Ep. 8 - Justification
Episode Description
What does it mean to be justified before God? Can a person truly be sure they are right with Him? Is justification based on what I do — or on what Christ has done? And how does justification by faith bring peace, security, and assurance to the Christian?
In this episode, Pastor Josh examines justification as the legal declaration by God Himself that a sinner has been made righteous — not on the basis of his own works, but on the merit of Jesus Christ. He walks through the law as the mirror that exposes sin, Abraham as the Old Testament pattern of faith counted for righteousness, and imputation as the mechanism by which Christ’s righteousness is credited to the believer. Justification is not a process. It is a declaration. And because it rests on Christ’s finished work and not our own, it can never be lost, undone, or reversed.
Key Scriptures
Romans 1:16–17 — The Righteousness of God Revealed
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 3:19–20 — By the Law Is the Knowledge of Sin
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:23–25 — Justified Freely by His Grace
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
Galatians 2:16 — Not Justified by the Works of the Law
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Genesis 15:6 — Counted Unto Him for Righteousness
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Romans 4:3–5 — Abraham’s Faith Imputed
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Romans 4:24–25 — Delivered for Our Offenses, Raised for Our Justification
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 5:12, 19 — The Two One-Men
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned... For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
2 Corinthians 5:21 — Made Sin for Us
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Isaiah 53:6 — The LORD Hath Laid On Him
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Romans 5:1 — Peace with God
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Titus 3:5–7 — Not by Works of Righteousness
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Romans 8:33–34 — It Is God That Justifieth
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Episode Outline
A Legal Declaration — Justification defined as God’s verdict that the sinner is righteous in His sight
Why We Need It — Sin entered through Adam, and all are guilty before God
The Mirror of the Law — Why the law condemns rather than justifies
The Great Physician — Christ came for the sick, not those who think themselves whole
Abraham Believed God — Faith counted for righteousness before circumcision and before the law
Christ Delivered and Raised — The ground of justification (Romans 4:25)
Imputation Explained — How Adam’s sin and Christ’s righteousness are credited
The Two One-Men — Born in Adam, made righteous in Christ
Faith Receives What Grace Provides — Not a process, but a declaration
Permanent and Secure — You can never become “unjustified”
The Gavel Has Sounded — Case closed; believe today
Questions Discussed
What does it mean to be justified before God?
Can a person truly be sure they are right with God?
Is justification based on what I do — or on what Christ has done?
How does justification by faith bring peace, security, and assurance to the Christian?
How can man be just with God? (Job’s ancient question)
Why did God allow the law to make sin abound rather than save us from it?
If Christ is the provision of justification, how does that provision actually become mine?
Can a justified believer ever lose their salvation or become “unjustified”?
Are you trying to work for a salvation Christ has already finished?
