I am justified by grace. Ironically, I am also justified by my works. Justification is received by faith. Additionally, I am justified by the blood of Christ. Confused? Hopefully not. These are not mutually exclusive concepts. Each form of justification stands on its own and works with the others.
Justification Defined
Justification is the judicial act of being pronounced “not guilty” by God. It comes solely through the works of Christ. Justification is an act of grace and it is received by faith in Christ. It cannot be earned and it is not deserved.
Justified By Grace
Romans 3:22-24 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Grace is a favor done without the expectation of anything in return. We can’t do anything for Jesus to earn grace. Grace is His free gift to us.
We cannot do enough “good” to earn heaven. Salvation is by grace.
Galatians 5:4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
When we attempt to do more “good” than bad we fall from grace. Stop trying to shift the scales of justice in your favor in the salvation equation. Do good things but don’t expect any extra credit from Christ.
Titus 3:4-7 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Paul continues to reinforce the idea that salvation is by grace and not by anything that we have done.
Justified by Faith
Galatians 2:15-16 We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
Are you placing your faith (trust) in God and the completed works of Christ or in your ability to live a sinless life?
Repetition is needed. I’m constantly reminding anyone who will listen that our faith must be in God — not in our abilities or our feeble attempts to impress God.
It’s my belief that many church attenders are not disciples but “good” people (if that is even possible). They are not fully surrendered to Christ. They’ve traded some vices (smoking, drinking, and cussing) for going to church and giving ten percent of their income.
They’ve stopped sinning (at least the big ones in their opinion) and have begun to do righteous things. Certainly, they deserve a place in Heaven, right?
James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole Law, yet stumbles in one point, has become guilty of all.
God does not grade on a curve.
Stop attempting to earn your way into His favor and receive His forgiveness, redemption, and justification by faith.
Justified By Works
James 2:24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Wait, what?
This verse has tripped up many Christians over the years. Martin Luther was not a fan of the book of James.
Is James truly stating that we earn justification? No, he is not. So what is he saying?
Salvation is by faith through grace. Christians, however, will reflect salvation through good works (Ephesians 2:10). We’re not earning our salvation but in a way proving it.
James condemns believers who are not rolling up their sleeves and helping the poor. He reminds us of how Abraham actually offered Isaac and Rahab risked her life by helping the spies.
How are you sharing the Good News of Christ? Are you practicing radical generosity like the Macedonians? Do you share your bread with the less fortunate?
Christianity is not a spectator sport. God fully expects you to get in the game on a regular basis.
Justified By The Blood of Christ
Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
God could not simply give humanity a mulligan. Justice demanded recompense for Adam’s transgression. C.S. Lewis masterfully reflected this in his book The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe. Aslan had to die to redeem Edmund. Jesus had to die to redeem humanity.
Jesus shed His blood on several different occasions (the link is to the most popular article on this site).
| The Blood of Jesus Being Shed | Bible Verse | Significance |
| Jesus Shed Blood At His Circumcision | Luke 2:21 | Sign of the Covenant |
| Jesus Shed Blood in the Garden | Luke 22:44 | Comfort is not God’s greatest concern |
| Jesus Shed Blood During Flogging | Mark 15:15 | Suffering is part of discipleship |
| Jesus Shed Blood Internally | Isaiah 53:5 | Our sins caused His suffering |
| The crown of thorns pierced His head | Matthew 27:29 | They mocked Him and they will mock you |
| Spikes Through His Wrists and Feet | Psalm 22:16 | Prophetic Fulfillment |
| Blood flowed from His Side | John 19:34 | The prophetic fulfillment of Psalm 22:14 |
Our justification by His blood saves us from the wrath of God. That’s an unpopular view. It’s Biblical, though.
I’ve heard well-intentioned believers state that the wrath of God was satisfied in Christ. Tell that to Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) and Herod (Acts 12:23). These two incidents were both post-resurrection and ascension of Christ.
We tend to two-step around the wrath of God issue despite Biblical warnings.
Bible Verses About the Wrath of God
Romans 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
Colossians 3:5-6 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
I Thessalonians 1:10 …and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Thank God for the blood of Christ!
Justification Quotes
“Tell me not of your justification, unless you have also some marks of sanctification. Boast not of Christ’s work for you, unless you can show us the Spirit’s work in you” — J.C. Ryle
“God does not justify us because we are worthy, but by justifying us make us worthy” — Thomas Watson
“Justification: In popular usage, this word means showing proper grounds for. In a theological context, however, justification is the judicial act of God declaring one to be righteous by the imputation of righteousness to him” — John F. Walvoord
“True faith will inevitably manifest itself in the performance of works of obedience… The performance of works are the result of faith and the fruit of justification” — R.C. Sproul
“Any church which puts in the place of justification by faith in Christ another method of salvation is a harlot church” — Charles Spurgeon
“Justification is… a completed fact for the believer; it is not an ongoing process” — John MacArthur