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Abundant Life in the Son: A Study of Salvation

Christ that is credited to us. Although in matters of law the guilty were
not acquitted in the Old Testament (Exodus 23:7; Deuteronomy 25:1;
Proverbs 17:15), the New Testament in contrast shows that the wicked
and helpless can be declared righteous in Christ (Romans 4:1–8;
5:1–11). God’s forgiveness is able to justify even those who do not
deserve it.

Remember that because of sin, humanity lost its true relationship to
God. As a result, we suffer from guilt, condemnation, and separation
(Genesis 3:1–24). Justification restores us to our true relationship to God.
In Romans 8, we see that this restoration includes these provisions:

• It provides for the removal of guilt by crediting people with Christ’s
righteousness: “Who will bring any charge against those whom
God has chosen? It is God who justifies!” (8:33).
• It provides for the removal of condemnation because of the
forgiveness of sins: “Who is he that condemns?” (8:34).
• It provides for protection from separation: “Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ?” (8:35).

We see then that in justification God’s attitude toward the sinner is
reversed because of the sinner’s relationship to Christ. But justification
includes more than pardon for sins, removal of condemnation, and
restoration to God: it also places guilty offenders in the position of
righteous people! The following comparison illustrates this important
concept. A ruler can pardon a certain criminal. He can even restore the
criminal’s rights as a citizen, which he lost when he was convicted.
However, he cannot restore the criminal to his former position in society
as one who has not broken the law. As a result, the criminal is a marked
person. This person’s greatest need is
to be restored to favor and fellowship
with society as if he had never been
Justification places convicted of a crime. For only in this

guilty offenders way can he be accepted in his society.

in the position of By contrast, when God justifies a

righteous people. sinner, He blots out the sinner’s past
with its sins and offenses. Moreover,
He treats the person just as if he or she

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