What is what does it mean to be justified by faith?

Being "justified by faith" is a central concept in Christian theology, particularly within Protestant traditions. It refers to the idea that a person is declared righteous in God's sight not through their own good works or adherence to religious law, but solely through their faith in Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice on the cross.

Here's a breakdown of what it means:

• Justification: This is a legal declaration by God that a person is righteous, meaning they are declared to be in right standing with Him. It's not simply forgiveness; it's a positive imputation of righteousness. This topic is about the concepts of justification.

• Faith: In this context, faith is not merely intellectual assent or belief. It is a trusting reliance on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, accepting his gift of salvation. It involves a turning away from reliance on one's own efforts to earn God's favor and trusting completely in Christ's finished work. More about faith here.

• Not by Works: The core of the doctrine is that salvation is not earned or merited through good deeds, moral behavior, or religious rituals. These can be results of faith, but they are not the basis for justification. These are the things we define as works.

• Grace: Justification by faith is understood as an act of God's unmerited favor, or grace. It is a gift freely offered to all who believe. You can read more about the definition of grace.

• Imputed Righteousness: God imputes (credits) Christ's righteousness to the believer, meaning that believers are seen as righteous in God's eyes because of Christ's perfect obedience.

In essence, justification by faith means that through believing in Jesus Christ, a person is declared righteous by God, receives forgiveness of sins, and is brought into a right relationship with Him. This is a free gift based on God's grace, not something earned by human effort. The righteousness of Christ is given to the believer through the Holy Spirit. More information about Holy%20Spirit here.