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Justification: Forgiveness from God

subject to judgment. This provision is made by the work of propitiation
that we studied in Chapter 1.

Let’s review briefly what the word propitiation means and how it
relates to justification. Remember that propitiation meets the need that
arises from the wrath of God occasioned by our sin. To propitiate means
“to appease.” Propitiation refers to the work of Christ by which a person’s
sins are covered, God’s wrath is appeased, and the punishment due to
sin is not placed on the sinner (1 John 2:2). Christ’s sacrifice shows that
God is righteous and at the same time declares that people who put their
trust in Christ are righteous (Romans 3:21–26). First John 1:9, which
says that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive
us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” shows that God is
just and right when He forgives our sins.

These Scriptures teach that God does not set aside His own moral
standard of uprightness when He justifies people. His righteousness is
maintained. For a long time it appeared that God was overlooking sin
(Romans 3:25), but the work of Christ on Calvary showed that He was
not overlooking it. In patience He had simply withheld His righteous
judgment, for He knew from eternity what His love had provided. Then at
the right time, Christ came to demonstrate through the cross that God’s
righteousness is maintained even as the guilty sinner is declared not
guilty. For in Christ the repentant sinner receives the righteousness of
Christ, and because of this he is declared to be righteous (Romans 3:26).

Its Meaning
The primary meaning of the word justification refers to a declaration
of righteousness. It is an objective work that takes place outside of us. It
does not deal with our spiritual state (whether one is spiritually mature
or immature); rather, it deals with our standing before God. Justification
means, then, that because Christ is righteous, God declares us to be
righteous when we experience salvation by faith through the atoning
work of Christ on the cross. Because of Christ, we can stand before God
as righteous.

In both the Old Testament and the New, a person was justified by
faith alone, not as a result of keeping the law. (Genesis 15:6). The New
Testament makes clear, however, that it is the righteousness of Jesus

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