Justification is God's judicial act of declaring the believing sinner just as if he had never sinned.
In the biblical sense, justification is not an improvement or a reward for good living; it is a judicial declaration by God the Judge. Because every child of Adam has sinned and come short of God's glory, no one deserves this verdict. God freely declares the person who believes the gospel righteous by His grace, and He sees that person in the standing Adam had before the fall.
Romans 3:24 — This verse is the center of Paul's argument in Romans 3 and is the text Les Feldick points to when he teaches that justification is free, by grace, through redemption in Christ.
Romans 3:23 — This verse establishes the universal problem of sin that makes justification necessary.
Romans 5:16 — This verse contrasts the condemnation brought by one man's sin with the free gift that leads to justification.
The Book of Romans places justification in the courtroom of God. Romans 3:22 declares that the righteousness of God comes by the faith of Jesus Christ 'unto all and upon all them that believe' — with no difference between Jew and Gentile. Verse 23 states the universal problem: 'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' Then verse 24 gives the remedy: 'Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.' In Romans 5:16, Paul contrasts the judgment that came from one man's sin — bringing condemnation — with the free gift that comes from many offenses 'unto justification.' Justification is therefore presented in Scripture not as a payment for good behavior, but as a free gift of God's grace through redemption in Christ, given to those who believe.
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). He pictures Romans as a courtroom scene: God sits as Judge, builds His case against humanity, and from the bench declares the believing sinner just as if he had never sinned (Clips 3, 5, 6). Les stresses that justification is free — 'without a cause, without a cost, without a penny involved' — given by God's grace the moment the sinner believes the gospel (Clips 3, 4). Because every child of Adam has sinned and fallen short of God's glory, no one can merit favor with God on his own (Clips 0, 6). The whole sin problem began in Adam, and every one of us, so far as God is concerned, was in Adam (Clip 2). After justification, believers still fall and sin, but God sees them as if they had never sinned — restored, as it were, to the standing Adam had before the fall (Clips 1, 7). Les also warns that justification is not a feeling — 'the Bible never uses the word feel' — and believers must simply rest on what God has said (Clip 4). Finally, justification and forgiveness roll together in the one word salvation, which is prompted by the power of God, not by anything man can do (Clip 5).
Romans 3:23 declares, 'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.' Les Feldick says this is the capstone of everything God laid out in Romans 1 and 2 — the immoral man, the religious man, and the moral man are all under the same decree. 'There isn't a person that has ever lived that can merit favor with God on his own' (Clip 0). He adds, 'No one can say, but I'm good enough. I think I'll make it. God says none of us can' (Clip 6).
Romans 3:22 says the righteousness of God is 'unto all and upon all them that believe.' Les Feldick teaches that faith is 'just simply taking God at His Word, believing what He said.' When God the Judge sees the sinner believe the gospel, at that moment He declares him justified — just as if he had never sinned (Clip 4). From the bench God says, 'Because you believe the gospel, I now declare you just as if you have never sinned' (Clip 5). Paul calls it the free gift of many offenses unto justification (Clip 7; Romans 5:16).
Yes. Les Feldick says, 'Even though after we've been justified, we still are prone to fall and to sin, yet what does God tell us? We're justified... He sees us as if we had never sinned' (Clip 1). He also explains that because we still sin, Christ has made compensation for all that by virtue of His advocacy at the Father's right hand (Clip 7).
No. Les Feldick teaches that people mistakenly use the word 'feel' when it comes to Christian experience. 'The Bible never uses the word feel. We're not supposed to feel justified... Don't try to feel something. Don't try to figure it out in the human. It can't. It can't be done. But we just simply have to rest on what God has said' (Clip 4).
All Have Sinned — No One Can Merit Favor
Les explains that Romans 3:22–23 places Jew and Gentile on the same level: every child of Adam has sinned and come short of the glory of God, so no one can merit favor with God on his own.
Justification Declared by the Judge
Les gives his core definition: justification is the judicial act of God whereby the judge declares the believing sinner 'just as if he had never sinned' — even though the believer still sins afterward.
The Sin Problem Began in Adam
Les repeats the definition — God declares the sinner just as if he had never sinned — and adds that the whole sin dilemma began in Adam, because every one of us, so far as God is concerned, was in Adam.
Justified Freely by Grace
Les teaches that Romans 3:24 means being justified freely — without a cause, without a cost — by God's grace, in a courtroom scene where God builds His case against humanity.
Faith and Feeling
Les explains that the moment God sees the sinner believe the gospel, He declares him justified; and believers are not to seek a feeling of justification but to rest on what God has said.
The Declaration of 'Just As If You Never Sinned'
From the bench God looks at the guilty sinner who believes the gospel and declares him 'just as if you have never sinned'; Les connects this justification with forgiveness, all in the one word salvation.
Justification as a Judicial Decree
Les spells out the definition slowly: justification is that judicial act of God — like a judge on the bench handing down a decree — and he notes that God says none of us can claim to be good enough.
Restored to Adam's Pre-Fall Standing
Les teaches that since we believe the gospel, God's judicial decree restores us to the standing Adam had before he fell; compensation for our continuing sin comes through Christ's advocacy at the Father's right hand.
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 shows that the righteousness of God — the basis of justification — comes to all who believe, regardless of race.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
This verse states the universal problem of sin that makes justification necessary.
Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
This verse declares that justification is a free gift of God's grace through redemption in Christ.
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 brought by Adam's sin with the free gift that leads to justification.
Les Feldick says justification and forgiveness roll together. 'Why can God justify us? Because we're forgiven. How can He forgive us? Because we're justified.' Both are involved in the one word salvation, prompted by the power of God (Clip 5).
Even after we've been justified, we are still prone to fall and to sin, yet God tells us we're justified and He sees us as if we had never sinned (Clip 1). Compensation for ongoing sin comes through Christ's advocacy at the Father's right hand (Clip 7).
No. Les Feldick says the Bible never uses the word 'feel' regarding justification. 'We're not supposed to feel justified. Don't try to feel something. Don't try to figure it out in the human. It can't be done. But we just simply have to rest on what God has said' (Clip 4).
No. God says none of us can — 'All have sinned and come short. No one can say, but I'm good enough. I think I'll make it. God says none of us can' (Clip 6). There isn't a person that has ever lived that can merit favor with God on his own (Clip 0).
Watch the Teaching: Romans 3: Why No One Can Be Saved by the Law