Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2).

I suppose if there were one word that would sum up the message of the Book Romans it would be “justified. The word “Justify” from the Greek is used in the sense as to render a favorable verdict, vindicate and it means to be acquitted, to be set free. The word, of course, comes from the court room, where the declaration “not guilty” or “pardoned” sets a person free from legal turmoil and an impending sentence of punishment by imprisonment or death.

When someone is justified, they are not only declared righteous, but they become righteous, and receive the divine gift of righteousness through faith in Christ. Instead of being considered on the “wrong side” of God, they are now pardoned, and the threat of condemnation goes away. He or she now has a righteous standing so far as God is concerned. The Bible says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1). This of course brings about the ultimate freedom found only in Jesus Christ.