JUSTIFICATION

Justification may be defined as the divine process by which God acquits the sinner and reckons him as righteous. The noun dikaiosis ("justification") is used but twice in the N.T. (Rom. 4:25; 5:18). The verb dikaioo is employed thirty-nine times in the N.T., and it describes the result of the process of justification. There are some exceedingly erroneous ideas regarding justification in the religious community. The Roman Catholic dogma of justification on the basis of meritorious works does not conform to the teaching of the N.T. (Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5). The reactionary doctrine of Protestantism, that justification is on the ground of "faith alone" is equally spurious (Gal. 5:6; Jas. 2:14ff; esp. 24). Biblical justification involves: (a) All accountable people are sinners (Rom. 3:10, 23), and therefore deserving of condemnation (Rom. 6:23); if there is to be any hope for fallen humanity, a process of justification must be divinely extended. (b) No person can earn justification (Mt. 18:21ff), or merit it (Eph. 2:8-9). (c) Justification can be extended only on the basis of Christ's death as the sinless sacrifice for man (1 Pet. 1:19; Rom. 3:24-26). (d) Justification will be bestowed only when man responds to God's plan by faith (Rom. 3:26; 5:1). It is the nature of that "faith" that is crucial to this issue. In the book of Romans, as elsewhere in the N.T., faith is not mere mental assent, or even a disposition simply to trust the Lord. Rather, it is a willingness to submit to the requirements mandated by the Creator. Faith issues in obedience (Rom. 1:5; 16:26). Note this: Man is justified by faith (Rom. 5:1). But "justification" is the equivalent of being "free from sin," (Rom. 6:18), which results from one having been "obedient from the heart" to the "pattern" of gospel teaching (Rom. 6:17). Thus, justification is predicated upon obedience (cf. Heb. 5:8-9). "Justification," or "being made free from sin," occurs when one is "raised" to walk in "newness of life" (Rom. 6:4b). The process of justification is therefore consummated when one is "buried with [Christ] through baptism" (6:4a). (e) Finally, the result of justification is "peace with God" and a rejoicing in "hope of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:1-2).