On Justification

“How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?”-Job 25:4

This is the great question facing mankind.  When we consider that man is sinful and God is just, how can we be justified?  How can we be clean?  What sacrifices can be made?  What labors performed?  How could we ever close the widening gap between God’s holiness and our depravity?  How can we be pardoned when we should be punished?

The principal problem that faces all mankind is that sin is unjust, God is just, and we are sinful.  If the justice of God was visited on man, we would all be doomed to a hell eternal, because the penalty of sin is death.  The sin issue brings with it an innate or carnal enmity between God and man.  A clear opposition between the two.  Please understand that without Christ you are standing before a just judge, having committed heinous crimes worthy of death.  You stand before him guilty, and you know it.  Now, does the plea of “not guilty” remove the enmity?  No, a “not guilty” plea only confesses to God what he already knows.  Furthermore, the sentence is yet to be carried out, and therefore the enmity remains.  You could hardly have peace between you and God while the penalty of death hangs over your head.  It is only when the pardon comes, and the judge grants you absolution for your crime that you lose the enmity and so make peace.  However, if he freely pardons the guilty, can it be said that he is just?  You could say he is merciful, gracious, kind, but not just.  This is because you are guilty.  So, what can be done?  How can God pardon us?  Only because of Jesus Christ.  The scripture says Jesus Christ “reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:” it says that Chris is our peace.  That he abolished in his flesh the enmity.  Jesus is the answer to this question: how shall a man be justified with God?  The wrath that you and I deserved was poured out on Christ, he took our place, and purchased our pardon.  Therefore, justice can be served, and pardon granted.  One might say, “well and good then; if Jesus died then I can go on living as I see fit.”  Not so, because the scripture says: “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  God forbid.”  Again, it says: “if we sin willfully after received the knowledge of the truth, their remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”  Moreover, the only path to justification comes through repentance and conversion, and the converted man must first be a believing man.  You cannot believe in Christ and be a sinner.  Faith in Jesus, belief in Jesus, will produce fruit from the believer.  A man who believes in living a healthy lifestyle will put aside sugar and saturated fats.  You won’t find him indulging in chocolate cake, and soda.  When a person genuinely repents believing in Christ, he will leave this sinful world behind.  Repentance is the action accompanying believing, conversion is the product of repentance, and justification is the consequence of sound faith in Christ.  The plea is more than “I’m guilty.”  It is: “I am guilty, I’m sorry, and I want to change and be free.”  The design is freedom.  Not just freedom from the consequence of sin, but freedom from the control it has over mankind.  This freedom only comes through justification and sanctification (more on this next week).   

A man is justified because Christ sanctified himself.  It is the only way a man or woman can be just before God.  We don’t stand before God and say: “I gave such and such money to the church.”  Or “I preach so many sermons.”  “I fed thousands, and clothed millions.”  “I am a better person than many of whom I associate with.”  We are justified because we humble ourselves before God saying: “I believe that Jesus was the Son of God.  I believe His Words are true.  I believe he lived, suffered, died, rose, ascended, and sent the Holy Ghost.  He did all this and more, and he did it for me.”  “I believe, and because I believe I surrender my life to Him.”  How can a man be justified?  Through faith in Christ.