Justification is God's judicial act by which He declares the sinner who believes the gospel just as if he had never sinned.
In Romans, justification is a divine courtroom declaration, not a human process. God, acting as Judge, freely justifies the believing sinner by His grace because of their faith in Christ's work. This results in peace with God and a standing like Adam's before the fall.
Romans 3:24 — This verse directly states that justification is granted freely by God's grace through redemption in Christ, establishing the foundation for the meaning of justification in Romans.
The Apostle Paul places justification at the heart of Romans. Romans 3:24 says believers are 'justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.' Romans 5:1 connects justification to faith: 'Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.' Romans 5:16 contrasts the condemnation that came through Adam's sin with the free gift that leads to justification. These verses show that justification is a divine declaration based on grace, received through faith, and resulting in peace with God.
Les Feldick defines justification as a judicial act of God. He pictures a courtroom where God sits as Judge, and over the believing sinner He declares, 'Just as if you had never sinned.' It is a pronouncement, not a feeling or an achievement. Les emphasizes that Paul hammers this word throughout Romans because it is central to the gospel.
Les explains that Paul is hammering the word 'justification' throughout the opening chapters of Romans because it is essential to understanding salvation. The book presents a courtroom scene where God builds His case against humanity, and justification is the favorable verdict received by those who believe the gospel.
Les points out that the whole sin problem began in Adam, and every person, so far as God is concerned, was in Adam. Justification is God's judicial decree that declares the believing sinner just as if he had never sinned, restoring that person to the standing Adam had before the fall.
Romans 5:1 states that being justified by faith brings peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Les connects this to the gospel: when a person believes the gospel, God declares that person justified. Justification is part of the full package of salvation that includes forgiveness, sanctification, and the indwelling Spirit.
Les clarifies that after justification, believers are still prone to fall and to sin. Even though they sin, God continues to see them as justified—just as if they had never sinned. Justification gives a permanent standing before God, not sinless perfection in daily experience.
What Does "Justified by Faith" Really Mean? Romans 5
Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Judicial Act in the Courtroom
Les defines justification as a judicial act of God, with God as Judge, declaring the believing sinner freely by His grace.
Paul's Emphasis on Justification
Les shows that Paul hammers 'justification' because God's judicial decree restores believers to a standing like Adam's before the fall.
Declaration: Just as if He Never Sinned
Les gives his definition: justification is the judicial act of God declaring the believing sinner freely, without a cause, just as if he never sinned.
Believers Still Sin
Les explains that even after justification, believers still sin, yet God continues to see them as justified.
Adam Connection
Les ties justification to the sin problem that began in Adam, when God declares the believing sinner just as if he never sinned.
Justified by Faith and Peace with God
Les lists justification among the blessings of salvation and cites Romans 5:1, that being justified by faith gives peace with God.
God's Divine Verdict
Les pictures the guilty sinner before God, and God's verdict: because the person believes the gospel, He declares him just as if he never sinned; justification and forgiveness are intertwined.
Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
This is the foundational verse in Romans that Paul directly quotes to explain the basis and nature of justification.
Romans 5:1: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
This verse links justification to faith and its result: peace with God.
Romans 5:16: And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
This verse contrasts the condemnation from Adam's sin with the free gift that brings justification.
Yes. Les says justification is that judicial act of God whereby He, as Judge, declares the believing sinner just as if he had never sinned. It is a legal declaration, not a process or a feeling.
Yes. God sees the justified believer just as He saw Adam before the fall. Even though believers still sin, God sees them as justified—as if they had never sinned.
Because it brings peace with God and is part of the complete salvation that God gives by grace through faith in the gospel. Justification establishes the believer's standing before God.
Watch the Teaching: What Does "Justified by Faith" Really Mean? Romans 5