Q33. What is justification?
Justification is an act of God's free grace in which he pardons all our sins and accepts us as righteous in his sight. He does this only because the righteousness of Christ is imputed (credited) to us and received by faith alone.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Romans 3:24–25
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”
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 5:19
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
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.”
Philippians 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:”
Parent Guide
Discuss this question together
Discussion Questions
- 1
What is justification?
- 2
What does it mean that Christ's righteousness is "credited" to us?
- 3
Why is it important that justification comes through faith alone and not through being good?
Illustration
If you owed a debt you could never pay and someone else paid every penny for you, the record would show the debt is gone. Justification means God looks at the record of your sin, sees that Christ paid it all, and declares you not guilty. He also credits Christ's perfect obedience to your account.
Application
When you feel guilty about sin this week, confess it to God and then remember that Christ's righteousness is credited to everyone who trusts in him. Because justification is God's act, you do not need to earn your way back into his favor.