Justification: How Can a Sinner Be Made Right with God?

The question of justification—how a guilty sinner can stand righteous before a holy God—is the beating heart of the gospel. It was the spark that ignited the Protestant Reformation and remains a dividing line between biblical Christianity and every works-based system of salvation.

So, let’s take a deep dive into justification. What does the Bible say? How have great theologians wrestled with it? And why does it matter for our daily lives?

What Is Justification?

Justification is God’s legal declaration that a sinner is righteous in His sight, not based on their own works, but entirely on the righteousness of Christ. It is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

Paul makes this clear:

“For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” – Romans 3:28

This means our right standing before God isn’t based on our performance. It’s a gift. A sinner, no matter how corrupt, can be declared righteous because of Christ’s perfect life and atoning death.

The Two Great Errors: Legalism and Antinomianism

Historically, people have fallen into two extremes when it comes to justification:

1. Legalism – The belief that we contribute to our justification through our obedience. This was the error of the Pharisees (Luke 18:9-14) and the Roman Catholic Church in Luther’s day.

2. Antinomianism – The belief that justification means we can live however we want. Paul rejected this thinking outright: “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!” (Rom. 6:1-2).

Biblical justification is neither. It is by faith alone, but true faith is never alone—it produces good works.

Augustine and the Grace of Justification

Long before the Reformation, Augustine (354–430 AD) laid the foundation for the doctrine of justification by emphasizing God’s grace over human effort. He understood that without divine help, we are utterly incapable of obeying God’s commands.

He famously prayed in Confessions:

“Give what you command [O Lord], and then command whatever you will.”

What was Augustine saying? That apart from God’s enabling grace, we could never obey Him. God must give what He commands—He must grant us the faith and righteousness we need.

This is the essence of justification. God not only requires righteousness, but in Christ, He provides it.

Luther and the Great Exchange

Fast forward a thousand years to Martin Luther (1483–1546)—a monk tormented by guilt. He tried to earn righteousness through fasting, confession, and penance. But nothing gave him peace.

Then he discovered the truth of justification by faith in Romans 1:17:

“The righteous shall live by faith.”

He realized that our righteousness is not our own—it is Christ’s, given to us by faith.

Luther captured this beautifully when he said:

“When the devil accuses us and says, 'You are a sinner and therefore damned,' we should answer, 'Because you say I am a sinner, I will be righteous and saved.'”

Luther understood that Satan’s accusations are true—we are sinners. But the gospel turns the accusation on its head. We are righteous, not because we are sinless, but because Christ’s righteousness is credited to us.

This is often called The Great Exchange:

• Jesus takes our sin upon Himself (2 Cor. 5:21)

• We receive His perfect righteousness in return (Phil. 3:9)

It’s not about what we do; it’s about what Christ has done.

Imputed vs. Infused Righteousness

The debate over justification often comes down to these two views:

1. Imputed Righteousness (Reformed/Protestant View)

   • Christ’s righteousness is credited to us by faith (Rom. 4:5).

   • We are declared righteous in God’s courtroom.

   • Good works follow justification but don’t contribute to it.

2. Infused Righteousness (Roman Catholic View)

   • Righteousness is infused into us through sacraments and good works.

   • Justification is a process, not a declaration.

   • If we fail to cooperate with grace, we can lose our justification.

The problem with the second view is that it makes justification dependent on us. But the Bible is clear:

“To the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” – Romans 4:5

Justification isn’t a mixture of God’s grace and our effort. It’s God’s grace alone, received by faith alone.

Why Justification Matters Today

Justification isn’t just a theological debate—it affects how we live.

1. It Gives Us Assurance

   • If our justification depended on our performance, we’d never have peace. But since it rests on Christ’s finished work, we can have full assurance (Rom. 5:1).

2. It Frees Us from Guilt

   • Satan wants us to believe we must earn God’s love. But the gospel says: “It is finished” (John 19:30). Christ has already secured our righteousness.

3. It Produces Gratitude and Holiness

   • Justification by faith doesn’t lead to lawlessness—it leads to love and obedience (Gal. 5:6). We obey not to earn salvation, but because we already have it.

Final Thought: Resting in Christ’s Righteousness

At the end of the day, justification means this: we are loved, accepted, and declared righteous—not because of who we are, but because of who Christ is.

So, when Satan whispers, “You are a sinner,” remember Luther’s words:

"Yes, I am. But in Christ, I am righteous."

This is the beauty of justification: By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

Soli Deo Gloria!