Free Justification
After spending nearly three chapters explaining the sinful condition of both Jews and Gentiles, God through Paul in the book of Romans presents the gospel of Christ in Romans 3:19-26 for salvation. The conclusion of the case against humanity and the presentation of free justification by faith alone in the gospel is found in verses 24-28:
“[24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] 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; [26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. [28] Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” – Romans 3:28
But what does it mean to be justified? According to the Bible, justification is the process by which one is judged as righteous or just (Rom 3:20-21). It’s an important topic because those that aren’t righteous (which is all of us without Christ) have the wrath of God coming their way (Rom 1:18).
Justification is crucial because it explains how a guilty sinner can be right with God. It explains how a person can go to heaven.
For roughly 1500 years, Israel sought to justify itself through its good deeds and law obedience (Rom 9:31-32). In fact, according to the law, if they obeyed it perfectly, they would be righteous.
“And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.” – Deuteronomy 6:25
Only Christ obeyed the law perfectly (Mat 5:17, Heb 4:15) and is capable of being righteous. We know now in hindsight that the law’s purpose was to show the knowledge of sin, to bring forth the recognition of dependence on God through Jesus Christ.
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” – Romans 3:20
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” – Galatians 3:24
Because of our imminent death due to sin and our incapability to make ourselves good in the sight of God, the only way we can be saved is through faith in Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and life-giving resurrection on our behalf. Your works do nothing to make you or keep you righteous before God.
We are judged as righteous once for all time (justified) and are given eternal life only through Christ’s righteousness and life received by faith (Rom 5:8-19). It is only by His love, mercy, and grace that we’re saved. It’s not of ourselves because it never could be; we could never possibly be good enough. It’s a free gift because it excludes boasting and points to Christ’s righteousness and not our own.
“[3] For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. [4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, [5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; [7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” – Titus 3:3-7
There’s no need to earn anything. There’s no need to strive. Taste and savor the sweetness of God’s free grace and be completely satisfied.
