We use the word “justify” as a means to explain or prove something that we have claimed for ourselves. Some explanation gives cause for a certain action or condition that exists and produces a favorable thought from ourselves and others. The biblical use of the word is taken from a Greek word whose contextual meaning is set in a courtroom. The words “right”, “righteous”, “righteousness”, and “justify” all come from that same root word. When people are righteous, they are such as they ought to be because they have conformed to that standard set by God. To be righteous or reach the status or condition of righteousness, one must conform to the standard. Such is described by Paul and James as a “doer of the law.” To be judged righteous, which is the same as being justified, one must be a doer of the law (cf. Rom. 2:13). John wrote in 1 John 3:7, “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous” (KJV). No charge can be laid against such a person. They are righteous because they really are righteous. That is determined by keeping the law that sets the standard of right. James 2:9-10 reads, “but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” Righteousness is not imputed to one on the basis of percentages or having more tally points on the side of good than we do on the side of the bad. The very nature of law, which is that which sets the standard, requires keeping the law perfectly. One sin identifies you as a lawbreaker, even when the majority of the time you may have kept it. Paul explains it this way in Galatians 3:10, “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them” (ESV). Since the law demands perfection and punishment when not perfect, this places the human race under a curse. No one can be justified on that basis. Therefore, as Paul describes it in Romans 1:18, we are all under the wrath of God. The only way a person can be judged righteous is two-fold. It starts with Christ becoming curse for us. Paul adds in Galatians 3:11-13,
“Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for the righteous shall live by faith. But the law is not of faith, rather the one who does them shall live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—
The punishment or curse for violating law is death. He continues, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.” This great grace was the only means by which a sinner could escape the wrath of God and the curse of death. Christ took our place at the cross. This is where the words, “atonement,” and “propitiation” find their meaning. The sacrificial death of the sinless Lamb of God could satisfy the demands of law and the righteous judgment of God. Not anyone would qualify to make atonement. If a sinner (anyone who did not keep all things that are written in the law) had died on that cross, his death could not atone for the sins that you and I have committed. He would have only been rightly punished for his own sins.
Here, Paul wraps up the explaination in Romans 3:26, “It was to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” By the death of Jesus Christ, God can now be “just” and the “justifier” of those who have faith. So, the second part of the process of justification is faith on the part of the sinner. True, without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins and gift of this grace is extended to the entire human race. He died for all! However, while sin was punished through the death of Christ that met the justice of God, He can only justify those who have faith in Christ.
Justification is God’s pronouncment or declaration of righteousness not on the basis of anything we have done. Looking past that, He can acquit the guilty and treat them as though they were innocent on a legality. This accounting one to be righteous is a legal standing, not because they really are innocent. And, the one condition that would cause the judge to pass this merciful sentence of life instead of death is faith. The Jews had established their own righteousness and, consequently, had not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God (Romans 10:1-3). Paul’s effort in the first three chapters is to convince and convict that both Jews and Gentiles are under the wrath of God. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Every mouth is silenced as if to suggest that nothing can be added to our defence. The evidence is in and all of it points to one fact. Man is hopelessly lost. This condition is the result of seeking righteousness by the works of law. Once he has prepared his readers by convicting them of their hopeless condition, he is ready to share the plan of God that offers righteousness by the gospel (Romans 1:16-17, 3:21-26).