NPP: Revisiting “Justification”

“The fundamental doctrinal tenets of Christianity, namely that Christ is God ‘born in the flesh’, that his sacrificial death atones for the sins of humankind, and that his resurrection from the dead guarantees eternal life to all who believe, can be traced back to Paul – not to Jesus”. –  Prof. James D. Tabor

“(It’s) legal fiction… Righteousness is not an object, a substance or a gas which can be passed across the courtroom.” – N. T. Wright

It’s amazing the amount of Believers, even leaders, who have no proper understanding of the most basic element of their Faith – Justification. They’ll go for seminars on Wealth Creation, stock books on Success, and even boast of being well-versed on the doctrine of Prayer. But they have no grounding on the very foundation on which every other spiritual endeavour stands on.

What is Justification?

Justification is the English translation of the Greek, dik-ah'-yo-sis. It’s a patently forensic, legal term that refers to total, absolute acquittal: it’s a judicial proclamation of “Not guilty as charged”.

This legal aspect – one that Satan’s agents (as evidenced from our two opening quotes) seem so interested in attacking – is vital. When a criminal is acquitted in a court of law by a judge, his acquittal is not based on his feelings or emotions. Much more importantly, it’s not based on the opinion of the court bailiff. Once you’re acquitted you are acquitted. 

Contrary to what some Bible teachers say, Justification does not mean God deals with the Believer “JUST AS IF” he or she has no sin, (that’s using English puns to teach doctrine). Justification means God deals with the Believer BECAUSE they have no sin!

Justification is not a parent overlooking a child’s error; it’s a Righteous Judge identifying the real object of punishment – CHRIST. As 2Co 5:21 says, God made Jesus, “who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” There’s only one sinner in God’s courtroom.

As we round up this week’s discourse on “Following the Fire”, let’s thank the non-believing Prof. Tabor for helping us crystalize (in his words) “The fundamental doctrinal tenets of Christianity”:

Christ is God ‘born in the flesh’. || His sacrificial death atones for the sins of humankind. || And His Resurrection guarantees eternal life to all who believe,”

HALLELUJAH!!!

GREG ELKAN
More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.