3. The doctrine of justification

Question 1

Justification

Answer 1

1. (Right Legal Standing Before God)

2. How and when do we gain right legal standing before God?

Question 2

Justification: main headings (1-3)

Answer 2

1. Definition - Justification is an instantaneous legal act of God in which he:
2. Justification includes a legal declaration by God (“to declare righteous”)
3. God declares us to be just in his sight

Question 3

Justification: main headings (4-6)

Answer 3

4. God can declare us to be just because he imputes Christ’s righteousness to us
5. Justification comes to us entirely by God’s grace, not on account of any merit in ourselves (Eph. 2:8-9)
6. God justifies us through our faith in Christ (Gal. 2:16; Rom. 5:1)

Question 4

1. Definition - Justification is an instantaneous legal act of God in which he:

Answer 4

(A) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us
(B) declares us to be righteous in his sight

Question 5

2. Justification includes a legal declaration by God (“to declare righteous”)

Answer 5

A. “To justify” commonly means “to declare righteous”
B. (forensic = having to do with legal proceedings)
C. Scriptural examples (Romans 8:33-34)

Question 6

3. God declares us to be just in his sight

Answer 6

A. God declares that we have no penalty to pay for sin (Rom. 8:1, 4:6-8)
B. God also declares that we are righteous in his sight (Rom. 3:21-22)

Question 7

4. God can declare us to be just because he imputes Christ’s righteousness to us

Answer 7

A. Imputes = God thinks of Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us (Phil. 3:9)
B. Imputation is essential to the heart of the gospel