Scripture: Galatians 2:15-21

What is justification? The theological definition of justification is to declare something righteous in the sight of God. He who needs justification is the one who stands in judgment. He that is righteous needs no justification or proof by anyone; righteousness is a state of being or the nature of a person. Justification is a declaration made by another on behalf of he who is being justified. This means that the one who is seeking to be justified before God is unrighteous.

“We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; ¹⁶ yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified”. -Galatians 2:15-16

Paul distinguished between Jews and gentiles with the word ‘sin’. The Jews saw themselves to be more righteous than the gentiles because of their connection with God. Their reason to boast is because of Abraham, who believed in God. In terms of deeds, none was righteous.

“What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;” Romans 3:9-10

Although the law was given to the Jews, it earned them no justification before God. None, in the face of the law, could stand right in the sight of God. Many may have tried their best to keep the law and to be justified before God but failed in one or the other. By doing the works of the law, no one was justified. Our justification is by faith in Jesus Christ. When we have faith in Christ, God sees Christ in us. We may not be able to do all things right but by faith in Jesus Christ, we are justified. Believing in Christ convicts us to live right by acknowledging our unrighteous self. As Christians, our lives every day is strife to be better while holding unto Jesus. We are not perfect but being perfected. We must cease judging ourselves every day in the face of the law. We however must look unto Christ who is the author and finisher of our faith. it is in him alone we are justified before God.