What does the word 'justify' mean in simple terms?
In simple terms, to justify is to declare someone just as if nothing had ever happened. Biblically, justification is God's judicial act declaring the believing sinner just as if he had never sinned—freely, without cause, though undeserved. It is not something earned or deserved; it is God's free declaration when one believes.
Les teaches that the word justify needs defining. To justify someone is to declare them just as if nothing had ever happened. In the scriptural realm, justification is that judicial act of God whereby He declares the sinner who believes just as if he'd never sinned. This means God sees the justified person just like He saw Adam before he fell. Les says this is hard to comprehend, but it is a biblical truth. We are justified freely, without a cause; God did not justify us because we deserved it. He justifies us freely even though we don't deserve it when we believe.