Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. Romans 5:18
Justification is a legal term.
It is the declaration by the judge
That we are acquitted from guilt
From penalty, from punishment.
Now, in our justice system
We think of acquittal coming
Because of evidence. Facts.
Or sometimes persuasion.
Here are some facts.
For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God,
but the doers of the law who will be justified.
Romans 2:13
And that’s doers of the law, the whole law.
Like James says.
For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point
has become accountable for all of it.
James 2:10
With those facts, what verdict could be rendered?
Guilty.
Anything less would be a miscarriage of justice.
That’s why justification is so amazing.
God didn’t ignore or dismiss our sins.
His holiness, His righteousness, His justice will not allow that.
On the basis of Christ’s righteousness.
Because of His righteous act of paying our penalty
God declares us justified.
More Doctrinal Definitions: Condemnation, Redemption, Propitiation
