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A Short Essay Discussing the Purpose and Meaning of Justification
Larry Kirkpatrick
Published on GreatControversy.org March 29, 2005.
What is the purpose of justification, what is the meaning of justification? Answering these questions can bring clarification. It can help us see how to live today in earth’s end time.
God’s purpose is to meet fallen man where he is, facilitating transformation and ultimately, full restoration, with growth in eternity beyond. The plan of redemption is a goal-oriented process. Included in it are (1) a period of prevenient influence, (2) a means of initiation into covenant relation with God, (3) a program to continue to transform man, (4) a divine willingness to accept the choice of men and women to be changed or to ruin themselves, and (5) a final evaluation of God’s fairness and justice.
Somewhat unfortunately, the word “justification” has been used more as a technical theological term than according to its use in the Bible. Equally problematic has been the way that many have limited their understanding of justification to the second element. Focus on this important entrance into covenant relationship has led some to a nervous concern about one’s relation to God’s law and his legal standing with reference to it. It is inevitable that the new Christian will see his past failings in sharp contrast to the divine ideal, but is it really God’s plan for the Christian to emphasize the temporary covering of forgiveness, and feel that the transformational aspects of the gospel are extraneous, or worse, dangerous?
The gospel is an all-or-nothing proposition. With our consent and active cooperation Jesus transforms us completely, or, without our real consent and active cooperation Jesus will not force our transformation. The human agent ultimately turns completely from all his transgressions (Ezekiel 18:22) or completely from all his righteousness (Ezekiel 18:24).
The moment of our initial acceptance of Christ means a never before that time experienced psychological release from guilt. We are accepted in the Beloved. But another question must be asked. Is the Beloved accepted in us? Is our faith in Jesus a static experience only, stationary at the cross, or is Jesus a moving target we actively track, accurately follow by faith? As our experience advances day by day, we are to be transformed. Every child of God moves inevitably toward the close of their personal probation. This is only a recognition of the simple truth that
It is in this life that we are to separate sin from us, through faith in the atoning blood of Christ. Our precious Saviour invites us to join ourselves to Him, to unite our weakness to His strength, our ignorance to His wisdom, our unworthiness to His merits. God’s providence is the school in which we are to learn the meekness and lowliness of Jesus. The Lord is ever setting before us, not the way we would choose, which seems easier and pleasanter to us, but the true aims of life. It rests with us to co-operate with the agencies which Heaven employs in the work of conforming our characters to the divine model. None can neglect or defer this work but at the most fearful peril to their souls (Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 623).
There is a condition in which all must be found who would meet God in peace. “The world is soon to meet the great Lawgiver over His broken law. Those only who turn from transgression to obedience can hope for pardon and peace” (Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 2, p. 402). This is why their culminating experience is described in this paragraph just preceding the other from page 623:
Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ. Not even by a thought could our Saviour be brought to yield to the power of temptation. Satan finds in human hearts some point where he can gain a foothold; some sinful desire is cherished, by means of which his temptations assert their power. But Christ declared of Himself: ‘The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.’ John 14:30. Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept His Father’s commandments, and there was no sin in Him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.
Thus, the question of whether justification covers only past sins and not future sins is seen to be a misemphasis. When I accept Jesus and enter into covenant relation with God, my past sins are forgiven. But I am launching on a very definite pathway. In the end I will, through the power of Christ, have become a new creation, or I will have sided with the tendencies of my disordered nature. Either all my transgressions will “not be mentioned” (Ezekiel 18:22), or all my righteousnesses “will not be mentioned” (Ezekiel 18:22, 24). Mrs. White thus agrees with Scripture, saying,
While God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the merits of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ’s righteousness while practicing known sins, or neglecting known duties. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul (Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 366).
In the investigative judgment the life is examined and it is determined whether one has or has not retained justification. Justification then, is counted to the repentant sinner provisionally, but in the end the experience is measured against the profession, actual measure against the claim.
So what then of the five elements already noted in the plan of redemption? First, the Holy Spirit works to influence us so that we will be enabled to consider choosing Christ. This is an influence from outside the potential convert. It is not irresistible. God refuses to overpower the free will of the human.
The second element is when a person enters freely into covenant relation with God. Jesus is accepted as a personal Savior. All sins to that point are forgiven. Jesus takes the punishment for them as the new believer’s substitute. That believer is counted right with God. More than this, in that very moment he is made right with God. He is reconciled.
The third element is God’s program to continue the transformation begun at (what so often is called) the point of justification. All this is actually part of one continuing process of sanctification, making holy, the development of the Christian character. This continues until the close of probation for that individual.
The fourth element is the close of probation; a point where the individual has completely settled into present truth or present error. He has chosen his end. God accepts that decision and confirms it.
The fifth element is a final evaluation, made by the universe, of God’s fairness. The steps taken through elements one to four are reviewed and it is seen at last that God is both just and Justifier (Romans 3:26). He is vindicated when He is judged (Romans 3:4). He is adjudged worthy (Revelation 5:9).
Justification is really, in its biblical usage, to “make right.” It is not just to count right. Thus, justification has a fuller meaning than many previously have acknowledged. Rather than thinking of it as specifically and only pertaining to the second of our five redemption elements, it follows the broader sweep of the arc of transformation. If successful for that individual, the plan of redemption will proceed from God’s first drawing of a person toward Him, into covenant relation, and proceed through to the termination of the fourth element, by which time a condition properly called character perfection will exist.
Thus, elements two through four properly pertain to the justification, that is, transformation, of man, while elements one through five pertain to the justification, that is, vindication, of God’s course in shepherding men through the sin problem and necessary transformation. If we use these words and ideas in this way, then the purpose of justification is to facilitate human transformation through the power of God, and the meaning of justification is seen to depend on the scope intended for the term. It may refer to the moment of the believer’s entry into covenant relation with God, or to the process of making the believer “right” with God, or to the vindication of the character of God.
Certainly then, it is true that “justification by faith,” that is, “justification,” that is, “righteousness by faith,” “is the third angel’s message in verity” (Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 372). GCO
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