In the Bible, justification means pronounced righteous by acquittal, a declaration of “not guilty.” Is there an answer to our guilt in a prophecy of the Messiah?
After his deep anguish he will see light, and he will be satisfied. Through his knowledge, the righteous one, my servant, will make many righteous, and will bear their guilt. (Isaiah 53:11 CEB)
Is self-justification an abomination to God? Does God know the human heart?
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. (Luke 16:15 KJV)
How are we justified under the New Covenant? Could the law of Moses justify us?
… by Him [Jesus] everyone who believes is justified [declared free of guilt] from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39 NKJV)
Must we obey the law completely to be justified by it?
For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight [justified]. (Romans 2:13 NLT)
Is this a contradiction? How can we be made righteous by the law, when we are incapable of keeping it perfectly?
However, we know that a person isn’t made righteous [justified] by the works of the Law but rather through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. We ourselves believed in Christ Jesus so that we could be made righteous [justified] by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the Law—because no one will be made righteous [justified] by the works of the Law. (Galatians 2:16 CEB)
Does that mean that the law is done away?
Don't suppose I came to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I did not come to do away with them, but to give them their full meaning. (Matthew 5:17 CEV)
Is it even possible to obey all 613 commandments of the law? If not, what was the purpose of the law?
For by works of the law no human being will be justified [declared righteous] in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20 ESV)
If we can’t be justified because of our utter inability to keep the law perfectly, then how is justification before God even possible?
but all are treated as righteous [justified] freely by his grace because of a ransom that was paid by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24 CEB)
What’s the conclusion then?
For we conclude that a man is justified [made right with God] by faith apart from the works of the law. (Romans 3:28 HCSB)
Did Abraham set the precedent even before the law was given?
Well then, what can we say about our ancestor Abraham? If he became acceptable to God [justified] because of what he did, then he would have something to brag about. But he would never be able to brag about it to God. The Scriptures say, “God accepted Abraham because Abraham had faith in him.” (Romans 4:1-3 CEV)
Though Christians are still far from perfect, will any accusation against us succeed in heaven?
Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the One who justifies. (Romans 8:33 HCSB)
Was Abraham to bless just the Jews or all nations?
And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” (Galatians 3:8 ESV)
What was the purpose of the law?
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24 KJV)
What would Paul say to those who try to find justification in the law?
You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by the Law; you have fallen from grace. (Galatians 5:4 NASB)
If one chooses to keep certain laws without relying on those things for justification, are we free to do so?
One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. (Romans 14:5-6 NKJV)
Is faith alone a reasonable argument when even the demons believe, but refuse to repent? Is there a danger in faith without action?
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. (James 2:19 NIV)
Is James’ “faith alone” a challenge to the Protestant mantra of faith alone? Or, are good works evidence of saving faith? Does a living faith reveal itself in good works?
But are you willing to acknowledge, you foolish person, that faith without works is useless? Was our father Abraham not justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:20-24 NKJV)
Justification is a pronouncement of forgiveness and an acquittal of guilt. We are justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by our feeble attempts to keep the law. Yet, a living faith is evidenced by good works. Where is your faith? You decide!
