What Does Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About Justification in Romans 8?

What is the meaning of justification according to Martyn Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, justification is a legal or forensic term that belongs to the realm of the law court. It means "to declare just and to declare righteous" - the opposite of condemnation. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that justification is entirely God's action, not our own. He states, "God justifies us, and he does it... entirely apart from us and our works." It's not the result of a good life or any merit in us. As he quotes from Romans 4:5, "God justifies the ungodly, not the righteous." Justification is a declaration made by God concerning those who believe in Christ.

How is justification different from forgiveness?

Lloyd-Jones makes it clear that "justification does not merely mean forgiveness. It includes forgiveness. But it's much bigger than forgiveness." The mistake many make is treating justification as nothing but forgiveness, but it goes well beyond that. Justification means that "God declares us to be entirely guiltless. He regards us as if we'd never sinned at all. He pronounces us to be just and to be righteous." It includes God taking our sins and imputing them to Christ, while simultaneously imputing Christ's perfect righteousness to us, so that God now looks at us "clothed with the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Why does Lloyd-Jones say justification is permanent?

Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that justification is a once-for-all declaration that cannot be broken or lost. He explains, "This act of justification, being God's act, is once and for all and isn't something that can be broken and reestablished and broken and reestablished. That would be chaos." When we are justified, we are put "into Christ" - incorporated into him and made part of him. Since this is God's act and declaration, not dependent on our actions or understanding, it remains permanent. He states, "It is in Christ that we are justified... We are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones. That's the essence of the doctrine of justification."

Why doesn't Paul mention sanctification in Romans 8:30?

Lloyd-Jones points out the significant omission of sanctification in Romans 8:30 and offers several explanations:

1. "Sanctification is not a vital step in the argument... because it makes no vital difference to our state and status" unlike justification and glorification.

2. "Sanctification is not a step at all. It's a process."

3. "He needn't mention sanctification... because it's inevitable because of justification. The moment a man is justified, the process of sanctification has started."

4. Sanctification is "implicit in justification" and is "absolutely inevitable from the standpoint of glorification."

5. "To make of sanctification a distinct and a separate step is therefore clearly quite wrong and utterly unscriptural."

What does Lloyd-Jones teach about glorification in Romans 8:30?

Lloyd-Jones explains that glorification means we "shall be like the Lord Jesus Christ," including even our bodies. It means "that we shall be delivered finally and completely from every single conceivable effect of sin and evil. There will not be a trace left." While not yet fully realized in our experience, Paul speaks of it in the past tense ("glorified") to emphasize its absolute certainty in God's purpose. Lloyd-Jones says this is "the most daring anticipation of faith that even the New Testament contains." He explains that "the glorification is already consummated" in God's mind and purpose, though still future in our experience. This gives believers complete assurance - if God has called you, "it means he's justified you. And that means he's glorified you" - it's as certain as anything can be.