What a profound Bible truth—without Jesus I am a lost soul. There is nothing within me that I could achieve that would make me worthy of being granted eternal life. If I would be taken to heaven as I am in this sinful condition, I would only stain that high and lofty place. What can I do to be saved, but most importantly what I must understand is, from what do I need to be saved?
Statement
Justification by faith is God’s provided tool to each one of us to bring about our restoration to the perfection of creation, saving us from sin, which is a distortion of His loving work, and making us fit again to be re-instituted in the New Jerusalem.
Example
Justification is the complete act of pardoning someone for a fault or omission on their part. For example, if a student is absent from school one day, the teacher will require the student to provide an excuse to justify his absence. The student must bring a justification note on the following day validated by an adult who proves the veracity of cause for the young one to miss class. For instance, if the cause of the absence was an illness or health problem, the person providing the justification should be a doctor for it to be valid. It would be unacceptable that a medical justification note would be signed by another classmate of the student in question.
Once a student’s absence is justified by a responsible adult and submitted to the teacher, the student may be reinstated in class to continue with his studies. This justification for this particular situation does not excuse the student from indefinitely missing classes, nor does it grant him a certificate of achievement after the end of the school year. The justification merely excuses the student for the specific absence, preventing removal from the class. Furthermore, the justification does not give the student permission to continue missing classes whenever he wishes, nor does it exempt him from preparing for exams.
Parallelism
In short, justification is a request for excuse or apology for the infraction committed by failing to comply with what has been established.
With this background, we can see how this legal framework centers on the work that Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit perform to restore us to the state of original perfection.
Sin and Consequences
As the absolute judge in this tribunal, we find God the Father, who has established His law as the standard of conduct for all created beings, indissoluble and perfect. The law establishes that upon violating one of its precepts, the transgressor must die; therefore, the punishment for one who transgresses God’s law is death.
Adam and Eve were created in complete harmony with God’s law. There was no need for them to require a justifier nor did they need justification before God, since they had never committed a sin nor disobeyed the law in any way. They could see God face to face and be accepted into His presence because of their perfect, untainted condition.
By violating a precept of God’s law, Adam and Eve broke that perfect bond between their own existence and compatibility with God’s law, becoming liable to execution for their disobedience. From our first parents and now each one of us, we face the same condemnation that Adam and Eve received.
Divine Grace
It is here, thanks to and solely due to the unique and unconditional love of God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit toward each one of us, a love that we can understand as divine grace and undeserved mercy is bestowed upon us. To give us hope of eternal life, the Deity of the Godhead set in motion the Plan of Redemption for our rescue, thus removing us from the condemnation of eternal death, the consequence of our own disobedience to God’s requirements; giving us a second chance to live in perfect harmony and obedience to God’s law.
Restoration and Redemption
Jesus interceded on behalf of disobedient humanity. Standing before God the Father, He was willing to receive the punishment of death in our place.
To be able to fully reconcile man to God, it was necessary for Jesus Himself to leave heaven and come to this earth that He might experience the results of our fallen condition and to become a part of the human race, which had become captive to sin.
The role of the Holy Spirit, as the indwelling power of divine Providence, would strengthen Jesus in His decision to obey God’s law and grant Him a life of victory over sin while living on this earth surrounded by sinners.
In being exposed to temptation, Jesus gained an understanding of our human weakness firsthand. He therefore identified Himself with our current condition. While He chose at every step of this earthly way to obey all the requirements of God’s law and live a perfect life before God’s eyes, He became familiar with our frailties and struggles.
Finally, taking our place, He willingly accepted execution and death for the sins and disobedience we are guilty of. In this way, He now stands before the Father as the authorized Advocate to sign our much-needed justification note excusing us from our transgression. Thus, He grants us a second chance to make things right in this life. We are renewed within ourselves through the power of the Holy Spirit who now dwells in us. He empowers us, as a renewed being, restored to the image of God, to live in harmony and obedience to His law, just as it was in the beginning.
Just as the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to live a perfect life of obedience to God’s law, this same Holy Spirit can grant us the transforming power to bring about a new birth in us. Thus, we are delivered from that captivity to sin and brought back into a new life of harmony with the original plan of creation and perfection.
Point of Thought
Justification by faith comprehends the work of the Godhead in our behalf to first pardon us from our faults and then, along with our own choice, to empower us to live in harmony with the laws of heaven, reconciled to God.
Bible
We can compare the previous statements with the following verses from the Bible in order to obtain a Biblical foundation. We can find additional explanation in the Spirit of Prophecy quotations.
– Sin
– Consequences of Sin
– Grace
– Justification
– Sanctification
– Salvation
Sin
Individual transgression and disobedience of God’s law.
“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” 1 John 3:4
Consequences of Sin
The consequence of transgressing and disobeying God’s law is separation from God and ultimately death.
“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1, 2
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
“The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the sons. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” Ezekiel 18:20
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Romans 5:12
Grace
An undeserved gift. God’s goodwill to forgive and divine initiative to give us a second chance for eternal life.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8, 9
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.” Titus 2:11
“Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” Colossians 3:11
“I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” Galatians 2:21
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel.” Galatians 1:6
Justification
This is what only God can do in our favor and is essential within the Plan of Salvation. Jesus lived a perfect life through the power of the Holy Spirit, in obedience to God’s Law. He lived a life without the stain of sin, and therefore was accepted by the Father as righteous. For this reason, nothing and no one can justify us before the Father except Jesus. No good work from our own part justifies us. Only our faith in the work Jesus is performing in us and with us is what allows us to appropriate and receive justification.
“Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:28
“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin; He condemned sin in the flesh.” Romans 8:3
“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:19, 20
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the worlds of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Galatians 2:16
“And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ So, they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced having believed in God with all his household.” Acts 16:30–34
“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’ ” Acts 2:37–39
“For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” Romans 4:13
Sanctification
It is the work that Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, performs in us, that provides the basis for a new life. We choose to obey and walk in harmony with God’s Law. God does not force this decision. It is a synergistic mechanism for an end goal that integrates God and man.
The degree of responsibility we have for our sanctification corresponds to the degree of willingness we have to be changed.
The word of God reveals how we are reconciled to God.
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” John 16:13
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you should abstain from sexual immorality.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3
“But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves to God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” Romans 6:22
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1, 2
“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20, 21
“Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19
“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” John 16:8
“Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” Matthew 28:19, 20
“And so, all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.’ ” Romans 11:26, 27
“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.” 1 Timothy 6:3–5
“Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” Romans 6:6
“But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. ‘Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?’ says the Lord God, ‘and not that he should turn from his ways and live?” Ezekiel 18:21–23
Salvation
It is the result of Divine grace manifested in justification and sanctification. Salvation is having experienced the new birth and being a new creation in Christ Jesus. We are finally saved from our past.
“Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’ ” John 3:5
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’ ” Acts 2:40
“And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.” Romans 1:16
“ ‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.’ ” Isaiah 1:18, 19
“And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17
“To him who overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father in His throne.” Revelation 3:21
Spirit of Prophecy
About Repentance:
“But sorrow had not worked true repentance. The people mourned because their sins had brought suffering upon themselves, but not because they had dishonored God by transgression of His holy law. True repentance is more than sorrow for sin. It is a resolute turning away from evil.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 557
About the Victory of God in His Children
“When the plan of salvation was revealed to the angels, joy, inexpressible joy, filled heaven. The glory and the blessedness of a world redeemed outmeasured even the anguish of the Prince of Life. Through the celestial courts echoed the first strain of that song that angels sang above the hills of Bethlehem—’Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will to men.’ And the lost pair in the garden of Eden, standing as criminals before the righteous Judge, waiting the sentence their transgression merited, heard the first notes of the divine promise. Before the life of toil and sorrow which sin had brought upon them was depicted before them, before the decree that the wages of sin is death was pronounced, they heard the promise of redemption. Though they must suffer from the power of their mighty foe, still through the merits of Christ they could look forward to victory. The mystery of the gospel was spoken in Eden, when God said to the serpent, ‘I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.’ If Satan could have touched the head with his specious temptations, the human family would have been lost; but the Lord had made known the purpose and plan of the mystery of grace, declaring that Christ had bruised the serpent under His feet.” The Signs of the Times, February 13, 1893
About the Kingdom of Grace
“The kingdom of grace was instituted immediately after the fall of man, when a plan was devised for the redemption of the guilty race. It then existed in the purpose and by the promise of God; and through faith, men could become its subjects. Yet it was not actually established until the death of Christ. Even after entering upon His earthly mission, the Saviour, wearied with the stubbornness and ingratitude of men, might have drawn back from the sacrifice of Calvary. In Gethsemane, the cup of woe trembled in His hand. He might even then have wiped the blood-sweat from His brow, and have left the guilty race to perish in their iniquity. Had He done this, there could have been no redemption for fallen men. But when the Saviour yielded up His life, and with His expiring breath cried out, ‘It is finished,’ then the fulfillment of the plan of redemption was assured. The promise of salvation made to the sinful pair in Eden was ratified. The kingdom of grace, which had before existed by the promise of God, was then established.” The Great Controversy (1888), 347, 348
Summary
In spite of the many arguments brought by scholastic debates, the simple consistent point of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy is that we can only find the hope of salvation when we realize that our own rebellion against God and His law is what has separated us from Him. This consistent line of thought throughout the Scriptures establishes justification by faith and the doctrine regarding salvation.
Sin is breaking the law of God. We are condemned by that transgression to death. Jesus took that damnation upon Himself and died in our place. The Holy Spirit now appeals to our conscience so that we might see our true wicked condition, living a life in transgression of God’s word, that keeps us separated from Him. As we see our extreme doom, we beg God to forgive our sins and ask Him to cleanse us by the blood of Jesus.
As the promise of God is fulfilled: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9, the Holy Spirit now convinces us to seek conversion and righteousness. “And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” John 16:8. Through His power we may have victory over sin and live a life of obedience.
Victory requires a constant, moment-by-moment experience of surrendering to the will of God. As long as we distrust ourselves and cling to our Saviour for help, this work of the Holy Spirit can continue in us. When Peter took his eyes off Jesus and focused on his own power, achievement, and delight, he sank into the depths of the raging sea. It was only by grasping the hand of Christ that he was saved from the waves. The continual connection through the Holy Spirit was, in the end, what saved Peter from spiritual death. And we are promised the same.
At the very end, we realize that we are our own enemy and we need to be saved from our own rebellion.
That’s why we can never say, “once saved always saved.” The surrendering of self to the will of God, is an act of choice at every step of the way. Nevertheless, if we do this, we have the assurance indeed that in Christ we are more than conquerors.
Esteban Salazar is a preventive medicine and lifestyle coach with more than 25 years of experience. His work has expanded as an international speaker and featured guest in many TV and radio shows around the world. He has a bachelor’s degree in Health Ministries and Nutrition from Hartland College in Virginia and also completed additional studies at the E. I. Institute of Applied Chemistry in Mittlesinn, Germany. He enjoys country living with his wife Maritza in the Sierra region of Ecuador, South America. He loves playing the piano, traveling, and vegan cuisine.