What Justifies

Justification just means to prove right in thinking or actions. We think right when we believe God. We act right when we do God's will. There is also justification against a law or moral code.

Faith only groups tend to highlight faith alone in justification, but the scriptures teach many things justify. Scriptures also teach in James 2 justification is not by faith alone.

Here are some things scripture says justifies us.

Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Act 13:39 And by him all that believe (yield) are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

The Greek root means to yield to through persuasion, not just believe.4100 comes from 4102 and 4102 comes from 3982 which is translated obey and yield, see Rom 2:8 or Acts23:21 and many old testament from the septuagint.

Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Hearing isn't enough, believing isn't enough, one must yield to the message.. 

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

By faith isn't at faith, faith is the medium. It could take years of faith before God accounts it to us. The Greek word "dia" translated "by" is instrumental, as a hand being the force that moves a guitar string, faith moves us to act.

The word faith here used in Romans is 4102, it means constancy, that means to continue without wavering. We must continue without wavering in all core principles. See

Jas 1:6  ButG1161 let him askG154 inG1722 faith,G4102 nothingG3367 wavering.G1252 ForG1063 he that waverethG1252 is likeG1503 a waveG2830 of the seaG2281 driven with the windG416 andG2532 tossed.G4494 

Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Jas 2:21

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

To conclude one thing justifies is to be very short sighted, and those of the restoration movement knew faith only was an inadequate theological model.

Justification by faith alone would even rule out justification by Christ's blood, certainly a bad position to take.

Justification by faith and works fulfills man's proof of belief and love, whereas justification by the blood fulfills our righteousness through atonement.

All are necessary.