JUSTIFICATION:
Rom. 1:16 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.
Rom. 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Gal. 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Hab. 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
When Paul says in Romans and Galatians that the “just shall live by faith,” he quotes from Habakkuk 2:4, Paul goes on to say in Galatians 3:11 that “no man” has ever been justified by the law, and that “it is evident that the just shall live by faith.” Hopefully when this study is over it will be “evident” unto you also that “the man” has always been justified unto eternal life by faith, and faith alone.
1. JUSTIFICATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE:
Rom. 3:19 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.
Rom. 3:20 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.
Rom. 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Rom. 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom. 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom. 3:25 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;
Rom. 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Rom. 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Rom. 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
This justification in Romans 3 shows how that “the righteousness of God” unto eternal life is by faith alone, and when Paul says “but now” in verse 3:21; he is not saying that the righteousness of God was always by the law “but now” it is by faith alone in Christ. Paul is confirming that is has always been by faith! he says the “righteousness of God” is by faith of Jesus Christ, this is what was manifested “now” and before Jesus Christ, the “law and the Prophets” wrote that the “righteousness of God” would come by faith in the Christ, Paul just said that righteousness will never come by the deeds of the law. Even though the message is different, the justice of God has always responded to faith and faith alone, with Abraham he placed his faith in what the LORD said at that time, “Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be” Gen. 15:5, in verse 6 he believed, and it was counted “unto him for righteousness,” that’s not the gospel that we hear that justifies us today, just like it wasn’t the case when John the Baptist preached in the wilderness for Israel to “repent,” and that the kingdom was at hand, the gospel that justified man has been different, but God’s requirement for His justice to be satisfied has always been by the same way; faith.
2. JUSTIFICATION OF GOD BEING JUST IN HIS WORD WITH ISRAEL AND WITH US IN THIS DISPENSATION OF GENTILE GRACE:
Luk 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
Luk 7:29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
Luk 7:34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
Luk 7:35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.
Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
This type of justification shows God as being “just” or “righteous” in His word, it’s the issue of God confirming things that He promised in His word, and man getting the results from trusting God and His word. God will also be justified in His word in the day when God casts death and hell in the lake of fire and God is shown to “be true and every man a liar.”
3. JUSTIFICATION BY HUMAN JUDGES:
Deu 25:1 If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.
Pro 17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Isa 5:22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
Isa 5:23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
This type of justification is the issue of an Israelite being judged by their judges based upon his conduct within that nation. Israel was appointed judges to judge the nation with all fairness and justly in circumstances that came up in the life of an Israelite. The judges were required of God to judge the nation with all fairness and righteousness, and not to judge unfairly. There were some that justified the unrighteous, and condemned the righteous, just as Proverb 17:15 points out, which is what Israel did with Jesus Christ. Today we also have judges in the court systems, and we also judge one another within our lives, it’s the issue of someone justifying us in any matter.
4. SELF JUSTIFICATION:
Job 9:20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
Jer 3:11 And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.
Luk 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
1Co 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
1Co 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
We oftentimes justify ourselves in certain matters, which is the issue of showing ourselves to be ‘just’ or ‘righteous’ in any aspect of our lives, if we are not judged fairly, we will try to prove or justify ourselves in the matter.
5. JUSTIFICATION AT THE JUDGEMENT SEAT:
Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
1Co 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
When the Saints stand before the Lord, we are not being judged based upon our sins, but our service. Our sins are a dead issue with God, but He will judge a saint accordingly based upon how the saint responded to the doctrine according to godly edification and his reward will be according to how the Saint allowed God’s word to work effectually within the saint.
6. JUSTIFICATION IN THE MECHANICS OF GODLINESS:
1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
This doctrine is a very interesting and important one to understand, Paul not only wanted to make sure that Timothy charged some “that they teach no other doctrine,” but he did not want the saints to be ignorant concerning this truth for the church. Paul says that “God was manifest in the flesh,” meaning He was manifest in Christ, “justified in the Spirit,” notice Spirit has a capital S, so it is talking about the Holy Spirit and His doctrine. Jesus Christ was a living testimony to the issue of Godliness, in the 4 gospel accounts we see the Holy Spirit bear witness to the ministry of Jesus Christ, and Godliness being put into practice by flesh and blood. Also, this was “seen of angels,” Godliness was put on display by Christ to the angels, and now it is “preached unto the Gentiles,” and we also have the opportunity to put it on display in the heavenly places also. This doctrine is “believed on in the world” by the “church,” and it is “received up into glory,” that’s why Ephesians 3:10 talks about the church making God’s manifold wisdom “known” to the angels. Godliness was never a mystery, Jesus Christ and the 12 apostles displayed Godliness, the mystery aspect of it was God using twice dead gentiles to display Godliness, and to teach it to the angelic realm as well. The issue of Godliness being justified is the doctrine of the Holy Spirit working within the believer the way it was intended to work.
7. JUSTIFICATION IN WORKS IN THE EYES OF MEN/ISRAEL BEING A FRIEND OF GOD:
Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Having justification unto eternal life was not all that God wanted Israel to have, He also wanted them to be faithful enough to be a “first fruit of His righteousness,” just as Abraham was in his day. In that day of tribulation (which is what this doctrine is designed for), Israel in the face of all tribulation and persecution, are to act as if that kingdom is already established, and they are to show themselves to be who God has made them to be; a friend of God. The gentile world and Satan would see that nation as being holy and “just” being a holy nation, and a kingdom of Priests. This justification compliments the first justification, these saints that James is writing to are saved and justified, James calls them “my beloved brethren,” and “begotten” of God.
Rod Jones