All of us who follow Christ are to take his message of good news—the gospel—to every people in every land. That is both an exciting adventure that Christ calls us to, and a daunting task. How do we give people—our neighbors, our friends, even our family—a message that God took 66 books and about 1,500 years to write? How do we make it understandable?
Thankfully, God has given us clear passages in the Bible that help us grasp the truths at the heart of the gospel. Once we understand these central truths, we can share them with others and take people a long way down the road of understanding the gospel. One of these essential truths is wrapped up in the word justification.
In the Bible, justification is a big deal when it comes to understanding the message of the gospel. It’s especially prominent in the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans. Look at what Paul writes in chapter 3:
But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:21–24
How do we explain this gospel essential to others? Good question. Let’s face it, the word justification hardly ever comes up in conversation. When it does, it’s often negative: “What possible justification can they give for that terrible behavior?” When we say we’re trying to justify our actions, there’s a good chance we’re just trying to get out of trouble: “He came up with every excuse in the book to justify all the rude things he said.”
In contrast, the justification we find in the Bible is rich and true and life-giving. It means no longer being guilty in God’s eyes and no longer deserving punishment. It means being made righteous and receiving new life.
Here’s a story that might help us understand this profound word, justification.
Imagine this moment: You are standing in front of a judge, waiting to be sentenced for a crime you committed. You know that you are guilty. Think about the panic in your heart as the judge looks you in the eyes. The moment of truth has arrived. The verdict comes in: Guilty! It is followed by the sentence: Death!
Your heart sinks.
But then something shocking happens. The judge gets up, walks over to where you are seated, and tells the guard to release you. As you stand free, you see the judge himself being placed in your chains, taking your punishment. You are set free because the judge chose to become your substitute.
This would be mind-blowing enough—yet justification is much better still! For this story to be like the justification God provides, the judge would then hand you his wallet and keys, saying, “I give you everything I own. My car, my house, my bank account—it’s all yours.”
This is justification. Jesus took the punishment for our sin when he died on the cross, AND God gives you all the righteousness and perfection of Jesus! That’s the Great Exchange—that’s the incredible doctrine of justification.
Let’s take another shot at communicating this powerful truth. This time let’s use a more old-fashioned story I heard told. I call it “The Story of the Merciful King.”
Once upon a time, there lived a great king. He was the most powerful man in the kingdom, but he was also the kindest and gentlest. The kingdom was known for its peace and harmony. Years would go by without a single crime being committed.
One day, however, the king’s chief servant entered the throne room with bad news. “There is a thief in the realm, sire,” said the servant. The king was astonished! “Find that thief! And when you do, bring him to me. He will be punished with ten lashes!” Everyone was aghast. It had been so long since a crime had been committed that they couldn’t imagine who would have done such a thing.
A week went by, and the servant again entered the throne room. “I have bad news, sire,” the servant reported quietly. “The thief has not been found. He continues to steal from your people.” In anger, the king raised his voice and said, “Find the thief, and when you do, he will receive twenty-five lashes!”
The people began to murmur, “Who could possibly be committing such a crime? And who could bear such a punishment?”
After a time, the servant reappeared. “Your Majesty, we have searched in vain for the thief. Your people are still being robbed.” The king was enraged. “Find that wretched thief! And when you do, the punishment will be fifty lashes!” Now the people were filled with dread. They weren’t even sure the king himself could survive such a punishment. And if he could not, then no one could.
Soon afterward, the servant once again approached the king. His face was pale and his voice timid. “Your Highness, the thief has been found.”
“Bring him to me this instant!” cried the king. The crowd that had poured into the throne room slowly parted, revealing the trembling thief. To the utter shock and
dismay of all, it was the king’s elderly mother.
There she stood, crying, her frail body shaking with fear and shame. She was the very last soul that anyone would have suspected. And there stood the king, deeply wounded.
The crowd began to wonder, What will the merciful king do? Will he set aside the law and show his love and mercy by forgiving his mother for her crimes? Or will he display his authority and justice by giving her exactly what she deserves? Will he choose mercy or will he choose justice?
“Bring the whipping post!” commanded the king. The crowd was stunned. Would the king truly give his mother fifty lashes? Even the king could scarcely survive such a flogging! The old woman was tied to the post. Her dress was torn to expose her back to the whipmaster. She was so thin and weak that her ribs could be counted. “Begin the whipping!” said the king.
The whip was raised.
But just as the whipmaster was about to unleash his first stroke, the king cried, “Halt!” The crowd sighed in relief. But not for long.
The king rose from his throne. He removed the crown from his head. As he walked toward his mother, he laid aside his royal robe. When he reached his mother, he wrapped his strong body around her, shielding her completely. “Now, begin the whipping,” said the king.
In this story, the king displays pure mercy and perfect justice—a breathtaking picture of gospel justification.
In the gospel King Jesus is both “just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).
Now let’s go tell everyone we know about this good news!
Adapted from Gospel 101 for Teens: Learning, Living, and Sharing the Gospel © 2024 by Jeff Dodge. Used with permission of New Growth Press. May not be reproduced without prior written permission.
gospel 101 for teens
The gospel is the most powerful message in the world—it’s God’s dynamite to change hearts, lives, and communities. In Gospel 101 for Teens, Jeff Dodge communicates the good news of Jesus in a clear, understanding, and compelling way, inviting students to grow in gospel fluency, community, and action.
