The Christian understanding of justification

Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins and accepteth us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.

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Justification As Described By the Westminster Shorter Chatechism

Q. 33. What is justification?

A. Justification is an act of God’s free grace,[a]

wherein he pardoneth all our sins,[b]

and accepteth us as righteous in His sight,[c]

only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us,[d]

and received by faith alone.[e]

Supporting Scripture For the Shorter Chatechism Definition

[a] Romans 3:24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

[b] Romans 4:6-8. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 2 Corinthians 5:19. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

[c] 2 Corinthians 5:21. 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.

[d] Romans 4:6, 11. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.... And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: Romans 5:19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

[e] Galatians 2:16. 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. Philippians 3:9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

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Aspects of Justification

There are two aspects of justification, They are Imputed Righteousness and Pardon.

Imputed Righteousness

This Righteousness is Imputed and not Infused to the sinner. If the righteousness was infused into the sinner, then the sinner would be inherrently righteousness and could stand on his own merit instead of the merit of Jesus Christ as in imputed righteousness. Infused righteousness makes faith in Christ usless. Imputed righteousness is given freely to the sinner without any works on the part of the sinner.

Romans 4:6 Romans 4:6, 11. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works...

The Righteousness that is imputed to the sinner is in fact the righteousness of Jesus Christ. This righteousness is derived from the Active and Passive Obedience of Christ. see also Active Obedience & Passive Obedience

Pardon

Jesus Christ pays the debt for the beliver's sin by His death on the cross. [edit this section]

Grounds For Justification

The only Ground for Justification is the Imputed Righteousenss of Christ

Characteristics

1. Justification is a legal or forensic term, and is used in Scripture to denote the acceptance of any one as righteous in the sight of God.
2. While "Justification" is a forensic or judicial term, it is used in Scripture to denote, sometimes the acceptance of a sinner as righteous in the sight of God, sometimes the manifestation or proof of his acceptance, by which it is attested and made sure; and this variety in the application of it is the ground of an important theological distinction:– the distinction between ACTUAL and DECLARATIVE Justification.
3. Justification must not be confused with sanctification. "Most of the leading errors on the subject of Justification may be traced to obscure or defective views in regard to the nature or import of imputation, and have arisen from supposing – either that it consists in the infusion of moral qualities, in which case Justification is confounded with Sanctification" - Buchanan, James
4. Justification is an act not a process. This act is an act that takes place in the past from the perspective of the Justified. Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
5. It is a one time act. Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

References

Books

The Doctrine of Justification. Buchanan, James (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, reprint of 1867 original ISBN 851514405)

Not Guilty (Abridgement of The Doctrine of Justification) Buchanan, James (Evangelical Press, 1993. ISBN 0946462224)

Justification by Faith. White, James R. (Crowne Publications, November 1, 1990. ISBN 0925703400)

Links

THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION An Outline of its History in the Church, and of its Exposition from Scripture. JAMES BUCHANAN, D.D., LL.D.

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