Justify

JUS'TIFY, JUSTIFICA'TION, Rom 4:25. These terms involve one of the fundamental principles of the Christian faith. They stand opposite to "condemn" and "condemnation." In their evangelical use they denote that act of God's sovereign grace by which he accepts and receives those who believe in Christ as just and righteous. Justification includes the pardon of sins and the imputation of the righteousness of Christ. The merits of Christ are the only ground of justification; faith is the only means of justification; good works are the necessary fruit or evidence of justification. The Epistles of Paul to the Galatians and the Romans give the fullest exposition of this doctrine. The Roman Catholic divines identify justification with sanctification, and hence teach progressive justification by faith and good works. They appeal especially to Jas 2:24. But James opposes a dead faith which remains "alone," Heb 2:17, and which even demons have. 1 Kgs 2:19. It is only living or working faith by which we can be justified (comp. Gal 5:6, "faith which worketh by love").

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To prove or show to be just; to vindicate; to maintain or defend as conformable to law, right, justice, propriety, or duty. That to the height of this great argument I may assert eternal providence, And justify the ways of God to men. Milton. Unless the oppression is so extreme as to justify revolution, it would not justify the evil of breaking up a government. E. Everett.

2. To pronounce free from guilt or blame; to declare or prove to have done that which is just, right, proper, etc.; to absolve; to exonerate; to clear. I can not justify whom the law condemns. Shak.

3. To treat as if righteous and just; to pardon; to exculpate; to absolve. By him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts xiii. 39.

4. To prove; to ratify; to confirm. [Obs.] Shak.

5. To make even or true, as lines of type, by proper spacing; to adjust, as type. See Justification, 4.

Synonyms: defend; maintain; vindicate; excuse; exculpate; absolve; exonerate.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To form an even surface or true line with something else; to fit exactly.

2. To take oath to the ownership of property sufficient to qualify one's self as bail or surety.