JUSTIFICATION & ITS PLACE IN THE BIBLE

THE PLACE OF JUSTIFICATION IN THE BIBLE

 Historically, Justification Rises Out of Gods Way of Dealing with Abram

Gen. 15:6 - All  Three Elements Present (Faith, Righteousness, Imputation)

"And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." Gen. 15:6

                        Cf. Num. 2:21 and Psa. 32:2 "The Lord imputeth not iniquity."

                        Num. 23:21 "He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel."

                    Later Justification is given important place in certain prophecies

                               Isa. 43:23-26 "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for my own                               sake, and will not remember thy sins."
                               Isa. 45:21-25 "In the Lord shall the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory."
                        Isa. 53:11 "By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many."
                        Jer. 50:20 "The iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none."
                        Hab. 2:4  "The just shall live by faith."

                    The truth of Justification is found in teaching of Christ

                                                   - Implicitly in many texts -                               

                          John 3:18, 5:24 "He that believeth on him is not condemmed." "He that...believeth...shall not come into condemnation."

                                          - Clearly in Luke 18:9-14  "And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:"  "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican."  "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican."  "I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess."  "And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."  "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."  The Pharisee listed all that were imputed righteous and therefore justified.

                     In Writings of Paul Justification is Most Clearly Revealed

                        cf. especially Romans and Galatians

                        Paul regards it not new, but ancient truth

                        cf. Rom. 1:17 with chapter 4 for illustrations  "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."