According to the Bible, we are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, received through faith in His blood—not by works or the law.
The Scripture says 'all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23), so no one can earn acceptance with God. God instead declares believers just: 'Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus' (Romans 3:24). This righteousness is 'by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe' (Romans 3:22). Les Feldick summarizes justification as the judicial act of God whereby He declares the believing sinner just as if he had never sinned.
Romans 3:23-24 — States both the universal problem of sin and God's solution: justification freely by His grace through redemption in Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:25 — Shows that justification is received through faith in the blood of Christ, whom God set forth as a propitiation.
The Bible is direct: 'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23). There is no exception and no difference—'for there is no difference' between Jew and Greek because the same righteousness of God is 'by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe' (Romans 3:22). This answers the question by showing the universal need and God's provision. Justification is not a reward for religious performance; it is something God does freely. 'Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus' (Romans 3:24). God has set forth Christ Jesus 'to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God' (Romans 3:25). The result is that God 'might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus' (Romans 3:26). The whole process begins with Adam: 'as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned' (Romans 5:12).
Les Feldick consistently teaches justification as a courtroom scene. He defines it as 'a judicial act of God whereby He declares the sinner who believes just as if he'd never sinned' (Clip 4). The Judge looks down from the bench at the believing sinner and says, 'Because you believe the gospel, I now declare you just as if you have never sinned' (Clip 5). This justification is 'freely,' meaning without a cause, without a cost, without a penny involved, and it is by His grace (Clip 1). Les also stresses that God's grace reaches us through a redemption process—redemption is paying a price—so that God can declare the sinner just while remaining just Himself (Clips 3, 6). Since all are sons of Adam and sinners, there is no difference between Jew and Gentile; all stand under sin, and all who believe are justified (Clips 0, 7). Nothing is added to faith: the righteousness of God is upon all that believe, plus nothing (Clip 0).
Les explains that the word 'freely' means without a cause, without a cost, without a penny involved (Clip 1). God does not justify someone because they deserve it; He declares the believing sinner just as if he had never sinned (Clip 4). From the judge's bench, God looks at the believing sinner and says, 'Because you believe the gospel, I now declare you just as if you have never sinned' (Clip 5). This is all by His grace, never by human merit (Clips 1, 4).
Les points out that Romans 3 says 'there is no difference'—no difference between Jew and Gentile (Clip 0). This was Paul's message that got him in trouble with his Jewish people, since Israel was told from Exodus onward that God had set them apart (Clip 0). Yet in the matter of justification, all are on the same footing: 'for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God' (Clip 7). The righteousness of God is 'upon all them that believe'—plus nothing (Clips 0, 7).
Les teaches that God pours out His grace through a redemption process. Justification is the judicial act declaring the sinner just as if he never sinned, and redemption is the price paid to accomplish that (Clip 3). The Scripture basis is Romans 3:24: 'Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus' (Clip 7). Les further connects this to the blood: it is 'through faith in His blood' that God declares His righteousness and justifies those who believe (Romans 3:25-26; Clip 6).
Believing Plus Nothing
Les teaches that the righteousness of God is upon all who believe—plus nothing added—and that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile in justification.
Justified Freely by Grace
Les defines justification as a judicial act of God: the judge on the bench looks down upon the believing sinner and declares him justified freely, without a cause or cost, by His grace.
Restored to Adam's Standing
Les shows that because we are justified by a judicial decree of God, the believer can be restored to the standing Adam had before the fall, though ongoing sin is covered by Christ's advocacy.
Grace Through Redemption
Les explains that we are sons of Adam and sinners, that the law reveals our condition, and that God's grace works through redemption—paying a price—so God can declare the sinner just as if he never sinned.
A Judicial Declaration
Les teaches that justification is God's judicial act declaring the believing sinner just as if he'd never sinned, and that God justifies freely without a cause even though we don't deserve it when we believe.
The Judge's Verdict
Les pictures the courtroom: God looks at the guilty, believing sinner and says, 'Because you believe the gospel, I now declare you just as if you have never sinned.' Justification and forgiveness are bound together in salvation.
Faith in His Blood
Les points to Scripture that through faith in Christ's blood God declares His righteousness, so that He might be just and justify those who believe—all based on Christ's finished work.
All Have Sinned—All May Be Justified
Les walks through Romans 3:21-24: the righteousness of God is upon all who believe, there is no difference between Jew and Greek, all have sinned, and believers are justified freely by His grace through redemption.
Romans 3:21: But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
The righteousness of God is shown apart from the law, witnessed by the law and prophets.
Romans 3:22: Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
This righteousness is by faith of Jesus Christ for all who believe—Jew and Gentile alike.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Every person stands guilty before God, establishing the universal need for justification.
Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
The core answer: justification is a free gift of God's grace through the redemption Christ purchased.
Romans 3:25: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Christ is the propitiation; justification is received through faith in His blood.
Romans 3:26: To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
God remains just while justifying the person who believes in Jesus.
Romans 5:12: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Explains why all sinned—Adam's one sin brought death upon all, making universal justification necessary.
No. Romans 3:21-22 says the righteousness of God is manifested without the law, through faith in Jesus Christ. Les explains that justification comes wholly by grace, without a cause, and not because a person deserves it (Clips 1, 4).
It means without a cause, without a cost, without a penny involved (Clip 1). God declares the believing sinner just as if he had never sinned, not because of any merit but as a free gift through the redemption in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24; Clip 4).
Yes. Les teaches that justification is a judicial act by which God declares the believing sinner just as if he'd never sinned, restoring the believer to the standing Adam had before the fall (Clips 4, 2). This is hard for us to swallow but is a biblical truth (Clip 4).
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