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TEXT:   ROMANS 5:1-11

To “justify” means to “pronounce guiltless.” It never signifies to make just, but always to declare or pronounce just (Pro 17:15). This justification is indispensable to peace with God, for guilt cannot be at peace with justice. Before God can be at peace with any man, He must first pronounce him to be righteous.

Faith in Christ removes the condemnation. It means both a general trust in God’s revelations and grace, and a special trust in Christ as given by the Father’s love to be the Redeemer of His people. Understanding, will, affections, risking their all, upon Him. Justification is not perfection. Not justified by the law of innocence, or of Moses, but by the law of Christ — “who died for our sins,” and “was raised again for our justification.”

Result attained — peace with God. Peace is desirable with man, much more with God. True peace can be obtained in no other way but this. There is a state which is often mistaken for it, such as indifference, a numbed conscience. Gratuitous pardon without justification by atonement would not be able to give peace, but pardon through satisfied justice can. Nothing can satisfy the sense of justice but trust in the justice-satisfying Saviour.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for justifying me from the condemnation of sin.