So Great a Justification

The truth Christians grasp, and work over and over again, is the death of Christ. No theme in Christian doctrine is more central, nor as infinitely deep. Here is yet another test of one’s conversion. The Christian loves to hear of her salvation, and the death of Christ is the centerpiece of that theme.

Jesus Christ came from heaven to earth to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21; Jn 3:16). He saved us (Titus 3:5), and we are saved by his grace (Eph 2:8–9). Paul wrote in Romans 5:9, “We shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him (Christ).” It is Jesus who saves us from the wrath to come (1 Thess 1:10).

The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (Rom 1:18). When Jesus died on the cross, God displayed Him, as a propitiation (Rom 3:25; Heb 2:17; 1 Jn 2:2; 4:10). This means Christ absorbed the wrath of God directed against the sins of His people, His church, His beloved bride (Eph 5:25).

Christ’s death was a substitutionary atonement (Jn 10:11, 15). This means He reconciled God’s elect by taking their place of punishment for sins (1 Pet 2:24). Christ died for us, in our place, on our behalf, and for our benefit (Rom 5:8). His righteousness in life and death has been imputed to His redeemed people. For this reason, these are said to be justified. They are declared, “not guilty,” by God (Rom 8:1).

Christians are justified by His blood (Rom 5:9). His blood shed on the cross is precious because it brings forgiveness of sins (Mt 26:28; Eph 1:7), moreover, it purchases the freedom for those captive to sin and death (7:23; 1 Cor 6:20; Heb 9:22; 1 Pet 1:19). It is a finished work (Jn 19:30). There is no further work to be added because it is a perfect work.

With the removal of sin comes the removal of guilt (Heb 9:14). Here is more evidence of assurance, the Christian is freed from the devil’s accusations. Christ’s love demonstrated in His death, covers a multitude of sins. His gracious hands, as our great High Priest, are placed upon us with His own blood availing all that is required.

Christians are said to be justified by His blood, but the Bible also says we are justified by his grace (Rom 3:24). Grace is given as unmerited favor to God’s chosen people (1 Pet 2:9). The Lord is gracious and compassionate (Ps 111:4), and God’s grace is sufficient for us (2 Cor 12:9).

All of God’s works to benefit His saints are gracious. The grace of God is God’s work to plan, execute, and apply His salvation. As grace flows from God, it requires receipt. It is faith that receives such grace, even as faith itself is a grace received (2 Pet 1:1), being handed down to all the saints (Jude 3).

Justification is a gift of God’s grace (Rom 3:24). The work of Christ has secured justification and this status (righteousness) is passed along to His beloved, as the most gracious of gifts. The natural man has no interest, nor capacity to receive the gift (Rom 3:10–12; Eph 2:1–3; 1 Cor 2:14). For this reason, the unrighteous remain unjust.

The receipt of righteousness by faith means that the believer in Jesus is justified by faith (Rom 5:1). Faith itself is a gift of God (Phil 1:29). It is the God-given capacity to receive the God-given grace, which is the works of God to secure the salvation of His holy nation, a people of his own possession (1 Pet 2:9).

Faith must apprehend a substance, an object. That substance is the blood of Christ. The meritorious works of Christ are applied by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Faith is the taking hold of things hoped for (Heb 11:1). The Christian’s hope is the glory of eternal life in heavenly Zion (Rom 8:18; Heb 12:22). A token of that glory is in the justified believer, that being the Holy Spirit Himself (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5).

Justification, therefore, has in one sense, a past. Christ died for the ungodly (Rom 5:6), the just for the unjust (1 Pet 3:18). In a second sense, it has a current sense. Christians are daily renewed in the Spirit and reminded by the Scriptures that their current legal standing is justified. The third sense is in the future. All elect, redeemed, regenerate souls will be justified on the Day of the Lord’s resurrection to life and to glory (Jn 5:28–29; Rom 8:30; 1 Cor 15).

Those resurrected to life will stand firm in the righteousness of Christ before God’s judgment throne (Jn 5:24, 28–29). The Christian was judged long ago on Calvary’s tree. The preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom 1:16–17; 1 Cor 1:18, 23; 2:2, 4), made effectual in calling sinners to repentance (Acts 17:30), serves as the declaration of “not guilty” for the regenerate each time he hears it (Job 9:20).

The Gospel of God’s justification of guilty sinners is good news for believers. They know whom they have believed, and they know what He has done; hence, they know why their trust is in Christ alone. He has done what no one else could ever do to remove one’s enmity against God (Eph 2:15–16).

All for whom Christ died are justified before God. His redemption is one hundred percent successful. For this, our Lord Jesus Christ deserves all honor and glory. It is the justified who ascribe these to Him, for He has made us glad to know so great a salvation.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

April 24, 2022