*Click on the references to read the Scripture passages.*

We believe in divine justification, a judicial act of God whereby He justly declares righteous the individual who believes in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior (Romans 3:28,Romans 3:28

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. 5:1Romans 5:1

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

Justification is the act of God as the Righteous Judge that deals with our state of sin, which prohibited us from being in the holy relationship God had intended.

• Our justification affects the position we have before God: God declares that we are in right standing – made worthy and cleared from all charges of sin – based solely on Christ’s righteousness and His substitutionary death (2 Corinthians 5:21II Corinthians 5:21
  
  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.; Romans 5:18Romans 5:18
  
  Therefore, as through [a]one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one[b] Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.)
• Our justification gives us peace with God (Romans 5:1-2Romans 5:1-2
  
  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.).
• Our justification takes place when we obey (exercise faith in) the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is God’s work alone as a result of our faith in His gospel alone, and not because of anything we could do (Ephesians 2:8-9Ephesians 2:8-9
  
  8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.; Galatians 2:16Galatians 2:16
  
  knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.; Romans 3:28Romans 3:28
  
  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.; Romans 4:1-5, 23-25Romans 4:1-5, 23-25
  
  1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.).
• Once we are justified, we are no longer “sinners”: we have been given power to live above sin (1 John 3:6-10I John 3:6-10
  
  6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.; Romans 6:13-14Romans 6:13-14
  
  13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.). The process of “working out our salvation” – of bringing our behavior in line with our right-standing, with God’s help –  is called sanctification (Philippians 2:12-13Philippians 2:12-13
  
  12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.; I Thessalonians 5:23I Thessalonians 5:23
  
  Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.).