"Being jutisfied freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24)(ASV)
I'm sure some of you have seen the saying, maybe on a church marquis----Justified---Just as if I'd never sinned. Well, here is a devotional from the book of Romans by Dr. George W. Linhart about being justified or the process we call justification:
Free Justification
The psalmist has written, "...for in thy sight shall no man living be justified" (Psalm 143:2). To regain the lost glory of Adam is not within the bounds of man. It just cannot be done! Christ must do it for us. The how of this is related to us here in our verse.
What is Justification? The Westminster Shorter Catechism says, "Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ, imputed to us and received by faith alone."
Is justification mere pardon or forgiveness? It is true that none are forgiven who are not justified, and none are justified who are not forgiven. But forgiveness is mere subtraction, while justification is addition. It is to be made or declared forever right and acceptable to God. It is not man satisfying a deficit which he owes God, for God rejects all that man has done and gives him something new and different; and He does this forever.
In the Bible sense justification is instantaneous, covering man's whole being in the totality of his existence, and unchangeable since the ground upon which it rests is secure forever (Romans 8:33). Justification involves a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), the old things are not just habits or past failures, but relate to our position; being made the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21); perfected forever (Hebrews 10:14); and the enjoyment of the fullness of Christ (Jn. 1:16; Col. 1:19; 2:9,10). We are sinners, but God by grace pronounces that we are forgiven. To us this means remission of penalty, no lake of fire, no just desserts by virtue of our sin. To God it means much more, for the blood of Christ cleanses us, and we stand before Him dressed in Christ's righteousness.
"...so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life"
(Romans 3:18)(ASV)