Why know about justification?

Why is justification needed?

1. Because God requires perfectly righteous behavior internally and externally.
   1. E.g. the original Covenant of Works is still the requirement. (Gal a covenant can’t be annulled)
      1. Mt 5.48 Be perfect/holy as your Heavenly Father is perfect/holy. 1 Pet 1.15-16 Be holy in everything.
      2. Any sin violates the Covenant. Jas 2.10
         1. Doing what God forbids is sin. Eph 5.5-6
            1. Even thinking of doing evil, in God’s eyes, is the same as doing it. Mt 5.21-22, 27-28
         2. Not doing what God requires is sin. Jas 4.17
2. Because each of us has violated the covenant. Each descendant of Adam is born guilty of Adam’s sin, and inevitably and quickly commits their own sin.
   1. Rm 3.23. All have sinned.
   2. Mk 10.18 No one is good except God alone.
   3. Ps 53.1, 3 There is no one who does good.
3. Because God, being perfectly just, promises to judge and punish all sin.
   1. Ex 34.7. God will not acquit sinners.
   2. Heb 9.27. Judgment promised. Ac 17.31, 2 Tim 4.1

Why know about justification?

1. Because the Devil is Satan, the accuser. Rev 12.10.
   1. Louw & Nida say the word satanas literally means “slanderer.” They also say diabolos means adversary.
2. Because we are commanded to be able to explain to inquirers the reason for the hope we have. 1 Pet 3.15