Seven Truths on Justification (According to Paul)

“...we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” Galatians 2:16

Justification is a critically important biblical idea. It helps to communicate how a person is counted “not guilty” before God. When justified before God, a person is both, negatively, “not guilty” before God for their sins and, positively, counted righteous by God.

Here are seven truths that help describe justification on the Bible’s terms.

Truth #1 — God is the One Who Justifies a Person

Man is not able to justify himself before God, for, “None is righteous [just], no, not one” (Romans 3:10). Justification is an act that God must accomplish. God is referred to as both, “...just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). Justification is not only an act of God the Father, of the triune God, for if you are justified it is, “...in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

Truth #2 — Justification is God’s Gracious Gift to the Ungodly

When God justifies a person it is described as a grace from God, an act of unearned kindness. You, “...are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). This is such a reality that justification is described as grace itself (see Titus 3:7).

Truth #3 — Unjust People are Justified by Faith

When God justifies a person, it is said in Scripture that we are justified by faith as opposed to human merit. “[W]e hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28). Also, “[W]e know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16). And even, “Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith” (Galatians 3:2)?

Truth #4 — We are Justified through the Sacrifice of Jesus

The sacrifice of Jesus is the means by which a person is justified before God. Paul says in Romans 5:9, “we have been justified by His blood [referring to Jesus].” Paul alludes to this reality in Galatians 2:20 when he says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

This is incredibly important to realize. The death of Jesus means your justification before God. Without the death of Jesus, there is no justification by God for you.

Truth #5 — Justification Means Your Salvation from God’s Just Wrath

“Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God” (Romans 5:9). Notice the clear indication from Paul that justification by God (remember Romans 3:26) saves you from God (namely, His wrath).

Truth #6 — Seeking Justification through any other Means than Faith in Jesus is Folly

The Scriptures are clear that if you seek justification through any other means than faith in Jesus, you sever yourself from the justification Jesus offers in His sacrifice. Paul says as much to the Galatian churches who were seeking to find their justification by following the Old Testament Law of God. He warns, “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace” (Galatians 5:4). Those who live to find their justification through anything other than Jesus, will not have the grace of God in the sacrifice of Jesus as their security.

Truth #7 — Anyone Justified is Secure, as an Eternal Heir with God

Paul says in Titus 3:7 that those who are justified by God’s grace, “...might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Further, Paul declares of God, “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Romans 8:30). This hope is grounded in the fact of Truth #1. God justifies, He has the final say (see Romans 8:33). So, if one is justified by faith, they are secure in the promise of God.

Summary

Justification comes to you from God as a gracious gift, the gift of the sacrificial death of Jesus. Justification is the sole means of your salvation, a salvation from God’s wrath to be an heir of eternity with God. And, justification is granted from God to those who put their faith in Jesus.