We know what the word justified means in everyday usage.  If we feel justified in doing or saying something then we feel we are correct in our actions. 

The Bible talks of being justified.  But in the Bible, what exactly does justified mean and how are we justified?

In the Bible, what does the word “justified” mean? 

The Greek word that is translated justified means to render or regard as just or innocent.  If we are justified before God, then God looks upon us as innocent – no longer guilty.  To be justified – in the Biblical sense – means that God looks upon us as innocent.

How are we justified?

Let’s look at Romans 3:20.  The preceding verses in this chapter explain how no one is righteous and that we are all sinners. 

Rom 3:20  Therefore by the deeds of the law [that is, obedience to the law] no flesh will be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

In other words, we are not justified, or made innocent before God, by obeying the law.  So that tells us how we are not justified.  Let’s continue in verse 23.

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

What is verse 24 saying?  It’s saying that we are justified (or made innocent before God), freely (that is at no cost to us), by his grace (that is by God’s goodness), through the redemption (or salvation) that is in Christ Jesus.  To paraphrase: we are made innocent before God, at no cost to us, by God’s goodness, through the salvation that is in Christ Jesus.

Let’s continue in verse 28 where Paul concludes his thought.

Rom 3:28  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

Paul concludes that we are justified (or made innocent before God) by faith in Christ Jesus, not by obedience to the law.

Let’s summarise what have we just read in Romans.  We are justified (or made innocent before God):

1. freely,
2. by God’s grace (that is God’s goodness),
3. through faith in Christ Jesus,
4. without the deeds of the law (that is not by obedience to the law).

What sort of faith do we need to be justified?

Many people misunderstand what we have just read in Romans and believe that “all you need is faith and that you don’t need to obey the law to be justified”.  But is this correct?  No!  Firstly, they ignore what Paul wrote earlier in the book of Romans and, secondly, they don’t understand the type of faith that God is looking for.

Let’s turn to Rom 2:13 to see the verse they ignore.

Rom 2:13  For not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified.

We must obey the law to be justified (or made innocent before God).  But it is not the obedience that justifies us – it is God’s grace or goodness. Now let’s go to the book of James to see what kind of faith we need to be justified.

Jas 2:17  Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

“Works” means obedience to the law – that is obedience to God. A belief in God without works (that is obedience to Him) is described as a dead faith.

Jas 2:18  But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.”  Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Jas 2:19  You believe that there is one God; you do well: even the demons believe–and tremble.
Jas 2:20  But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas 2:21  Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
Jas 2:22  Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

Obedience to the law perfects our faith.  The more we obey God the stronger our faith becomes.

Jas 2:23  And the scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness”: and he was called the Friend of God.
Jas 2:24  You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

James is saying that faith without works is dead – in other words – belief in God without obedience is a dead faith.  In order to be justified we need both faith and works – we need both belief in God and obedience to God.  We need a living faith.

We can’t earn salvation or forgiveness or justification.  These things are a gift from God.  Nevertheless, God is not going to forgive our sins, view us as innocent and give us eternal life if we are not serious about obeying Him.

Does justification apply to past sins only?

There is one last point to consider about the meaning of justification.  When we are justified (or made innocent before God) does this apply to past sins only, or to past sins and to future sins we may yet commit?  Some people believe in “the assurance of salvation” and “once saved always saved”.  They believe that past and future sins are forgiven now.  They get this wrong too.

Let’s go back to Romans 3.  We skipped over the verses that explain this. 

Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Now verse 25 answers our question:

Rom 3:25  Whom God set forth to be a propitiation (that is appeasement or conciliation) by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance (that is patient endurance) God had passed over the sins that were previously committed;

The relevant phrases are:

Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace …
Rom 3:25  … God had passed over the sins that were previously committed;

We are justified (or made innocent before God) for sins that are past.  We are not given a license to sin in the future without consequence.  Only the past sins are forgiven.  

You might wonder:  I understand we are justified now, but what happens tomorrow if we sin?  Will we still be justified?  The first chapter of 1 John explains that we all sin, but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  

1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we sin tomorrow, and we go to God and confess our sins, then we will be justified tomorrow too.

Conclusion

In the Bible, what does the word “justified” mean? If we are justified before God, then God looks upon us as innocent – no longer guilty.

How are we justified? We are justified (or made innocent before God):

1. freely,
2. by God’s grace (that is God’s goodness),
3. through faith in Christ Jesus,
4. without the deeds of the law (that is not by obedience to the law)

What sort of faith do we need to be justified? We need living faith – in other words – belief in God and obedience.  We must obey the law but it is not the obedience that justifies us – it is God’s grace or goodness.

Does justification apply to past sins only? Yes, justification applies only to past sins.