What Does 'To Justify' Mean in the Bible?

In this part of the sermon: Martin transitions to the substance of justification, announcing a multi-part series based on the Larger Catechism. Today's focus is solely on understanding the precise biblical…

Martin likens the Larger Catechism's definition of justification to a seven-room house, explaining that today's sermon is about standing on the front porch to understand the verb 'to justify' before entering the house.

the context of the doctrine, to consider the substance of the doctrine of justification. And in coming weeks, God willing, as I attempt to open up the scriptures which comprise the nuts and bolts of this marvelous provision of redemptive grace, I'm going to use the larger catechism as the outline for our study. I want you to liken it to a seven-room house. We're going to take phrase by phrase the things that make up that definition in the larger catechism, seven major divisions or components

10:48 - 11:30 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Expounding 1 Corinthians 2:11-13, Martin argues that because the Holy Spirit teaches spiritual truths in Spirit-chosen words, believers must not treat biblical terms carelessly or…

He uses the example of someone thinking about being by their pool to illustrate that only God knows our inner thoughts, setting up the point that only God knows the mind of God, and thus His Spirit teaches His truths.

Now then, verse 11, we pick up the thread of thought. Who among men knows the things of a man, save the spirit of a man which is in him? Now, when we move amongst a group of men, regardless of what people who say they are clairvoyant claim and all the rest, nobody knows your inner thoughts but you among men. Yes, God knows them.

13:32 - 13:56 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not treat biblical words carelessly or have dim and indistinct views of doctrines like justification, sanctification, redemption, and reconciliation.

Martin criticizes the casual attitude of lumping all redemptive blessings ('justification, sanctification, redemption, reconciliation') into a single 'bag,' arguing that such carelessness robs believers of understanding and stability.

or falling church, namely justification, we are not at liberty to slap onto that word any meaning we want, nor should we feel we have the luxury to have dim and indistinct views. Justification, sanctification, redemption, reconciliation, put them all in a bag. They're blessings I have in Jesus. Hallelujah, that's all I want to know.

17:35 - 18:00 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It is thus a forensic term, denoting a judicial act of administering the law, in this case, by declaring a verdict of acquittal, and so excluding all possibility of condemnation.

He quotes Dr. J.I. Packer's definition of 'justify' from Baker's Dictionary of Theology, which describes it as a forensic term meaning 'to pronounce, accept, and treat as just,' reinforcing its legal nature.

It has nothing to do with what God does in a man or woman, but it has only to do with His declaration about that man or woman in the court of heaven. In His excellent article on justification, in the Baker's Dictionary of Theology, Dr. J. I. Packer writes,

19:24 - 19:49 Read in full sermon

The point: Internalize the distinction between justification (God's judgment about us) and regeneration/sanctification (God's work in us) for stability in Christian experience.

Professor Murray's analogy of a surgeon (regeneration/sanctification, acting in us) versus a judge (justification, declaring about us) is used to clearly distinguish between God's internal work and His external declaration.

which justification involves and the kind of action involved in regeneration. Regeneration is an act of God in us. Justification is a judgment of God with respect to us. The distinction is like that of the distinction between the act of a surgeon and the act of a judge.

36:12 - 36:35 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be indifferent to your standing before the court of heaven and the judge, as you will certainly face judgment.

Martin poses a hypothetical scenario of being diagnosed with a terminal illness and bedridden, forcing reflection on one's mortality and impending judgment, to challenge indifference to the court of heaven and God's law.

If you were told tomorrow on good evidence that you had a terminal illness, in three months you'd be gone, and that terminal illness began to keep you bedridden, and you had hours to think about where you'd be two months, one month, twenty days, ten days, do you think you could be as indifferent about the court of heaven and the judge who sits upon his bench and your relationship to his law? Think about it. Think about it.

44:04 - 44:48 Read in full sermon