Making sense of Justification

Rom 5:18 CSB  "So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone."

So many people find it hard to believe in justification based on Christ's faith in a loving Father. It does defy human logic to believe that God would justify sinners. So, what could be the possible reason for God declaring humanity righteous on the basis of the faith of His Son? Notice that I did not write faith IN His Son, but rather faith OF His Son (Gal 2:16, KJV-NET-YLT and ALL Greek texts.) Again, what possibly could be God's motive in such a thing? Here is the answer simple and clear. It was to alleviate fear and promote real love. Let me say that again. It was to alleviate fear and promote real love. Turn to your neighbor, and say neighbor "God justifies and declares you and I righteous to alleviate fear and promote real love."

To be more precise, it is to alleviate fear of God and to promote love for God. The fact is that once one believes the fact that they have been declared righteous by God. Not on any intrinsic merit in oneself, but based solely of the merit of Christ's faith, one cannot help but love such a creator. This is precisely the gospel of grace, and when I say the gospel of grace, I also mean the gospel of the kingdom as the gospel of grace is the only gospel. The fact is that Jesus demonstrates two things. One that God is in charge and was able to raise him from the dead and therefore by virtue of that is King of the kingdom, and that by declaring humanity righteous and eternal based on Jesus obedient faith, He has shown that there is really good news!

Genesis explains that God created humanity in his image. Therefore he desires humanity to have his qualities. What quality you ask? The quality or capability to love humanity! A person who truly believes the gospel cannot help but love God, and when they focus on the gospel, they cannot help but love others, which is loving humanity. It is justification that allows humanity to be partakers of the divine nature and what is that? God is Love/AGAPE! A true faith in forensic justification will promote and produce agape in the individual. However, it is necessary for a person to hear the good news of justification over and over. The more it is heard and believed, the more agape that resides in the hearing believer. Obedience in the Greek is hupakoe, and it means attentive hearing.

First God declares one righteous, and then when heard attentively, the Holy Spirit provides the measure of faith that will produce agape. Again, this is precisely why Paul claimed to know nothing among the Corinthians except the gospel of Christ, crucified and risen. It is why Paul told the Colossian believers that just as they received the Lord Jesus, they should always walk/live in him that same way. What way was that? Believing that they were justified by the faith of Christ. In other words, Paul told them to continue to walk in Him just as they came to him and it is in hearing and believing the gospel.

Solomon said that there is a way that seems right to a man but the end of that way is the way of death. The way that seems right is to gain righteousness by right living, but alas, Paul said that it was the way of death as the letter kills. The way that God declares us right is the path of justification based on the faith of the Last Adam Jesus Christ our Lord!