JUSTIFICATION
To justify means to declare and treat as righteous through acquittal. Christ's redemptive work provides a righteous basis for God's justification of believers so that they receive remission of sins and a righteous standing with Him (Acts 13:38-39; Romans 3:21-26; 4:5-8; 8:1, 33-34; Colossians 2:13). Justification is judicial or forensic and thus is distinguished from progressive sanctification which is the process by which the believer is being made righteous (cf. John 17:17; Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 12:14) (see also SANCTIFICATION).
originates in divine grace
• Isaiah 45:24-25; Romans 3:24; 4:5-6, 8, 16-24; 5:17, 21; Galatians 2:21; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 3:9; Titus 3:7 (cf. Isaiah 45:25; Romans 5:16; 8:30, 33)
based on Christ's sacrifice
• Isaiah 53:11; Jeremiah 23:6; Acts 13:38-39; Romans 3:24-25; 5:9, 16-18, 21; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:17
means of:
♦ through personal faith:
• Genesis 15:6; Romans 1:17; 3:22, 25, 26, 28, 30; 4:5, 11-24; 5:1; 9:30, 32; 10:4, 6, 8-11; Galatians 2:16; 3:6-9, 11, 22, 24; 5:5-6; Philippians 3:9; Hebrews 10:38; 11:4, 7; James 2:22-24 (cf. Ephesians 2:8-9)
♦ not through human works:
• Acts 13:38-39; Romans 2:13; 3:20; 4:2, 5, 13-16; 9:31-32; Galatians 2:16, 21; 3:11, 21-22; 5:4; Philippians 3:9 (cf. Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5)
♦ in the Spirit:
♦ results of
• 1 Kings 8:32; Acts 13:38-39; Romans 4:25; 5:1, 9; 8:1, 30, 33-34; 2 Corinthians 5:19; James 2:21, 24, 25
examples of:
♦ in the OT:
• Genesis 3:15, 20-21 (cf. Isaiah 61:10); 15:6 (cf. Romans 4:1-5, 9-24; Galatians 3:6; Hebrews 11:8-9, 13, 17; James 2:21-23); Joshua 2:1-21; 6:22-25 (cf. Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25); Psalms 32:1-2 (cf. Romans 4:6-8); Zechariah 3:3-5
♦ in the NT:
♦ of God's righteous ways
• Psalms 51:4 (cf. Romans 3:4)
♦ of self
by man:
♦ of the righteous:
♦ of the wicked:
♦ of wickedness (in opposition to God)
This topic is from the Lockman Foundation.