Justification by Faith – SS1 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

Justification means declaring an accused to be right or innocent. It can be described as a situation whereby someone is declared innocent or set free through the process of law from a charge brought against him or her.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• define justification and justification by faith;
• explain why works and the law cannot justify anybody;
• list the benefits of justification;
• explain why faith in Jesus is the condition for justification;
• state the fruits of justification described by Paul.

What is justification by faith?

Sin can be considered an offence against God which attracts various kinds of punishment, such as sickness and disease, including death.

Justification by faith is the righteousness of God acquired through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. God sent his only Son into the world for the redemption of man. This was the climax of the display of the love of God for man. Anyone who believes that the only begotten Son of God died for his sins, and receives him by faith, will be justified by God.

Such a person receives God’s grace and salvation and is therefore set free from the bondage and punishment of sin. He receives forgiveness of sin and is considered righteous.

Paul writes, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” According to him, we are justified by faith as a gift through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. In other words, Paul was saying that man cannot attain the righteousness of God by his own effort or by observing the law.

Why do works and the law not justify anybody? (Rom. 4:1-5, Gal. 2:16-21)

According to Paul, faith in God is the only means whereby righteousness is received and justification is given. Paul used the case of Abraham, who obeyed God’s instruction to leave his kindred and go to the land that God would show him. Abraham was obedient, and his faith in God was counted for him as righteousness.

Paul concluded by saying that man is not justified by observing the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.

What are the benefits of justification?

According to Paul, being justified by faith in Christ and his promises, we are now in a position to enjoy the following:

1. We enjoy peace with God because our sin is remitted.
2. We are reconciled to God by the death of Jesus Christ.
3. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit given to us by God.
4. We have access to talk to God in our prayers, individually and collectively, because he is our Father.
5. Through justification in Jesus Christ, we become adopted children of God, and all the blessings meant for sons are given to us.
6. Finally, we have the assurance of eternity by faith in Jesus Christ.

Why is faith in Jesus a condition for justification? (Rom. 1:16-17, Rom. 4:1-5)

Justification is not automatic, although Jesus died for the sins of mankind. Faith in Jesus is the condition for receiving justification. Hence justification is by faith.

Peter taught the same truth in 1 Peter 3:18: “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.”

Although man is in an unrighteous state, he gains the righteousness of God through faith. “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)

Faith can be referred to as the currency through which we access justification. The same is true of the patriarchs in the Old Testament. A good example is Abraham, whom Paul cited in Romans 4. The Scriptures say, “Abraham believed God, and because of this he was accepted as one who is right with God.”

Paul taught the Romans in the same way, saying, “When people work, their pay is not given to them as a gift. They earn the pay they get.” Therefore, people cannot do any work that will make them right with God. So they must trust in him, in other words, “have faith in God.” Then he accepts their faith, and that makes them right with him.

What are the fruits of justification? (Gal. 2:19-21, Gal. 5:22, Rom. 5:1)

The effect of the law is death to man. Man died to the law so that he could live for God. We have been nailed to the cross with Christ.

Therefore, it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us. Although we still live in the body, we live by faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the one who loved us and gave himself to save us from the power of sin and death.

Justification comes with benefits. Paul writes in Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22 can be accessed through justification: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Evaluation

1. What is justification?
2. Explain why a person cannot be justified by observing the law.
3. How did Abraham’s faith help him according to Paul?
4. List four benefits of justification.
5. Name the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.

Assignment

1. What is the condition for receiving justification according to this lesson?