05.08 - Chapter 31 - The Justice of Justification
Chapter 31 THE JUSTICE OF JUSTIFICATION A Confession of Faith: The Fact of Justification
“Those whom God effectually calleth, he also freely justifieth, not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ’s sake alone; not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing Christ’s active obedience unto the whole law, and passive obedience in His death for their whole and sole righteousness, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith, which faith they have not of themselves; it is the gift of God.” (The Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689, Chapter 11, Section 1; study Romans 3:24; Romans 8:30; Romans 4:5-8; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Romans 5:17-19; Php 3:8-9; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; Romans 5:17). A Definition of Justification
Dr. John H. Gerstner always pointed out in his lectures and sermons the importance of the doctrine of justification. Martin Luther called it that by which "the church either stands or falls." John Calvin said that it was the "hinge of the Reformation." Martyn Lloyd-Jones declared that justification "is the foundation of our whole position and standing with God." So what is justification? Justification is a legal term whereby the person charged with a crime is declared to be without quilt before the bar of justice. In spiritual terms, justification is an external act of God towards the sinner that declares him just and free of legal condemnation before the bar of Divine justice. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)
What a glorious thought there is here. There is no condemnation! Justification does not merely mean forgiveness of sin. It means that God declares us to be entirely without guilt; God regards us as if we had never sinned at all. There is no basis for condemnation! Why? Because of Jesus Christ. In the sight of the Law, Christ paid all the penalties that were demanded. His work is charged to the account of the guilty so that in the sight of the law, justice has been served and the soul is free to go clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. A hymn written by the godly Moravian Count Zinzendorf was translated by John Wesley expresses this truth:
Jesus, Thy robe of righteousness My beauty is, my glorious dress;
’Midst flaming worlds, in this arrayed, With joy shall I lift up my heat.
Once more, justification is "the forensic, legal declaration of God that we are not only forgiven but guiltless, and that as we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ we shall continue in that condition. In other words, we are given a new standing and a new status in the presence of God." (Martyn Lloyd-Jones, 1899-1981) ’Tis finished, all my guilt and pain, I want no sacrifice beside. For me, for me, the Lamb was slain, And I’m forever justified.
Justification is a sovereign work of divine grace. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury (AD 1100) wrote a tract in order to bring comfort to the dying who were concerned because of their sin. "Question. Doest thou believe that the Lord Jesus died for thee? Answer. I believe it.
Question. Doest thou thank him for his passion and death? Answer. I do thank him. Question.
Doest thou believe that thou canst not be saved except by his death? Answer. I believe it." Once these inquiring questions were responded to, Anselm addressed the dying soul: "Come then, while life remaineth thee; in his death alone place thy whole trust; in naught else place any trust; to his death commit thyself wholly; with this alone cover thyself wholly; and if the Lord thy God will to judge thee, say, ’Lord, between thy judgment and me I present the death of our Lord Jesus Christ; no otherwise can I contend with thee.’ And if he shall say that thou art a sinner, say thou: ’Lord, I interpose the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between my sins and thee.’ If he say that thou has deserved condemnation, say: ’Lord, I set the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between my evil deserts and thee, and his merits I offer for those which I ought to have and have not.’ If he say that he is wroth [angry] with thee, say: ’Lord, I oppose the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between thy wrath and me.’ And when thou has completed this, say again,: ’Lord, I set the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between thee and me.’" (quoted by A.H. Strong, Systematic Theology) The Nature of Justification
There are two basic views of the nature of justification. There is the Subjective or Moral View, and the Objective or Forensic (legal) View. The Subjective View conceives of justification as an internal change in the realm of the spiritual life, while the forensic view considers justification an external change in the realm of legal relations, or the soul’s relation to the law of God. The Subjective View of Justification The Subjective View conceives of justification as something that takes place within a person when the guilt of sin is removed by faith in Christ and righteousness is infusion in the soul. Justification continues to take place because of an inherent righteousness or because of what a person is by way of the new nature. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17). The Objective (Forensic) View of Justification
Opposed to the Subjective View of justification is the Objective or Forensic View which regards justification as, "that judicial act of God by which, on account of Christ, to whom the sinner is united by faith, He declares that sinner to be no longer exposed to the penalty of the law, but to be restored to His favor." Restated, "Justification is the reversal of God’s attitude toward the sinner, because of the sinner’s new relation to Christ. God did comdemn; He now acquits. He did repel; He now admits to favor." (A.H. Strong) The Forensic View of justification discharges the sinner from the condemnation of the Law. There is a sentence of acquittal for a person right with the law by the substitutionary death of another. The Forensic View of justification assumes to treat a person as righteous because the demands of the law have been satisfied. The Forensic View of justification is not mere pardon but includes pardon.
Three Terms to Remember
There are three important terms to understand in the meaning of forensic justification: Acquittal, Pardon, and Acceptance. Probably the most important of these term is that of acquittal. The sinner must be acquitted before the bar of Divine justice and for good reason. "If justification were nothing more than pardon, and salvation dependent on subsequent character and works, then justification would not be a ground of assurance and therefore not a ground of peace, since salvation would still be entirely uncertain and would rest upon a shifting foundation. Acquittal and acceptance are as necessary as pardon for the peace of justification." (David Clark).
Scriptural Proof of Justification The Greek word (verb, dikaioo) meaning "to justify," in a forensic [judicial or legal] sense is reflected in the following passages.
♦ Matthew 11:19 “The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.”
♦ Matthew 12:37 “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
♦ Luke 7:29 “And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.”
♦ Luke 10:29 “But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?”
♦ Luke 16:15 “And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”
♦ Acts 13:39 “And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
♦ Romans 3:4 “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”
♦ Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
♦ Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
♦ James 2:25 "Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?"
Old Testament Passages The passages of the Old Testament also present the concept of justification in a forensic or legal way.
♦ Job 9:20 “If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.”
♦ Job 32:2 "Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God."
♦ Isaiah 5:23 “Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!” In all these passages the word “justify” means, “to pronounce righteous,” or, “to acquit." They do not make anyone inherently righteous or holy. The Ground of Justification Various positions have been offered as to the ground by which God acquits the sinner.
" First Position. Some believe that while faith leads to baptism with its infused grace, the final ground of justification is good works.
" Second Position. Some believe that faith itself is the ground of justification. The perfect obedience required by the Law is set aside in the gospel for God is pleased to take faith in lieu of it good works; God is willing to honor faith instead of perfect righteousness.
"Faith justifies, because faith includes the whole act of unition to Christ as Savior. It is not the nature of any other graces or virtues directly to close with Christ as a mediator, any further than they enter into the construction of justifying faith, and do belong to its nature." (Jonathan Edwards, The Complete Works, 4:69-73) "Salvation is not offered to us upon any condition, but freely and for nothing. We are to do nothing for it,--we are only to take it. This taking and receiving is faith." (H. B. Smith)
" Third Position. Still others define justification to mean pardon, and this pardon to proceed on the ground of the righteousness of Christ. Subsequent acceptance with God, however, is based on evangelical obedience, or obedience of faith.
" Fourth Position. Much modern day theology repudiates all expiation (taking away) of guilt by sacrifice, all substitutionary work, and all concepts of any imputation of Christ’s righteousness or the transfer of Christ’s merits to another. The teaching is set forth that a person is justified or acquitted on the basis of his own righteousness as he is led to live a virtuous life by the example and inspiration of Jesus Christ. The ultimate ground of acquittal from the penalty and pain of any sin will be the righteousness performed by following Christ.
" Fifth Position. The Scriptures indicate that individuals are justified on the ground of the imputed righteousness of Christ. God does accept a person as righteousness in His sigh but only on the basis of the righteousness of Christ imputed or charged to the account of another. Christ expiated guilt; He satisfied the law, both by obedience and suffering and became a worthy Substitute with blemish so that those, being united to him by faith, are able to partake of His death. His death becomes the death of another; His righteousness becomes the righteousness of another; His obedience becomes the obedience of another.
God acquits the sinner, not for anything in the soul, not for anything so imperfect as human faith, works, or merit, but for the perfect and all sufficient righteousness of Christ charged to the account of those for whom He died (Matthew 1:21) This view of justification affords a sure ground of acquittal, a valid basis for assurance, peace and joy. Nothing can invalidate a justification based on a perfect righteousness. The whole system of substitutionary sacrifices in the Old Testament dispensation-- which were types of Christ’s atoning death--illustrations the concept of justification being rooted and grounded in an imputed righteousness. And there are many passages that speak of Christ as a ransom, as a substitute, as dying in the place of others, as bearing the sins of others, the just for the unjust. Christ was made sin for the elect; He was made a curse for those whom He would save from the penalty, power, and pollution of sin..
♦ Isaiah 53:5 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
♦ Isaiah 53:11 “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”
♦ 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
♦ Romans 4:6 “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,”
♦ 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.”
♦ 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.”
♦ Php 3:9 “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”
♦ Colossians 1:14 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
♦ Colossians 1:20 “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”
♦ Colossians 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: The Cause of Justification The means, condition, or instrumental cause of justification is faith. Faith is the instrumental, not the efficient or meritorious cause of justification. Faith is the link, the bond, the nexus, and the attachment between the believer and Christ. Faith is not the ground of justification because the believer’s faith is an imperfect thing; it expiates no guilt, removes no penalty, and is not of the nature of an atonement. But faith unites us to Christ and union with Christ results in justification.
♦ Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
♦ Php 3:9 “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”
♦ Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
♦ Romans 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
"The marriage of a poor girl to a wealthy proprietor makes her possessor of his riches despite her former poverty. Yet her acceptance has not purchased wealth. It is hers, not because of what she is or has done, but because of what her husband is and has done. So faith is the condition of justification, only because through it Christ becomes ours, and with him his atonement and righteousness. Salvation comes not because our faith saves us, but because it links us to the Christ who saves; and believing is only there link. There in no more merit in the it than in the beggar’s stretching forth his hand to receive the offered purse, or the drowning man’s grasping the rope that is thrown to him." (A.H. Strong) Is Justification by Works?
Though the Pauline epistles set forth in the strongest terms possible that the works of the law does not justify man, concern lingers that James teaches that works justify a soul in the sight of God.
♦ James 2:21 “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?”
♦ James 2:24 “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
James does not contradict Paul when he says these things because he is not discussing the nature of justification, but the nature of true saving faith. James is opposing, anti-nomianism. He is exposing a spurious faith. He is showing the relation of faith and works. He is showing that souls are justified only by such faith as brings forth good works. A working faith as against a dead faith. All people are justified by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone. "While we see good works wrought by me, we see faith wrought in man" (Augustine). The main problem with depending on good works is that they leave a soul ashamed before God for good works are never enough as Adam and Eve remind us. "They made themselves aprons of fig-leaves, before God made them coats of skin. Man ever tires to clothe himself in garments of his own righteousness, before he will take the robe of Christ’s. But Adam felt himself naked when God visited him, even though he had his fig-leaves on him." (C. H. MacIntosh, Notes On Genesis) The Results of Justification
"In the act of justification there is the remission (taking away, removal) of sins. "God acquits the ungodly who believe in Christ, and declares them just. This is not to declare them innocent,--that would be a judgment contrary to truth. It declares that the demands of the law have been satisfied with regard to them, and that they are now free from its condemnation." (A.H. Strong) "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness." (Romans 4:5)
" In the act of justification there is a restoration of favor with God. Luke 15:22-24 "Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and make merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found."
" In the act of justification there is a spiritual renewal. Justification is not the eradication of corruption in the nature of the sinner but it is the changing of one’s status before God. The sinner is now called a child of the King Oh, what a great honor that is. And when proclaimed far and wide, it brings hope to the heart. "Justification by faith has been the central theme of the preaching in every movement of revival and religious awakening within Protestantism from the Reformation to the present day." (J. I. Packer) Objections to Justification by Faith Alone
" Objection. "To pronounce a man just when he is not just is to empty the transaction of all moral value."
Answer. This accusation proceeds upon the basis that a person must be justified on account of personal holiness, a condition which no one can fulfill. It is Christ who meets the demands of the law and on the ground of His righteousness only can a soul be declared just. But the moral values are not wanting, for justification is inseparable from sanctification. "While Protestant theology distinguishes between what Christ does for us and what He does in us, the two are united and inseparable in fact. The relation of justification to regeneration and sanctification delivers it from any charge of moral emptiness or fictitious procedure.
Justification is possible because it is always accompanied by regeneration, and union with Christ and is followed by sanctification." (David Clark)
" Objection. "A general acquittal from the penalty of the Law is not consistent with remaining and actual sin in the heart and life which demands a penalty be paid for each transgression."
Answer. Justification is the promise and pledge of ultimate victory over all sin and its eventual eradication. Christ bore the whole penalty of the Law prospectively as well as otherwise which means that justification has an intended force toward an end not yet reached. The grace of God implanted in the soul, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a guarantee that every believer will one day be free of the remains of human depravity. "It must be written large that justification and sanctification are inseparable." (David Clark)