Yes—being justified by God means God, as Judge, declares the person who believes the gospel to be just as if he had never sinned.
Les Feldick repeatedly defines justification as a judicial act of God. Because the believing sinner trusts that Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again, God freely declares that person righteous. This is not earned or accomplished by human effort; it is God’s declaration made at the moment of belief.
Romans 3:24 — This verse is the foundation of Les's teaching that we are justified freely by God's grace through redemption in Christ.
Romans 3:28 — This verse is the conclusion that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 3:22 — This verse shows that the righteousness of God comes by faith of Jesus Christ to all who believe.
The Bible describes justification as something God gives freely by His grace. Romans 3:22 says that the righteousness of God is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe. Romans 3:24 states that believers are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:28 then concludes that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Les Feldick teaches that justification is the judicial act of God whereby God, as the judge on the bench, declares the believing sinner "just as if he had never sinned." This is not a feeling or an experience; it is a divine courtroom declaration that happens the moment God sees the sinner believe the gospel. Les emphasizes that God looks at a guilty, helpless sinner and, because of faith in Christ's death, blood, burial, and resurrection, declares that person fully righteous.
Yes. Les defines justification the same way every time: a judicial act of God whereby He declares the believing sinner just as if he had never sinned. He says God sees the justified believer the way He saw Adam before the fall. In the courtroom picture, God looks down from the bench at a person who is guilty and says, "Because you believe the gospel, I now declare you just as if you have never sinned."
Les teaches that justification occurs at the moment the sinner believes the gospel. He says the moment God sees the sinner believe—not merely give mental agreement, but really understand that he is a lost child of Adam and that Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose again—God declares that person justified.
Justification is freely given. Les says God justifies us "freely without a cause" and not because we deserve it. He also points to Romans 3:24 and Romans 3:28: we are justified freely by God's grace, without the deeds of the law.
Les sees justification and forgiveness as inseparable. He asks, "Why can God justify us? Because we're forgiven. How can He forgive us? Because we're justified." He says all of this rolls together in the one word salvation, prompted by the power of God, not by anything man can do.
Les says being justified should have a psychological and behavioral impact. When a person understands from morning to night that they are declared justified by God, it has to affect their behavior. He also warns that we are not supposed to feel justified; we are to rest on what God has said.
Belief That Justifies
Les explains that justifying faith is not casual belief; it means understanding that you are a lost child of Adam and truly believing that Christ died, shed His blood, was buried, and rose from the dead.
Judicial Declaration
Les gives the core definition: justification is God's judicial act whereby He declares the sinner who believes just as if he had never sinned—freely, without a cause.
Moment of Belief and Resting on God's Word
Les teaches that justification happens the moment God sees the sinner believe the gospel, and that believers should rest on God's Word rather than try to feel or figure it out.
The Courtroom Scene
Les pictures God as the Judge sitting on the bench, looking down at the believing sinner and declaring him justified freely by His grace.
Our Place in Adam
Les connects justification to the whole sin problem that began in Adam, reminding us that God now sees the justified believer just as if he had never sinned.
Guilty Declared Just and Forgiveness
Les emphasizes that God declares the guilty sinner just as if he never sinned, and ties justification together with forgiveness and salvation.
Behavioral Impact of Justification
Les says the moment we believe the work of the Cross, God declares us just as if we never sinned, and this awareness should affect our behavior.
Justified by Faith Without Law
Les concludes that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law, and repeats the definition that we are made just as if we had never sinned.
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 verse establishes that God's righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
This is the central verse that connects justification to God's free grace and redemption in Christ.
Romans 3:28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
This verse is the conclusion that justification is by faith, not by law-keeping.
Justification is God's judicial declaration that you are just as if you had never sinned. Les teaches that a justified person will be affected in behavior, but he does not teach sinless perfection in this passage; the emphasis is on the declaration and how it should influence daily life.
Les connects justification and forgiveness closely: God can justify because we are forgiven, and we are forgiven because we are justified. He says it all rolls together in salvation.
No. Les says God justifies freely without a cause and not because we deserve it. Romans 3:28 also concludes that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Watch the Teaching: Justification by Faith: What Does It Really Mean?