JUSTIFIED
Bill Craddock
 
     There are many who insist that the word “justified” in the New Testament is in the passive voice, meaning, it is something that God does, not man.  Therefore, a human action, such as baptism, could be no part of the justification process.  Some time ago a man sat in my office and stated just those thoughts.  He said that if one would do one thing in an effort to be forgiven of his sins that it would make the grace of God totally null and void.  The mention of baptism for the remission of sins really set him off.  He said that baptism was a work and that would be an attempt to “earn” one’s salvation.  Of course, he was totally wrong in his allegations.

     Those who say that “justification” is a process accomplished wholly by God, and any “obedience” on the part of man is excluded, though sincere, are seriously wrong in their thinking. 

     While the passive form “justified” emphasizes the fact that ultimately only God can acquit sinful man, the passive voice does not nullify the fact that Jehovah may set conditions in His own plan for the justification of sinful humanity.  It has always mystified me that those who are so strongly against man doing anything in the area of salvation will strongly encourage the sinner to have “faith” in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.  In John 6:28-29 we read, Then they said to him, what shall we do, that we may WORK the WORKS of God?  Jesus answered and said to them, this the WORK of God, that you believe in him who he sent.  Faith is a work that God has given the sinner to do!

     Justification may be defined as the divine process by which God acquits the sinner and reckons him as righteous.  There are some very erroneous ideas regarding justification in “Christianity” today.  There are those who believe that salvation must be “worked out” totally.  They believe salvation must be “earned.”  On the other hand there are those who believe that salvation is by “faith only.”  Both ideas are wrong.  Incidentally, if the passive form, “being justified,” eliminates all human response, then faith itself would be excluded from the plan of salvation.

     Let us look at the biblical facts involving justification.

1. All accountable people are sinners (Romans 3:10, 23), and deserve to be condemned, and if there is any hope of escaping hell, justification must be extended by the offended God.
2. No one can “earn” or “merit” justification (Matt. 18:21ff; Eph. 2:8-9).
3. Justification can be extended only on the basis of Christ’s death as the sinless sacrifice for man (1 Peter 1:19; Romans 3:24-26).
4. Justification will be bestowed only when man responds to God’s plan of redemption by faith (Romans3:26; 5:1).  In the book of Romans, as elsewhere in the New Testament, faith is not mere “mental assent,” or even just a disposition to trust the Lord.  It is a willingness to “submit” to the requirements set forth by God himself.  Through him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for his name” (Romans 1:5).  Justification is the equivalent of being “free from sin” (Romans 6:18).  However, freedom from sin comes only to those who have “obeyed from the heart” the “pattern” of the gospel (Romans 6:17).  There is no question but that justification is based upon the obedience of the will of God through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 5:8-9).
5. The result of justification is “peace with God” and then one can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2).
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     There is no question but that salvation is totally by the grace of God.  Only God can forgive sin.  But it is also true that God will not forgive the sins of those who are not willing to obey his commands.  When man obeys the commands of God he is not trying to earn or merit anything.  Man must obey the commands of God concerning primary salvation and then must continue to obey the commands of God to remain in a saved relationship with God.  Once saved, man does not obey God to be saved, but obeys God “because” he is saved.  Works of man are worth nothing in the saving of the soul.  But obeying the “works of God” is necessary to be saved and to maintain that saved relationship.  All these things are clearly revealed to the student of the Bible.