How can God be just and also justify the one who believes?
God remains just because the full price of redemption was paid at the cross through the shedding of blood. That payment satisfies His righteousness, so He can at the same time be the justifier of the one who believes—not of those trusting other things, but of him that believeth.
Les teaches from Romans 3:26 that Paul declares God’s righteousness so that God might be just and, at the same time, the justifier of him who believeth. The condition is believing, not a lot of other things. Les then connects this to Galatians 4, where He came, made of the woman, first to be King of Israel; but when rejected, His eternal purpose was to go the way of the cross, shed His blood, and pay the full price of redemption. That redemption was first for those under the law, Israel, but it did not stop with Israel; it spread to the whole human race. Paul writes to Gentiles that we might receive the adoption of sons, which could never happen without the price of redemption, one of the first processes in the plan of salvation.
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
More Questions
Why is Christ able to be the justifier of sinners?
Christ's righteousness is declared so that He might be just and absolutely fair and be the justifier, the one who declares us justified.
Does the Bible say God justifies those who keep the commandments?
Scripture does not say God is the justifier of the one who does this or that or keeps the commandments; it says He will be the justifier of him who believes.
Who is justified according to Romans 3:26?
Les teaches that Romans 3:26 says Christ is just and the justifier of the one who believes, not of the one who repents and is baptized.