What does it mean to be Justified by Faith in Christ?

So many portions of the promises which God gave to the Israelites in the desert have been and is still being quoted by believers of this day and age. One of such is found in Numbers 23:23, "Surely [there is] no enchantment against Jacob, neither [is there] any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!". Obviously,these promises were for the Jews alone as they were under covenant and not for gentiles. So,what has made us so confident of making use of these promises? Our confidence lies in the fact that we have been justified!

Now, justification is God's act of setting a sinner free and declaring such person blameless. It means man-kind can stand before God without feeling inferior or condemned.

Why does man need to be Justified?

Man fell when he chose to believe the devil. The devil is an entity who always tries to tempt man by challenging the integrity of God's word in any man's life just as he did according to Genesis 3:4-5. Unfortunately for man, he believed the devil and since all authority had been placed in man's hand in the garden, God could not command man to be clean once again but had to send in another man to stand and take this punishment of sin which has been moving from generation to generation - death.

Man and God needed a mutual relationship but there was a gap which sacrifice of animals could just not close up. Man's death itself could not atone for it or close the gap either and there had to be a sacrifice. This was when Jesus came up the scene as the One who could carry the punishment for the entire human race.

The Sacrifice of Jesus

Romans 5:6-11 says,"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."

• Jesus Christ gave his life voluntary for our salvation. He was not forced as some schools of thought claim.
• He loved us enough to die for us when we didn't know him at all. So this shows that now that you know him,you do not have to pay for your previous sins anymore. If you would pay for your sin,you have to die and your death is not even enough payment. I'm saying this because we still see believers begging for forgiveness of sins committed twenty years back. You are free already,Christ has paid for it, your only responsibility is not to go back into sin anymore!
• You have every right to glory in God's goodness. Let no man tell you your righteousness is as filthy rags because you have been made the righteousness of God Himself (2Cor 5:21 For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him). God's righteousness is definitely not raggy!
• Christ died for everyone not for you alone.

1John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.

So,don't be quick to judge other people, instead,show them with love what Christ has done for them.

What is Our Responsibility in Justification?

Having the knowledge that it is up to Christ to forgive your sins does not just leave you to eating and drinking. You have a part to play in responsibility too. The Bible says in Romans 10:8-10 that you have to confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. This means that your work of faith is your confession of faith!

 

Do not let the devil guilt-trip you. He actually cannot see your thoughts. He only knows your stand in the faith by what you confess. In the same way, what you confess should always be your righteousness in Christ. Confess that you are free, righteous and blessed! By this work of sacrifice, Christ has worked in us,our opening scripture in Numbers 23:23 is then applicable directly to us!