Justification and righteousness

September 3, 2023

A common understanding is that justification is righteousness, or righteousness is justification. Although this thinking applies to most scholars, the word of God sheds light on a different explanation.

Justification
To be justified in the eyes of the Lord, one must have faith in Jesus Christ. It is your faith in Christ that allows you to be saved (Ephesians 2:8), in accordance to justification (Romans 3:28, 5:1; Galatians 3:11, 3:24). It was Christ’s work on earth and his atonement alone that allows you to be justified. All you must do is to accept Him as your Lord and Savior! By being justified through your faith in Christ, in God’s eyes, it is as if you never sinned before (Hebrews 10:17). Think of it this way: just-if-i’d never sinned. By being justified, you are granted imputed righteousness from Christ (Romans 4:22-24).

Imparted righteousness
Although justified through your faith, it does not permit you to continue living in sin (Romans 6:1-2). Through Christ, you are saved from sin (Matthew 1:21), not in sin. You should have a desire to keep the commandments of God as a result of your faith in Christ because it demonstrates your love for Him (1 John 5:3; John 14:15, 15:10; Deuteronomy 10:12-13). You must also do good works when convicted, as neglecting to do so is sin (James 4:17). The new covenant for God’s people today is His law being written into our hearts and minds (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 10:16). In other words, when you humbly surrender to Christ, He will give you the desire to do His will (Ezekiel 36:26-27; Psalm 112:1-2). God's moral law includes the Ten Commandments and the two greatest commandments (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). You must also avoid anything abominable in God’s eyes.
Imparted righteousness is granted to you by Christ when coming to faith in Him, and this allows you to continue in sanctification.

The days of Noah
A notable example in scripture explaining the contrast between justification and imparted righteousness is Noah and his Ark. Noah had the faith to listen and “walk” with God (Genesis 6:9). This was his justification. God subsequently commanded Noah to create an Ark with specific parameters (Genesis 6:15). Noah did everything that God had commanded him to do (Genesis 6:22). It was after Noah fulfilled all of God’s commands that he was declared righteous by God (Genesis 7:1).
Likewise to God's elect today, you can be justified through your faith in Christ (Galatians 2:16). However, for you to be righteous in God’s eyes, you must keep His commandments and do good works in your new life (Deuteronomy 6:17-18). Only those who do the will of God will enter His kingdom (Matthew 7:21). God’s will for everyone is that you repent of your wicked deeds (2 Peter 3:9; Ephesians 4:31-32), and obey Him (Hebrews 5:9; Psalm 40:8).

The modern day
Say you got issued a violation for reckless driving in your area, and you must appear in court. You humbly confess your wrongdoing while testifying in court. The judge is merciful and decides to forgive you from the penalty of your transgression. By this, you are justified, which is that you got acquitted of all charges from breaking the law. However, you will now have the expectation to keep the law, or else you will not be forgiven and will suffer the penalties for your willful lawlessness. The judge is holding a new standard to you that you must not willfully transgress the law but keep it and be righteous.
This scenario is comparable to those in Christ, who have all fallen short of God’s glory before coming to the knowledge of the truth (Romans 3:23). Jesus, who lived a sinless life, stands in your spot before Himself to justify and acquit you from all charges as a result of transgressing God’s law in your past life (John 5:22). Because of God’s mercy and forgiveness, you are now expected to not willfully break His law, else Christ can’t stand in your spot to acquit you from your unrighteousness (Hebrews 10:26). When you do fall short of God’s will, you must still confess your sins so that you can continue to walk with Him (Proverbs 28:13, 1 John 1:9).