Justification

Justification refers to the process by which God declares a person to be righteous or just in His sight. Before we get into the way one gets right with God and establishes a relationship with Him today, it's important to examine how it was in the beginning.

The Law of Moses, also known as the Mosaic Law or the Torah, is a set of laws and regulations that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai in the Old Testament of the Bible. Under Mosaic Law, justification was achieved through strict adherence to the commandments and ordinances outlined in the Law. The Law set forth God's standard of perfection and required every aspect of a person's life be governed by it.  Any transgression of its precepts, regardless of its magnitude or nature, was deemed as an act of wrongdoing (sin) that would invariably result in a state of spiritual defilement and estrangement from God. 

To be justified, a person needed to follow the commandments of the Law and perform the required sacrifices and offerings for the forgiveness of sins. Atonement for sin was made by offering animal sacrifices, which served as a substitute for the sinner and transferred the punishment for the sin to the animal. Justification under the Mosaic Law required complete obedience to the Law, and any deviation from it resulted in condemnation. Because of this the High Priest would make an atonement once a year for sins unintentionally or unwittingly committed by the Jewish people. 

Due to the fallen nature of humanity (see "deceived") justification under the Law of Moses was not a one-time event, but a continuous process that required ongoing obedience, repentance, and sacrifice. The Jewish people were required to observe the Law of Moses to the letter, including the commandments, rituals, and sacrifices, to maintain their status as just or righteous in God's sight.

The following verses in the Old Testament specifically mention the Law of Moses:

• Exodus 20:1-17: The Ten Commandments, which form the foundation of the Law of Moses.
• Leviticus 18-27: Detailed list of laws & rituals the Israelites were to follow.
• Deuteronomy 27:26: The Israelites are warned that they will be cursed if they do not obey the Law of Moses.
• Deuteronomy 4-26: A repetition and summary of the laws given in the previous books, with an emphasis on the importance of obeying them.

Other verses in the Old Testament that mention the Law of Moses include:

• Joshua 1:7-8: Joshua is commanded to meditate on the Law day and night.
• Isaiah 42:21: God promises to put his laws in the minds of his people.
• Malachi 4:4: The prophet Malachi promises that the Law of Moses will be remembered in the last days.

The Law of Moses was not a practical means of justification for people, and this was not an oversight on God's part but a deliberate design. The objective of Mosaic Law was not to provide a conclusive solution to the problem of sin but rather to prompt people to realize their inability to live righteously and need for a Messiah (Savior) who could not only fully atone for their sins but empower them to live a virtuous life.  

The promised Savior finally arrived over two thousand years ago as prophesied in the Old Testament. Jesus, God incarnate, was born of a virgin then voluntarily suffered and died as the ultimate sacrifice for all of humanity's sins; past, present, and future. Jesus' death provided a permanent solution to an endless cycle of sin and atonement. For unlike the imperfect blood of lambs and bulls, Christ's Godly blood was perfect. Therefore, the shedding of it removed the need for ritual sacrifices for the last time provided we believe God's promise that Jesus is His Son and was sent to redeem us!

Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses and established a new covenant through his death and resurrection. The following verses specifically mention this: 

• Matthew 5:17: Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." 
• Romans 10:4: Paul states, "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." 
• Galatians 3:24-25: Paul says, "The law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian." 
• Hebrews 8:13: The author states, "In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away."

Other verses in the New Testament that mention the fulfillment of the Law of Moses and the establishment of the new covenant include: 

• Colossians 2:14-15: Paul states that Jesus "canceled the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross." 
• Ephesians 2:15: Paul says, "by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace." 
• 1 Corinthians 11:25: Jesus is said to have "given himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."

It's worth noting that the new covenant is not a replacement of the law of Moses but an amplification of its purpose, the new covenant is based on grace, faith, and the love of God, and is the fulfillment of the old covenant.

According to the New Testament, the Jewish leadership's refusal to accept Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah was not a random event but rather a deliberate aspect of God's plan to provide salvation to all, regardless of their ethnic background. The Bible underscores that while the Jews played a vital role in God's plan, His ultimate purpose was to save and justify people from all nations.

By placing their faith in Jesus and recognizing Him as Lord and Savior, individuals are forgiven of their sins and reborn in Christ. They are no longer characterized by their past mistakes, but instead are transformed by God's love and grace. As a result, they receive a new identity as a child of God and are revitalized in spirit, heart, and mind.