Image of Salvation Essay
By Gracie Frame
June 27, 2022
THEO 104: B01
MLA Format
We have all heard of the word justification at some point in our lives. Whether we heard
it at church, in a movie, in a conversation, or maybe read it somewhere like a Bible or in a
magazine, it is a word that holds a few simple meanings, but in a Biblical sense it holds an
extravagant meaning. For some, it is just a word; but for many it is part of a life changing
experience that they have witnessed at some point in their lives. For me, I see justification as one
of the many reasons that my God is good, and I am going to share why I believe that with you.
“Justification, in Christian theology, can mean the act by which God moves a willing
person from the state of sin (injustice) to the state of grace (grace), or the change in a person’s
condition moving from a state of sin to a state of righteousness” (Britannica). It is derived from
the Greek word dikaiōsis which is derived from the verb “to make someone righteous.” The
word justification dates to Romans 1, when Paul develops justification when he was speaking of
God’s just wrath at sin itself. He then presents justification as the solution for God’s wrath in
Romans 3:28 which says, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without deeds
of the law” (KJV). Justification plays a large role in the history of the church and theology. This
is the start of explaining that salvation cannot be obtained through good works or obeying the
commandments of God, but that it can only be obtained by a sinner that becomes dependent on
God’s grace and believes in Him and the sacrifice that he did for mankind. It is important to
remember that justification is by grace alone and as a result, God calls us righteous, and we
become justified because of the goodness and grace of God.
=“God credits us with a righteousness that is not our own but is Christ’s, and He takes our
sin and puts it on Christ, who bore the divine judgment against it on the cross” (Ligonier.org). 2
Corinthians 5:21 tells us, “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” (KJV). Justification holds both a positive effect and
negative effect. On the positive side, it is like experiencing a free feeling. You have trusted God,
He has taken the weight of your sin and brought it upon himself casting it as far as the east is
from the west, and you have become a child of God. However, it also holds a negative effect
because Satan steps in and you begin feeling moments of guilt. You realized you have committed
all of these acts of sin against God, but He still let you experience salvation at no cost, and you
have been justified by Him.
As a Christian, we can use both of these positive and negative elements as
encouragement to fight a good fight in the name of the Lord. We can remember what the Lord
has done for us in our lives and how he has justified us from our sins and made us righteous in
His eyes. This can be used as an encouragement to stay away from sin because it is an
abomination to God. We can also apply this knowledge to our lives to show those around us the
mercy and grace of our God. Many people in the world think they are too far gone or too caught
up in sin to have a relationship with the Lord. However, this is not true at all. We serve a
forgiving God that does not rank sins but instead sees them as something that He can forgive us
for if we just ask Him. I often think of the man that hung on the cross beside of Jesus during the
crucifixion. He spent a life full of sin and did not know God as His personal Savior. It was on his
death bed that he became justified by grace through faith. If God will justify those that did not
even serve Him until their last few minutes on this earth, He will do the same for you.
In conclusion we are blessed to be able to have the opportunity to receive such an
amazing gift as justification for free from the Creator of the universe. Nothing can change the
fact that we have sinned, but we can change our status in the eyes of the Heavenly Father when
we stand before Him at the judgment seat of Christ. To Him we are righteous in His eyes and
covered by His grace and blood. In Christs’ eyes we are free from condemnation and one of His
children. That to me, is a reason to rejoice for the rest of our days here on this earth.
Work Cited:
“Justification.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
https://www.britannica.com/topic/justification-Christianity.
“Justification and Sin: Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org: Reformed Bible
Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org.” Ligonier Ministries,
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/justification-and-sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV - - Bible Gateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?
search=2%2BCorinthians%2B5%3A21&version=KJV.
