King James Bible Dictionary

A forensic term, opposed to condemnation. As regards its nature, it is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon (q.v.) of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; and so the person justified is declared to be entitled to all the advantages and rewards arising from perfect obedience to the law (Romans 5:1-10).

It proceeds on the imputing or crediting to the believer by God himself of the perfect righteousness, active and passive, of his Representative and Surety, Jesus Christ (Romans 10:3-9). Justification is not the forgiveness of a man without righteousness, but a declaration that he possesses a righteousness which perfectly and for ever satisfies the law, namely, Christ's righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 4:6-8).

The sole condition on which this righteousness is imputed or credited to the believer is faith in or on the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is called a "condition," not because it possesses any merit, but only because it is the instrument, the only instrument by which the soul appropriates or apprehends Christ and his righteousness (Romans 1:17; 3:25, 26; 4:20, 22; Philippians 3:8-11; Galatians 2:16).

The act of faith which thus secures our justification secures also at the same time our sanctification (q.v.); and thus the doctrine of justification by faith does not lead to licentiousness (Romans 6:2-7). Good works, while not the ground, are the certain consequence of justification (6:14; 7:6). (See GALATIANS, EPISTLE TO.)

General references
Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3; Psalms 32:2; Psalms 71:16; Psalms 89:16; Isaiah 42:21; Isaiah 45:24-25; Isaiah 46:12-13; Isaiah 50:8; Isaiah 51:5-6; Isaiah 53:11; Isaiah 54:17; Isaiah 56:1; Isaiah 61:10; Jeremiah 23:6; Zech 3:4; John 5:24; Acts 13:39; Romans 1:16-17; Habakkuk 2:4; Galatians 3:11; Romans 2:13; Romans 3:21-22; Romans 3:24-26; Romans 3:28; Romans 3:30; Romans 4:5-25; Romans 5:1; Romans 5:9; Romans 5:11-21; Romans 6:22; Romans 7:1-25; Romans 8:1; Romans 8:30-31; Romans 8:33-34; Romans 9:30-32; Romans 10:1-21; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:14-21; Galatians 3:8-9; Galatians 3:6; Galatians 3:21-22; Galatians 3:24; Galatians 4:21-31; Galatians 5:4-6; Ephesians 6:14; Philippians 3:8-9; Colossians 2:13-14; Titus 3:7; Hebrews 11:4; Hebrews 11:7; James 2:20-23; James 2:26
Adoption; Forgiveness; Regeneration; Sanctification; Sin, Confession of; Sin, Forgiveness of

JUSTIFICA'TION, noun

1. The act of justifying; a showing to be just or conformable to law, rectitude or propriety; vindication; defense. The court listened to the evidence and arguments in justification of the prisoner's conduct. Our disobedience to God's commands admits no justification

2. Absolution.

I hope, for my brother's justification he wrote this but as an essay of my virtue.

3. In law, the showing of a sufficient reason in court why a defendant did what he is called to answer. Pleas in justification must set forth some special matter.

4. In theology, remission of sin and absolution from guilt and punishment; or an act of free grace by which God pardons the sinner and accepts him as righteous, on account of the atonement of Christ.