Justification in the Bible refers to being made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that we are justified when we place our faith in Christ, not by our own works. God sees believers as righteous because Jesus became our substitute on the cross - He took our place and bore our sins. We are therefore justified freely by God's grace through faith in Christ. Justification occurs positionally at the moment of faith but is also an ongoing, progressive process of sanctification as believers become more righteous in practice over time. Perfect justification will only be complete when we enter eternity without sin.

1. What is Justification inthe Bible –31th
December 2015
“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all thingsat all times,
having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians
9:8).
Justification isa reason, fact, circumstance, or explanation thatjustifies ordefends:ForChristiansit
meansjustification byfaiththatrefersto the act of God whereby humankind ismade oraccounted just,
or free fromguiltor penalty of sin…"the act of makingsomeone rightwithGod."Justificationtakes
place whenGoddeclaresthose whoplace theirfaithinChristtobe righteous aswe can learnfrom 2
Corinthians5:21. “Godmade himwho had nosin to be sin[a]
forus, so that in himwe might become
the righteousnessof God”. Inotherwords,Jesusbecame oursubstitute onthe crossso that we could
be made "just"or rightwithGod.We were guilty of sinandour sinfulness,butthroughourfaithin
ChristJesusandthroughsalvation, Godhas declaredusrighteous. We cangetan understanding in
Romans4: 2-3, “If,in fact, Abrahamwas justifiedbyworks, he had somethingto boastabout—butnot
before God.3
Whatdoes Scripture say?“AbrahambelievedGod,and it was credited to himas
righteousness.”[
We can learnin Romans 3:22-24 teaches that"the righteousnessof GodcomesthroughfaithinJesus
Christfor all whobelieve…there isnodistinction: “ThisrighteousnessisgiventhroughfaithinJesus
Christto all whobelieve. There is no differencebetween Jew andGentile, 23
for all have sinnedand fall
short of the gloryof God, 24
andall are justifiedfreelyby his grace throughthe redemptionthat came
by ChristJesus”(Romans3:22-24).Our justificationcomestousfreely,because of the price thatJesus
paidon our behalf.Godextendsthisgrace tosinnersandis"justand the justifierof the one whohas
faithinJesus: “…hedidit to demonstrate hisrighteousnessat the present time, soas to be justand the
one who justifiesthosewho have faithin Jesus” (Romans3:26).
Theologiansspeakof three distincttypesof justification—positional,progressive,andperfective.
Positional justificationisthe "legal standing"we have beengrantedinChrist.It'swhatthe versesabove
concern:we are justifiedwhenwe trustinChrist.Fromthatmomenton,God seesus as righteous.
Althoughwe have beendeclaredrighteous,the factisthatwe still maysin,evenafterwe've beensaved.
That's where progressivejustificationcomesin.Progressive justificationorsanctificationisthe ongoing
processof beingmade justby the Lord. "Butthe pathof the righteous is like the light ofdawn,which
shinesbrighter andbrighter until full day" (Proverbs 4:18). It involvesabelieverbecomingmore and
more like Christ.Thisisnotsomethingwe do,butsomething we shouldall Christianattempttodoonan
ongoingbasis. We needtoperformgoodworksas He empowersus aswe can learnfrom Ephesians
2:10, “For we are God’shandiwork,createdin ChristJesus to do goodworks, whichGod prepared in
advancefor us to do”.
Finallyperfectivejustificationisthe finalstep.The progressive processcatchesupwiththe positional
decree,andthe believerismade righteousinpractice aswell asinname.Thissinlessperfectionwill be

2. ours whenwe entereternitywiththe Lord.Atthat time,ourjustificationwillbe complete,andwe will
dwell withHimforeverapartfromsin. TakingsinnerstoheavenisGod's business,anditisonlypossible
throughthe sacrifice of JesusChrist.Itis the "the act of righteousness performedbyChristthat leadsto
justificationandlife forall men aswe can learnfrom Romans 5:18, “Consequently,justasone trespass
resulted in condemnationforall people,so alsoone righteousact resultedin justificationandlifefor
all people”.Jesuspaidthe price so that we could enjoythe peace He gives,bothnow andeternally:
“Therefore, since we have been justifiedthroughfaith,we have peace with Godthroughour Lord
Jesus Christ” (Romans5:1).
Our best wishes to all for the New Year through the following prayer: “And God is
able to bless you abundantly, so that in all thingsat all times, having all that
you need, you will abound in every good work…”(2Corinthians9:8). GC20116