Here's a Churchy Word - Justification

You know it is weird how we have these words that we use in the church circles. I wonder if a newcomer hears them and thinks "what in the world are they talking about", or is this a different language they are speaking?  Or perhaps you have thought it yourself...  I know I have!  Words like grace, faith, redemption, exhortation, propitiation, belief, believe, mercy, fetter, fount, and justification; just to name a few. To see my other blogs on this, go to this topic link Churchy Words

If we are honest, sometimes these words are even hard for us to grasp, and we have been hearing them for years. I mean, you can sit there and sing about amazing grace, how sweet the sound and not really grasp just how sweet that is. I believe we need to ponder these words. We need to investigate them to really grasp what each is saying to us when we use them.

So if scripture tells us we are justified, what exactly is that saying?

I have included below various definitions. You can scroll to the end to see them in their fullness or go to the website where I have attached links for them. 

When the word justified comes up in scripture, I begin to think what exactly does that mean.  I think of how in typing class, (am I really dating myself by saying that?) we would justify the margins.  That means the margins on both sides would be lined up.  So I take that and see how Jesus makes me straight and lines me up.  (this paragraph is justified to demonstrate)

It is also a declaration that one is free of blame, or free one of the guilt and penalty attached with a sin. Another definition is to judge, regard, or treat as righteous and worthy of salvation.  Another definition is to show or to prove to be just, right or reasonable.  

I also wanted to look at the meaning according to scripture or a biblical definition.  I found that to be biblically justified is being DECLARED righteous in God's sight, and to be made right with God.

So me going into my pondering mode:  To be justified means to be set right, to be declared right, to be made straight, and regardless of action, to be declared free of charges and worthy to be saved.  HMMM

So if I am justified, I have heard it this way:  It is "JUST AS IF I'D NEVER SINNED"  "JUST - IF - IED" never sinned!!!  Now there's something to get excited about.

So the next time you hear a preacher say you are justified, you read that you are justified in scripture, or you sing a song in a worship service about you being justified; let that sink into your very being exactly what you are saying.

You want one to enjoy right now, take a listen to this one  Glorious Day

With much love today, be blessed.

TheFreeDictionary.com says:
1. To demonstrate or prove to be just, right, or valid: justified each budgetary expense as necessary; anger that is justified by the circumstances.
2. To declare free of blame; absolve.
3. To free (a human) of the guilt and penalty attached to grievous sin. Used of God.
4. Law
a. To demonstrate sufficient legal reason for (an action taken).
b. To prove to be qualified as a bondsman.
5. Printing To adjust the spacing within (lines in a document, for example), so that the lines end evenly at a straight margin.

Merriam-Webster's definitions is:
1a : to prove or show to be just, right, or reasonable
b (1) :  to show to have had a sufficient legal reason (2) :  to qualify (oneself) as a surety by taking oath to the ownership of sufficient property
2a archaic :  to administer justice to

b archaic :  absolve

c :  to judge, regard, or treat as righteous and worthy of salvation
3a :  to space (as lines of text) so that the lines come out even at the margin

b :  to make even by justifying <justified margins>
intransitive verb
1a :  to show a sufficient lawful reason for an act done

b :  to qualify as bail or surety
2:  to justify lines of text

Google definition is:

1. having, done for, or marked by a good or legitimate reason.
"the doctors were justified in treating her"
2. THEOLOGY declared or made righteous in the sight of God.


Easy English Bible Dictionary

justified ~ to be made right with God through the death and return to life of Jesus Christ; to say someone is right with God.

From Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry
Justify, Justification
Easy English definition for 'justified':

To be justified is to declared legally righteous. It is a divine act where God declares the sinner to be innocent of his sins. It is not that the sinner is now sinless, but that he is "declared" sinless. The sinner is not made righteous in that his soul is changed or that his soul is infused with God's grace. Instead, justification is a legal act of imputing the righteousness of Christ to the believer (Rom. 4:11; Phil. 3:9). This justification is based on the shed blood of Jesus, "...having now been justified by His blood..." (Rom. 5:9). When God sees the Christian, He sees him through the sacrifice of Jesus and "sees" him without sin. This declaration of innocence is not without cost for it required the satisfaction of God's Law, "...without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness," (Heb. 9:22). By the sacrifice of Jesus, in the "one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men," (Rom. 5:18, NASB). In justification, the justice of God fell upon Himself--Jesus. We receive mercy--we are not judged according to our sins. And grace is shed upon us--we receive eternal life. This justification is a gift of grace (Rom. 3:24), by faith (Rom. 3:28) because Jesus bore our guilt (Isaiah 53:12).