Justification

Justification, in Christian theology, is God's act of removing the guilt and penalty of sin while at the same time declaring a sinner righteous through Christ's atoning sacrifice. In Protestantism, righteousness from God is viewed as being credited to the sinner's account through faith alone, without works.^[1]

The word justification appears three times in the Bible. Twice^[2] it is translated from the Greek word dikaiosis ^[3]

It also appears in verse 16 of Romans 5 ^[4]but is translated from the Greek word ^[5] which appearing ten times in the Bible^[6] is also translated righteousness four times, ordinance three times, and judgment twice.

It is from the Greek word dikaioo ^[7] which appears 40 times^[8] in the Bible. It is normally translated justify.

The great debate

Are we justified by faith (Romans) or by works (James)?

The problem with this justification doctrine is that it does not apply to most people who say they have faith.

Most of those people's faith is dead because they do not have the works of faith.

They say they believe but they do not do the will of the Father, they do not keep the commandments which is evidence they do not really believe in Christ or God.

The Bible also tells us:

Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 2:1 ¶ Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up nto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Galatians 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Timothy 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

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Footnotes

↑ Romans 1:17; Romans 3:28; Romans 4:5; Romans 4:22-25; Romans 5:19; Romans 8:33; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Corinthians 6:17; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 1:27
↑ Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
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.
↑ 1347 ~δικαίωσις~ dikaiosis \@dik-ah’-yo-sis\@ from 1344; n f AV-justification 2; 2
1) the act of God declaring men free from guilt and acceptable to him

2) abjuring to be righteous, justification
↑ : Romans 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
↑ 1345 ~δικαίωμα~ dikaioma \@dik-ah’-yo-mah\@ from 1344; n n AV-righteousness 4, ordinance 3, judgment 2, justification 1; 10
1) that which has been deemed right so as to have force of law
1a) what has been established, and ordained by law, an ordinance

1b) a judicial decision, sentence
1b1) of God
1b1a) either the favourable judgment by which he acquits man and declares them acceptable to Him

1b1b) unfavourable: sentence of condemnation

2) a righteous act or deed
↑ Luke 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances <1345> of the Lord blameless.
Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment <1345> of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Romans 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness <1345> of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

Romans 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification <1345>.

Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness <1345> of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Romans 8:4 That the righteousness <1345> of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Hebrews 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances <1345> of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

Hebrews 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances <1345>, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Revelation 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments <1345> are made manifest.

Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness <1345> of saints.
↑ 1344 ~δικαιόω~ dikaioo \@dik-ah-yo’-o\@ from 1342; v AV-justify 37, be freed 1, be righteous 1, justifier 1; 40
1) to render righteous or such he ought to be

2) to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered

3) to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be
↑ 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 <1344> of her children.
Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified <1344>, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Luke 7:29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified <1344> God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

Luke 7:35 But wisdom is justified <1344> of all her children.

Luke 10:29 But he, willing to justify <1344> himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify <1344> yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified <1344> rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified <1344> from all things, from which ye could not be justified <1344> by the law of Moses.

Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified <1344>.

Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified <1344> in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall <1344> no flesh be justified <1344> in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:24 Being justified <1344> freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier <1344> of him which believeth in Jesus.

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified <1344> by faith without the deeds of the law.

Romans 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify <1344> the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified <1344> by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth <1344> the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified <1344> by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Romans 5:9 Much more then, being <1344> now justified <1344> by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Romans 6:7 For he that is dead is freed <1344> from sin.

Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he <1344> also justified <1344>: and whom he justified <1344>, them he also glorified.

Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth <1344>.

1 Corinthians 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I <1344> not hereby justified <1344>: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified <1344> in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is <1344> not justified <1344> 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 <1344> by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall <1344> no flesh be justified <1344>.

Galatians 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified <1344> by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify <1344> the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified <1344> by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified <1344> by faith.

Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified <1344> by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified <1344> in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Titus 3:7 That being justified by <1344> his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

James 2:21 Was <1344> not Abraham our father justified <1344> 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 <1344>, and not by faith only.

James 2:25 Likewise also was <1344> not Rahab the harlot justified <1344> by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Revelation 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous <1344> still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

[1] Romans 1:17; Romans 3:28; Romans 4:5; Romans 4:22-25; Romans 5:19; Romans 8:33; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Corinthians 6:17; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 1:27

[2] Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
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.

[3] 1347 ~δικαίωσις~ dikaiosis \@dik-ah’-yo-sis\@ from 1344; n f AV-justification 2; 2
1) the act of God declaring men free from guilt and acceptable to him

2) abjuring to be righteous, justification

[4] : Romans 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

[5] 1345 ~δικαίωμα~ dikaioma \@dik-ah’-yo-mah\@ from 1344; n n AV-righteousness 4, ordinance 3, judgment 2, justification 1; 10
1) that which has been deemed right so as to have force of law
1a) what has been established, and ordained by law, an ordinance

1b) a judicial decision, sentence
1b1) of God
1b1a) either the favourable judgment by which he acquits man and declares them acceptable to Him

1b1b) unfavourable: sentence of condemnation

2) a righteous act or deed

[6] Luke 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances <1345> of the Lord blameless.
Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment <1345> of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Romans 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness <1345> of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

Romans 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification <1345>.

Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness <1345> of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Romans 8:4 That the righteousness <1345> of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Hebrews 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances <1345> of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

Hebrews 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances <1345>, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Revelation 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments <1345> are made manifest.

Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness <1345> of saints.

[7] 1344 ~δικαιόω~ dikaioo \@dik-ah-yo’-o\@ from 1342; v AV-justify 37, be freed 1, be righteous 1, justifier 1; 40
1) to render righteous or such he ought to be

2) to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered

3) to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be

[8] 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 <1344> of her children.
Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified <1344>, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Luke 7:29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified <1344> God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

Luke 7:35 But wisdom is justified <1344> of all her children.

Luke 10:29 But he, willing to justify <1344> himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify <1344> yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified <1344> rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified <1344> from all things, from which ye could not be justified <1344> by the law of Moses.

Romans 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified <1344>.

Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified <1344> in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall <1344> no flesh be justified <1344> in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:24 Being justified <1344> freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier <1344> of him which believeth in Jesus.

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified <1344> by faith without the deeds of the law.

Romans 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify <1344> the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Romans 4:2 For if Abraham were justified <1344> by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth <1344> the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified <1344> by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Romans 5:9 Much more then, being <1344> now justified <1344> by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Romans 6:7 For he that is dead is freed <1344> from sin.

Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he <1344> also justified <1344>: and whom he justified <1344>, them he also glorified.

Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth <1344>.

1 Corinthians 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I <1344> not hereby justified <1344>: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified <1344> in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is <1344> not justified <1344> 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 <1344> by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall <1344> no flesh be justified <1344>.

Galatians 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified <1344> by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify <1344> the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified <1344> by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified <1344> by faith.

Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified <1344> by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified <1344> in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Titus 3:7 That being justified by <1344> his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

James 2:21 Was <1344> not Abraham our father justified <1344> 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 <1344>, and not by faith only.

James 2:25 Likewise also was <1344> not Rahab the harlot justified <1344> by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Revelation 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous <1344> still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

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Justification

The great debate

Footnotes

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