In justification, God declares the believing sinner righteous; He does not make him righteous. Before the sinner trusts Christ, he stands guilty before God; but the moment he trusts Christ, he is declared not guilty and he can never be called guilty again!

Justification is not simply “forgiveness,” because a person could be forgiven and then go out and sin and become guilty. Once you have been “justified by faith,” you can never be held guilty before God.

Justification is also different from “pardon,” because a pardoned criminal still has a record. When the sinner is justified by faith, his past sins are remembered against him no more, and God no longer puts his sins on record.

Finally, God justifies sinners, not “good people.” Paul declares that God justifies “the ungodly” (Romans 4:5). The reason most sinners are not justified is because they will not admit they are sinners! And sinners are the only kind of people Jesus Christ can save.

When Peter separated himself from the Gentiles, he was denying the truth of justification by faith, because he was saying, “We Jews are different from—and better than—the Gentiles.” Yet both Jews and Gentiles are sinners and can be saved only by faith in Christ.

Verse for today: “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Romans 6:22).

Other Scripture: Psalm 32:1-2; Romans 3:22-23; 4:1-8; 8:1, 30-34; Matthew 9:9-13; Luke 18:9-14. Justification leads to a changed life (read James 2).

Action assignment: Explain to someone the implications of justification. Ask God to help you realize the meaning of this truth in your own life.

Warren Wiersbe

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