In Romans, justification is the judicial act of God by which He declares the believing sinner just as if he had never sinned.
Romans 3:24 says believers are "justified freely by his grace," and Romans 5:1 says we are "justified by faith." Les Feldick unpacks this as a courtroom scene where God the judge declares the guilty but believing sinner just as if he had never sinned. This is not earned or deserved; it is a free gift of grace that stands even though believers still sin.
Romans 3:24 — This verse directly declares that justification is freely given by God's grace through redemption in Christ.
Romans 5:18-19 — This passage contrasts Adam's offense bringing condemnation with Christ's free gift bringing justification of life.
Romans 3:23-24 declares the need and the provision: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Romans 5:1 connects this to faith: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:12 explains how sin entered the human race: "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." Then Romans 5:18-19 states, "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."
Les Feldick defines justification as "that judicial act of God whereby He declares the sinner just as if he had never sinned" (clips 1, 2, 4). He pictures Romans as a courtroom scene in which God the judge sits on the bench and, because the sinner believes the gospel, declares him just as if he had never sinned (clips 3, 6). This is not earned: God justifies "freely without a cause" by grace, with no cost or penny involved (clips 3, 4). Les roots the need for justification in Adam: the whole sin problem began in Adam, and every person was in Adam, so all share Adam's condemnation (clip 1). He explains that the way back is by believing the gospel—that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again—and the moment a person believes, God does everything on his behalf, granting justification (clip 7). Even after justification, believers still fall into sin, but God continues to see them as if they had never sinned because it is a judicial decree, not human attainment (clips 2, 4).
Les defines justification as "that judicial act of God whereby He declares the sinner just as if he had never sinned." He says Romans is a courtroom picture, and God, as judge, looks at the believing sinner and declares him just as if he had never sinned. This is a verdict God gives because the person believes, not because the person has earned it.
Les says Romans is really a courtroom scene—God building His case against humanity. From His position on the bench, God looks down at the believing sinner and says, "Because you believe the gospel, I now declare you just as if you have never sinned." Les also explains that this all rolls together with forgiveness and salvation: "Why can God justify us? Because we're forgiven. How can He forgive us? Because we're justified."
Les teaches that the whole sin problem began in Adam and that every one of us, so far as God is concerned, was in Adam. Romans 5:12 says sin and death entered by one man, and Romans 5:18-19 says Adam's offense brought condemnation while Christ's free gift brings justification of life. Les says that when we recognize we are indeed children of Adam and believe the gospel—that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead—God just does everything on our behalf, including justification.
No, says Les. Even after we have been justified, we are still prone to fall and to sin. Yet God tells us we are justified: He sees us as if we had never sinned. It is beyond our comprehension, but it is a judicial act of God, not a reward for flawless behavior.
Les is emphatic that justification is "without a cause." God did not justify us because we deserved it or because we finally earned it. Romans 3:24 says we are "justified freely by his grace." Les adds, there is no cost, no penny involved; God justifies us freely even though we don't deserve it when we believe.
Why Grace Always Wins Over Sin — Romans 5:15-20 Explained
free gift.'" Now that sounds like kind of a twisting of words, but what Paul is really trying to get across—and of course, as I mentioned several programs ago, when I refer to Paul as the writer, I hope it's all understood that he wrote as he was moved by the Holy Spirit. In other words, Paul's personality certainly shows through in all of his writings, even as all the authors of Scripture do.
Les's Standard Definition
Les gives his repeated definition of justification as God's judicial act declaring the sinner just as if he had never sinned, and locates the source of the problem in Adam.
Justified Though Still Prone to Sin
Les explains that after justification believers still fall and sin, yet God still sees them as if they had never sinned.
Romans as a Courtroom Scene
Les paints Romans as God building a case against humanity, with justification as the judge's free declaration of the believing sinner.
Justified Without a Cause
Les emphasizes that justification is undeserved and without a cause, and that God sees the justified believer as He saw Adam before the fall.
The Adam Connection
Les reads the Romans 3:24 context and shows that the need for justification traces back to Adam's sin in Romans 5.
Justification, Forgiveness, and Salvation
Les ties justification to forgiveness, explaining that both roll together into one salvation prompted by the power of God.
Justified by Faith and the Gospel
Les connects justification to believing the gospel—Christ died, was buried, and rose again—and to Romans 5:1's peace with God.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
This verse states the universal need for justification—everyone has sinned.
Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
This verse defines the basis of justification as God's free grace through Christ's redemption.
Romans 5:1: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
This verse shows that justification comes by faith and results in peace with God.
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:
This verse explains how sin and death entered through Adam, setting the stage for the need for justification.
Romans 5:18: Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
This verse contrasts Adam's offense with Christ's free gift that brings justification of life.
Romans 5:19: For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
This verse contrasts Adam's disobedience with Christ's obedience that makes many righteous.
Justification is God the judge declaring the believing sinner just as if he had never sinned. It is a courtroom verdict, not a change in behavior, and it is based on God's grace through faith in the gospel.
Yes. Romans 3:24 says we are "justified freely by his grace." Les Feldick explains that this means no cost, no cause, and no deserving work on our part; God simply declares us just when we believe.
Les Feldick teaches that a person is justified by believing the gospel—that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. At that moment, God does everything on our behalf and declares us just as if we had never sinned.
Watch the Teaching: Why Grace Always Wins Over Sin — Romans 5:15-20 Explained