Justification

How Can a Guilty Sinner Be Right With God?

Justification is God's judicial act of pardoning sinners and accepting them as righteous for Christ's sake.

The question is serious because God's law is righteous and we've broken it. Romans 3:19-26 (opens in a new tab) leaves every mouth stopped, then reveals the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ. God doesn't overlook guilt. Christ suffered for sin, and God receives those united to his Son.

Westminster Confession 11.1 (opens in a new tab) teaches that God justifies freely. He doesn't infuse a new moral quality and call it righteousness. He pardons sins and accounts the believer righteous because Christ's obedience and satisfaction are imputed to him. Romans 4:5-8 (opens in a new tab) speaks of the ungodly man whom God justifies and whose sins he forgives.

Whose Righteousness Saves?

Christ obeyed his Father's will throughout his life and bore the penalty due to his people. He stood in their place. His obedience and satisfaction are the ground of their acceptance (Romans 5:18-19 (opens in a new tab), 2 Corinthians 5:21 (opens in a new tab)). This is why justification brings real peace with God (Romans 5:1 (opens in a new tab)).

We must distinguish justification from sanctification. God declares the believer righteous once for all in Christ, while the Spirit goes on renewing his character. The believer's good works are necessary as fruit of faith, but they add nothing to the righteousness by which he stands before God (WCF 11.2 (opens in a new tab) and 16.5).

What Place Does Faith Have?

Faith is the only instrument of justification (WCF 11.2 (opens in a new tab)). It receives and rests upon Christ and his righteousness. It's no payment offered to God. It isn't the excellence of your believing that saves you. The Savior in whom you believe saves you.

Living faith never remains alone. It's accompanied by repentance and produces love and obedience. Yet those fruits mustn't be made the ground of pardon. When the jailer asked what he must do to be saved, Paul pointed him to the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31 (opens in a new tab)). That gospel is still freely proclaimed.

James 2:14-26 (opens in a new tab) condemns a dead profession that has no works. James doesn't teach that good works purchase God's favorable verdict. Abraham believed God, and that faith showed itself in obedience. Read James alongside Romans 4 (opens in a new tab) rather than setting the apostles against one another.

When Is a Person Justified?

God chose his people in Christ before the foundation of the world. Christ accomplished their redemption in history. Yet the Confession says they aren't personally justified until the Holy Spirit actually applies Christ to them in due time (WCF 11.4 (opens in a new tab)). Election and the cross aren't permission to tell an unbeliever that he is already justified without faith.

Believers may fall into grievous sin and lose the sense of God's favor. Their justification isn't undone. The Father calls them to humble themselves, confess, seek pardon, and renew their repentance (WCF 11.5 (opens in a new tab)). He receives them because of Christ's finished work.

Come to Christ

Don't begin by measuring whether you possess enough faith to deserve acceptance. Read John 6:37 (opens in a new tab). Christ receives those who come. Repent of your sins and trust him. If you've already believed and now fear his displeasure, bring your sin into the light and seek pastoral care. For further help read Am I Really Saved?, Union With Christ, and Sanctification.