A s Paul uses it in this verse, the verb “justify” does not mean to “make righteous” (in an ethical sense) nor simply to “treat as righteous” (when one is really not righteous), but to “declare righteous”. Sinners stand condemned in God’s court, and yet God declares believers not guilty because of the work our Lord Jesus has finished on the cross. What a joy! A sinner destined for eternal punishment being acquitted of all charges! Here Paul uses the word “freely” to modify justify. Justification is something God bestows as a gift. That which is a gift is not earned nor deserved. Your status in society, wealth, intellect, church attendance could never merit this gift. Whatever you do (or do not) can never earn this free gift. This is further emphasized when Paul adds we are justified freely by His grace. This is the real heart of the issue: merit or grace? And God’s justifying verdict is totally unmerited. People have done nothing and can do nothing to earn it. God is unconstrained by anything other than His own will. This truly is the undeserved love and mercy of God. Paul has already established that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God [v. 23] and have set the Jews and Gentiles on equal footing. All have missed the mark. Likewise, all those which “believeth in Jesus” [v. 26], Jew or Gentile, will be declared righteous before God.
LESSON
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
The love of God is greater far Than tongue or pen can ever tell It goes beyond the highest star And reaches to the lowest hell. – Frederick Martin Lehman
THOUGHT
Powered by FlippingBook