What does the word "justification" mean in Paul's sentence in Romans 5:18?
Romans 5:18 - Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
There is obviously some parallelism going on here. Let me lay out what I see as the parallels:
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation (and death) for all men,
so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
Justification is a parallel concept to condemnation in this sentence. Condemnation does not describe a moral corruption, but describes a legal sentence issued because of guilt. Criminals are condemned by a judge due to their guilt. Continuing this parallel, it must be that justification is also a legal declaration. Justification is the legal declaration that a person is righteous and innocent of any crimes.
When God justifies us, he forgives our sins and accepts us as righteous. Justification is a legal declaration.
It is not a legal fiction any more than the guilt that we inherit from Adam is a legal fiction. Because Adam is our representative, his guilt is imputed to us and we are born with a guilt problem. In the same way, Jesus is the representative of his church and the righteousness of Jesus is imputed to believers. They are declared righteous on the basis of Christ's righteousness just as the children of Adam are declared guilty on the basis of Adam's sin.
Romans 5:18 - Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
There is obviously some parallelism going on here. Let me lay out what I see as the parallels:
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation (and death) for all men,
so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
Justification is a parallel concept to condemnation in this sentence. Condemnation does not describe a moral corruption, but describes a legal sentence issued because of guilt. Criminals are condemned by a judge due to their guilt. Continuing this parallel, it must be that justification is also a legal declaration. Justification is the legal declaration that a person is righteous and innocent of any crimes.
When God justifies us, he forgives our sins and accepts us as righteous. Justification is a legal declaration.
It is not a legal fiction any more than the guilt that we inherit from Adam is a legal fiction. Because Adam is our representative, his guilt is imputed to us and we are born with a guilt problem. In the same way, Jesus is the representative of his church and the righteousness of Jesus is imputed to believers. They are declared righteous on the basis of Christ's righteousness just as the children of Adam are declared guilty on the basis of Adam's sin.