Romans 3:23-25 English Standard Version (ESV)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

There are many words here that are worthy of explanation like redemption, propitiation, grace and righteousness but the one that determines our eternal salvation is justified. If we are not justified we are guilty of our sins and God will not overlook them. This takes us back to the beginning of the Passover ritual. Lamb’s blood was upon the doorpost of the people who were not taken the night death passed thru Egypt.

In legal terms, for the court of heaven, can you provide justification for all the sins you ever committed or will commit? If just one sin cannot be justified in that court, you are bound up and cast into the lake of fire with Satan. Here is a hint, sin cannot be justified.

Justification is also a bookkeeping term. Justification is achieved in bookkeeping by applying credit against a debt. Debt is written in red and once the debt is paid, the ledger is said to be in the black.

Romans 4:24b-25 English Standard Version (ESV)

24 … It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Our sins for which Christ died put us in the red. If we believe by faith in His resurrection for our justification, our debt is paid and we move to the right side of the ledger.

Some like to simplify the term by saying “it is just as if it never happened”. While true, it does not by itself explain the mechanism by which God justifies us. He does not justify our sins, He justifies us.

1 Corinthians 2:11 English Standard Version (ESV) For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

You are wrong are words I do not hear very often. They should only be used when dangerous theology is espoused. We are all vulnerable to error and error is a common position for any novice and we have all been there. Our understanding of theology needs to be tested to ensure we have all the critical issues right.

What are those critical beliefs that must be understood by all without even a hint of error? Those things which cast doubt on our salvation would seem to be on the top of the list. Father God wants a bride for His Son Jesus Christ that is confident and secure in His love for her. Insecurity is not attractive.

Then there are those issues of God’s identity. Who is God and what makes Him so unique that there are no other Gods beside Him. If you are going to worship God you should know who you are worshipping and why. That seems critical. In the past I have gone down a rather long lists of attributes for God so I would like to address those things that affect us directly first.

Which of the many theological terms are worthy of being classified as critical? I already mentioned salvation and if you are saved you already have an understanding of what that means to you. How do others understand salvation? If we have not entered into a discussion on that meaning, then perhaps it is worthy of a devotional.

I have an opinion about where we should start and I could be wrong about its importance to my readers but it is a vital truth to me, so I would choose to begin there.

Justification is critical.