Question 27: What is Justification?

Paul writes to both Jewish and gentile believers in Rome, who are struggling with the question of how righteousness is perceived by God. The Jews grew up believing righteousness came by following God’s law. The gentiles wondered if they needed to covert to Judaism first. Paul declares that justification—God’s legal declaration of righteousness—comes the same way for everyone: through faith in Christ alone. This was revolutionary thinking. God declares people right with him solely through Christ’s redemptive work on the cross. Righteousness is not based on their ethnic background, religious performance, or moral achievements. The term “justified” carried legal weight in Roman culture, like a judge’s final verdict of “not guilty.” Paul shows his readers that Christ’s sacrifice provides the redemption that makes this divine verdict possible...