We are justified by faith and saved by grace!!
Justification means:
(1) the act by which God moves a willing person from the state of sin (injustice) to the state of grace (justice);
(2) the change in a person’s condition moving from a state of sin to a state of righteousness;
In human law courts, only the innocent person is justified; but in the court of God, the sinners & the unjust are declared righteous & just by God’s mercy and grace through Jesus Christ.
Romans 4:25
“..who was betrayed and crucified because of our sins, and was raised [from the dead] because of our justification [our acquittal—absolving us of all sin before God]..
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 4:25 KJV
The unrighteous is exempted from the curse of the law, sin, and death; and are reconciled back to God; and obtain peace and life in Christ through the Holy Spirit—being made righteous.
To be justified requires total dependence, trust and reliance on Jesus, in order words FAITH!
Paul insists that people are not justified by what they do (by works). Justification comes about when they believe. The apostle points to the important example of Abraham in Romans 4:2-3
“..For if Abraham was justified [that is, acquitted from the guilt of his sins] by works [those things he did that were good], he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed in (trusted, relied on) God , and it was credited to his account as righteousness (right living, right standing with God).”
Paul emphasized that a man isn’t justified by observing the law but is justified by faith!!
Galatians 2:16 AMP
“..yet we know that a man is not justified [and placed in right standing with God] by works of the Law, but [only] through faith in [God’s beloved Son,] Christ Jesus. And even we [as Jews] have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law. By observing the Law no one will ever be justified [declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty].
Galatians 3:11 AMP
Now it is clear that no one is justified [that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing] before God by the Law, for “The righteous (the just, the upright) shall live by faith .”
Paul continually emphasizes the importance of justification by faith. In his sermon at Antioch in Pisidia Acts 13, he points out that it is through Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is preached and only those who believe is justified.
Acts 13:38-39 AMP
So let it be clearly known by you, brothers, that through Him forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you; and through Him everyone who believes [who acknowledges Jesus as Lord and Savior and follows Him] is justified and declared free of guilt from all things, from which you could not be justified and freed of guilt through the Law of Moses.
Paul, more than once quotes the words from Habbakuk 2:4, “Look at the proud one, His soul is not right within him, But the righteous will live by his faith [in the true God], referenced in Rom 1:17 ; Gal 3:11 ; Gal 2:16 ; Heb 10:38.
He says explicitly says that “we have been justified through faith” ( Rom 5:1 ) & that justification is by faith and not by observing the law ( Rom 3:28 ).
Paul is saying that Jesus’ death and resurrection completely dealt with sins and a perfectly accomplished justification for us who believes.
In conclusion
It’s important to remember that:
1. We are “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus”.
Romans 3:24 AMP
and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus.
2. We are justified “by his blood”
Romans 5:9 AMP
Therefore, since we have now been justified [declared free of the guilt of sin] by His blood, [how much more certain is it that] we will be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
3. We are justified “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ”
1 Corinthians 6:11 AMP
And such were some of you [before you believed]. But you were washed [by the atoning sacrifice of Christ], you were sanctified [set apart for God, and made holy], you were justified [declared free of guilt] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God [the source of the believer’s new life and changed behavior].
4. We are justified “in Christ”, which is the saving work of Jesus that brings about the justification of sinners.
Galatians 2:17 AMP
But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ [by faith], we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ an advocate or promoter of our sin? Certainly not!
Key scriptures to remember:
Romans 8:30 AMP
And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [declared free of the guilt of sin]; and those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity].
Romans 5:18 AMP
So then as through one trespass [Adam’s sin] there resulted condemnation for all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.
Romans 5:1 AMP
Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).
Stay blessed and encouraged