the guilt and consequences of their sin, through faith in the atonement of Christ. We are justified through Christ Jesus. He made us righteous. Righteousness is to be in right standing with God. To be in right standing with God is to be and live holy. To live according to the Word of God. This is being in obedience. Not because we have to, but because we love Him (John 14:15, 1 John 5:3, 1 John 4:19).
Romans 3:9-26 (NKJV) - What then? Are we better [than they]? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." "Their throat [is] an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit"; "The poison of asps [is] under their lips"; "Whose mouth [is] full of cursing and bitterness." "Their feet [are] swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery [are] in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes." Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those 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 no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth [as] a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
- This longer passage of Scripture is saying all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. In Bible times there were comparisons between the Jews and Greeks. To summarize, whether Jew or Greek, without faith in the atonement of Jesus, you were guilty of sin and the punishment was death. With faith in the atonement of Jesus, you are justified (free from the guilt and consequences of sin). This was freely given by God's grace (grace - giving one something they do not deserve), and makes us righteous (holy). We have His righteousness. Jew or Greek then applies to all humanity now.
Romans 5:18-19 (NKJV) - Therefore, as through one man's offense [judgment came] to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act [the free gift came] to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.
- God's love moved Him to make a way for man to be delivered from his due punishment. God did this by the atonement through His Son, Jesus Christ (see the second foundation). A free gift (see the salvation page if you are wondering how to get this gift)!
- Who does God justify? Those who receive the gift of justification, who do not work to earn this justification (remember, it is free), who believe that Jesus shed His blood for them, those who have righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith alone, and those who God has called (Romans 3:24-25, Romans 4:5, Romans 5:9, Philippians 3:9, Romans 5:1, Romans 8:29-30). Those who answer the call, and remain, you are called!
- Righteousness is a gift. Right standing with God cannot be earned. Nothing we do in ourselves can make good for our transgression (Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:8-9). For believers (those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior), we must receive the gift and not fall into a "righteousness of works" if a sin occurs. Our justification, which causes us to gain right standing before God, is in the person of Jesus Christ.
- Our righteousness is a person seated at the right hand of God the Father. The blood He (Jesus Christ) shed for us continuously declares our justification before the Father (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Timothy 2:5).
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV) - For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
- Because of mankind's renewed right standing before God, Jesus rose from the dead (Romans 4:25).
- Those who believe in Jesus, and by faith receive His finished work on the cross, experience the power of God.
- Because of the power of God, we are saved, we are made new (2 Corinthians 5:17), we are children of God (John 1:12-13). We can now read our Bible and pray because we love Jesus, not because we have to prove our love for Him or earn His love for me.
- The fourth foundation will cover the process of sanctification and holiness now that we are made new!