In 1919, G.H. Gerberding, gave this wonderful definition of justification, "Justification is an act of God, by which He accounts or adjudges a person righteous in His sight. It is not a change in the person's nature, but it is a change in his standing in the sight of God. Before justification he stands in the sight of God, guilty and condemned. Through justification he stands before God free from guilt and condemnation; he is acquitted, released, regarded and treated as if he had never been guilty or condemned. The justified person stands in the sight of God, as if he really had never committed a sin and were perfectly innocent."
Romans 3 contains these wonderful verses...
21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Notice what verse 24 says...justified freely. The word "freely" ,δωρεάν dōrean, means undeservedly. We never merit God's forgiveness. We do not deserve to be declared innocent in His sight. It is of grace through faith...by believing in the redemptive work of Christ. There it is again...the sole requirement to secure God's pardon is "faith". Have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? Do so today!
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