Until now, I haven’t spent much time pondering and reflecting on the topics of justification and righteousness. Since delving in a bit more, I have come to realize how important these two things are in our walk of faith. Each one says something very important about the born again believer, and more so, about God and His abundantly merciful character.
In my studies of justification and righteousness, I realized the two are best spoken of together. They are different, but very closely related. So, I have decided to combine the topics here in Parts 3 and 4.
Grace Revisited
In Parts 2 and 2.1, we discussed grace and just how amazing it truly is. As if grace weren’t amazing enough on its own, we learn in Romans 5:16-17 that receiving the grace of God through Jesus leads us to justification and righteousness:
“And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)” Romans 5:16-17 NKJV
The first part of this passage talks about when sin first came into the world through Adam, and it resulted in judgment and condemnation. The verse then goes on to say the gift of grace (from the context of verses prior ) through Jesus resulted in justification. These verses are saying that without Jesus, sin can only lead to death (spiritual and eternal). With Jesus, sin can be forgiven through grace and leads to eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NKJV
Justification and righteousness therefore come through the gifts of Jesus and His grace. Gifts within the gift, so to speak.
Justification
Justification comes from the word “justify,” which Merriam-Webster defines as “to prove or show to be just, right, or reasonable.” Have you ever been in a situation where you have been proven to be right? Depending on the circumstance, being proven right can be a pretty good feeling. It’s like something has been lifted off of us. We might feel relieved of a burden, released from blame. The word “vindicated” comes to mind.
It’s a similar concept theologically. According to Strong’s Concordance, to justify means “a thing pronounced (by God) to be righteous (just, the right).” When we repent and put our faith in Jesus, God declares that we are justified – right with Him. It’s yet another divine exchange that happens. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8), and then, God declares us justified by faith (Romans 5:1).
That’s huge. We have been proven right in God’s eyes by our faith in Jesus. We have been saved from death (Romans 6:34), we have been saved from wrath (Romans 5:9), and we have been saved from condemnation (Romans 8:1). We are relieved of the burden of sin. We are released from blame. We are vindicated.
As huge as all that is, there’s more. It is our justification through Jesus that allows us to have peace with God (Romans 5:1). This is because Jesus reconciled us back to the Father through His death and resurrection (Romans 5:11). Reconciliation is peace with God.
Righteousness
Where justification is an act, a declaration by God, righteousness is something we become as a result of that declaration. It is a divine quality that is attributed to us by God because of Jesus. We are not and can not be righteous to God without Jesus.
21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21 NLT
Righteousness is a beautiful and generous gift from our Father. It is also one we have to keep the right perspective about and steward well. Righteousness is between us and God thanks to Jesus. We have to be careful not to make it anyone or anything else.
What I mean is we have to be careful not to attribute this gift of righteousness to either ourselves or others. If and when we do that, it is no longer the righteousness of God, but rather self-righteousness. This means we are either exalting ourselves or others in place of Jesus. Flesh exalts self; faith exalts Jesus. Any righteousness of our own is like filthy rags to God (Isaish 64:6).
Jesus alone is our righteousness. These verses summarize justification and righteousness so well:
22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Romans 3:22-26 NLT
I hope and pray you have been blessed by this series on Free Gifts. I know I have certainly learned a lot myself.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for being here. I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas! May His peace, joy, and comfort be ever-present! See you back here in 2025!
~ Kamy
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