The verb justify (dikaiô in Greek) is a legal term meaning “to acquit, to declare as righteous”; it is the opposite of “condemn.” Synonymous terms are “count righteous,” “remit sins,” and “not count sin” (Romans 4:5-8). Since only a judge can justify the accused or offer pardon, our justification must proceed only from our supreme Judge—God the Father—whereby He makes us acceptable and sets us in a right relationship with Him, vindicated and declared to be in the right.
