Justification of Innocence

Justification and Innocence

1Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 5:1 (NASB)

In preparation...

  • Look up the definition in your favorite online dictionary for the word justify.
  • In your journal write down the definition that speaks to your current situation the most.

Justified Strongs 1344-dikaioo

Greek Strong’s Number: 1344

Greek Word: δικαιόω

Transliteration: dikaioō

Phonetic Pronunciation:

dik-ah-yo’-o

Root: from

Cross Reference: TDNT – 2:211,168

Part of Speech: v

Vine’s Words: Justification, Justifier, Justify

Usage Notes:

English Words used in KJV:

justify 37

be freed 1

be righteous 1

justifier 1

[Total Count: 40]

from (dikaios); to render (i.e. show or regard as) just or innocent :- free, justify (-ier), be righteous.

James Strong, Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary, (Austin, TX: WORDsearch Corp., 2007), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: “1344”.

The Greek word used for justified, dikaios has a flavor of being regarded as. Not actually being, but being thought of as, something. In the case of those readers of Paul’s letter to the Romans in 56-57 AD, we have a group who believed they were being regarded as innocent of the sins they had committed. In other words, they were being regarded as innocent of those infractions purely because of their faith in Jesus Christ. This is a remarkable statement for Paul to make and for Roman Jews of that time to hear.

Recall that for Jews, to forgive sin you had to go to the temple, offer up an approved sacrifice, and the blood of that sacrifice sprinkled upon the altar made you clean. Here Paul is suggesting those reading his words are found innocent of their sins simply by faith.

 

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6 (KJV) 

 

Those are red-letter words meaning Jesus spoke them. Faith in Christ is what brings us to be regarded as innocent. This is what sets us right with God, not the things we do or say. Those things flow out of the fact that we have faith, that we are thankful for this undeserved, unearned, unachievable justification, and we all need that justification because we’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

 

That last bit doesn’t mean there is no hope. That’s precisely what the second half of today’s scripture is there for. It doesn’t suggest that hope, it states it. Read it again. “…we have peace with God…” we have it (emphasis mine) it is ours because we have faith in Jesus, “…through our Lord Jesus Christ…” This is not abstract. It is not some arbitrary, ephemeral thing hanging out in space that might be there. This is real. This is tangible. This is the salvation that is offered through the sacrifice Jesus made and is what sets us right with God. He sent His Son here because it was important enough to send the very best. Our salvation meant a lot to God. If it was that important to Him, shouldn’t what we do in response be just as important?

Digging Deeper

  • God did something for us we didn’t deserve to impute innocence upon us. Do something nice today for someone who doesn’t deserve it without explaining why or even letting them know you were the one who did it.
  • Write in your journal as much or as little as you are led to write about why you chose to do what you did, how it made you feel, and what, if anything you intend to do further.
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