Page 110 - Biblical Theology Textbook - masters

Future
The New Testament speaks of the coming salvation of those who are already saved in the past. Romans
13:11: “Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to awake from sleep. For
salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.”

Theological Definitions and Biblical Usage of Justification.

The Greek word translated justified is δικαιόω. It has many uses in Scripture as salvation does. Context
must determine how the meaning is being used. Milliard Erickson defines the meaning of the Greek
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term as “to declare to be just.” Others note that the term has meaning including to be “made
righteous,” “just”, and “in right standing before a standard.” In each passage one must determine which
standard is being used what the result of the judgement is. Theologically the term justification refers to
the removal of guilt by the blood of Christ. It is often found in the past tense and refers to how a person
becomes saved. It is important to note that whenever the Bible speaks of the Aspect of Justification it
always refers to it as being a gift given by God based on faith alone.

Consider the Following Passages.
Romans 3:24, 3:26 –
Romans 4:5 –
Romans 8:1, 8:34-35 –
Galatians 2:16a –
1 Corinthians 6:11 –

Theological Descriptions: Milliard Erickson – “Certain aspects of the doctrine of salvation relate to the
matter of one’s standing with God. The individual’s legal status must be changed from guilty to not
guilty. This is a matter of one’s being declared just or righteous in God’s sight, of being viewed as fully
meeting the divine requirements. The theological term here is justification.” Norman Geisler -
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“deliverance from the past penalty of sin”
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Lewis Sperry Chafer – “The Christian was saved when he believed (Luke 7:50; Acts 16:30–31; Romans
8:1; 1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 2:15; Eph. 2:8, R.V.; 2 Tim. 1:9)”
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Important Points Regarding Justification.

1. God justifies. We need to understand that we do not justify ourselves. Our works have no part in
meriting justification. God is the one who justifies (Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16; 3:11).

2. Christ’s blood is the grounds on which He justifies. The Old Testament sacrifices were not enough
to atone for sin. Jesus offered the only acceptable sacrifice. He did this one time. Some argue that
His blood only convers confessed sin. Hebrews says that Jesus blood covered all sin for all time. So,
by accepting Him and His payment all your sins are covered. You receive the forgiveness of God

83 Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1985), 3:970.
84 Ibid., 918.
85 Geisler, Norman L. Geisler, Sin, Salvation: Systematic Theology (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers,
2004), 3:224.
86 Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1993), 3:6.

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