In tackling the idea of justification we must first see where it fits within the framework of scripture. I believe justification lies within Paul’s larger context of God’s intention of fulfilling the covenant promised to Abraham. That the crux of Justification is the rescuing of all creation, with humanity at the center of the rescue mission.
Also I believe that the term justification is basically a court-of-law term, meaning that the judge has declared a defendant “Innocent” or “in the right” in the eyes of the court. Some believe that justification is merely morality. l believe ‘righteousness’ extends to the very nature of being. As Paul stated time and time again.
Third, I believe that the Pauline understanding of justification is future-telling, in that, justification has a context of present fulfillment and also fulfills the long story of “God’s People” (Israel) as they await the eventual judgment of the last day. (Romans 2.1-16 and 8.1-30)
Fourth, I see justification referring to those who are “in Christ.” I believe this to be a central element of justification. Justification is not an attribute of being righteous with God, as if righteous were a moral achievement earned by Christ and bestowed to those who believe. Justification should look more like it does in Romans 6:19 – “I’m using this freedom language because it’s easy to picture. You can readily recall, can’t you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing–not caring about others, not caring about God–the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God’s freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness?”
The last point I have come to believe about justification is that justification is not the same in the future reality as it is in the present reality. Future justification is given as a result of the Spirit-generated life, of those who are in the present “justified by faith.”
