Counsels on Christian Worldview

Counsel #1 — What Is Justification?

Picture: Counsel #1 — What Is Justification? CCW 62.1

Justification is a complicated word. That’s because we don’t really use it in everyday life except in the sense of self-defense. For example, “How do you justify your actions?” But the Greek word that is often translated as “justification” in the Bible comes from a legal term that meant being made right. Perhaps a word with a similar meaning in English is the word, “pardon.” When a judge legally pardons someone, it doesn’t matter if that person committed the crime or not. They are now legally forgiven and considered innocent. In the same way, when we are justified by Christ, we are declared innocent in the eyes of God—just as if we had never sinned.^[84] CCW 62.2

“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” Romans 3:24 CCW 62.3

“God spared not His own Son, but delivered Him to death for our offenses and raised Him again for our justification. Through Christ we may present our petitions at the throne of grace. Through Him, unworthy as we are, we may obtain all spiritual blessings. Do we come to Him, that we may have life?” Ellen White in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 221.1 CCW 62.4

Reflect: How does understanding justification as God’s free gift of forgiveness and pardon affect your feelings or perspective about salvation? CCW 62.5