It is God who justifies
What does it mean that it is God who justifies (Romans 8:33)?
In Romans 8:28–39, the apostle Paul emphasizes our secure position as believers. Like an attorney, Paul presents his argument by answering a series of questions. Each answer undergirds his case that God is on our side and nothing can thwart His good plans for us. Through Jesus Christ, we are more than conquerors. In the end, we win. Paul’s second set of questions is posed in verses 33–34: “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
In these two verses, Paul deals with the believer’s legal standing before God. The Greek verb dikaiōn, translated as “justifies,” is a legal term that means “to pronounce a verdict that someone is in full accordance with the requirements of the law; to acquit, vindicate, or render innocent.” Instead of receiving condemnation for our sins, we are pronounced “not guilty” by God. We are justified not because of our own righteousness or anything we have done (Romans 3:20–21, 24–26; Galatians 2:15–16, 21). We are declared righteous based on our faith in the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because His death on the cross has fully met the requirements of the law, God pronounces believers just, innocent, and in right standing with Himself (Romans 8:3–4).
Isaiah’s third Servant Song could have inspired this segment of Paul’s argument. In that song, God’s servant is confident, even in the most troubling circumstances of persecution, torture, and mockery, that God will help him and keep him safe and secure:
He who gives me justice is near.
Who will dare to bring charges against me now?
Where are my accusers?
Let them appear!
See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side!
Who will declare me guilty?
All my enemies will be destroyed. (Isaiah 50:8–9, NLT).
It is God who justifies the believer: “God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13–14, NLT). It is only God’s ruling that matters. We stand before God alone as our sole judge and jury. No one can bring any accusations against us because God has chosen us (Romans 8:29–30). And no one can condemn us because Jesus Christ died to save us; we belong to Him (Romans 8:1–2). It is God who justifies, and no one can “unjustify” us.
Many of God’s servants, including Joseph, Daniel, John the Baptist, Paul, Silas, and Peter, had charges brought against them by human authorities. But those charges had no effect in God’s court. Every day, Satan hurls accusations against God’s people (Revelation 12:10). But, in the end, “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). Jesus assures us, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NLT).
It is God who justifies us. He alone brings us into right standing and relationship with Himself: “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NLT; see also 1 Corinthians 1:30). We give God all the glory and thanks because “He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57, NLT). No weapon aimed against God’s children will succeed (Isaiah 54:17). No accusation of Satan will have the power to condemn us (Zechariah 3:1–5). And, even when we do sin, Jesus Christ is our advocate, pleading our case before the Father (1 John 2:1). We can come to Him to obtain forgiveness, mercy, and grace when we need it most (Hebrews 4:14–16).