Justification

"And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and 
all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this 
generation." (Genesis 7:1)

This is the first mention of the great 
doctrine of justification in the Bible--that is, being seen as 
"righteous" by God. The same Hebrew word is translated 
"just" in Genesis 6:9: "Noah was a just man." 
The reason why Noah was seen as righteous and therefore as just, or justified 
before God, was that "Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Genesis 
6:8). 
This is the first mention of "grace" in the Bible. The first mention 
of "faith" or "belief" is also associated with 
justification. "|Abraham| believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him 
for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6).

Thus, justification is by grace through 
faith in the Old Testament and certainly in the New. "Being justified 
freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" and 
also "being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord 
Jesus Christ" (Romans 3:24; 5:1).

Justification--that is, being seen and 
proclaimed as perfectly righteous, even in spite of past sins, must of course 
be authorized by God the Creator. "It is God that justifieth" (Romans 8:33). That God can 
indeed be both "just, and the justifier of him which believeth in 
Jesus" (Romans 3:26) is based 
entirely on the substitutionary death and bodily resurrection of Christ who 
conquered death. "Being now justified by His blood," the Lord Jesus 
Christ "was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our 
justification" (Romans 5:9; 4:25).

Now, 
although we are freely justified by grace through faith, such justification 
inevitably generates good works also, for "by works a man is justified, 
and not by faith only" (James 2:24).

Luke 15:11-24

Humanity tends to project 
its own faulty habits onto God. This is especially true regarding the nature of 
His love. We think we must barter, plead, or try hard to earn the Lord's favor. 
But as the prodigal son learned, the Father's love is 
unconditional.

The wayward son expected his 
father's love to be diminished. Therefore, he went home hoping for a place 
among the family servants. Imagine the boy's delight when Dad greeted him with 
a hug and a celebration. His actions certainly didn't merit an outpouring of 
affection, but Jesus' parable is all about a Father who doesn't give people 
what they deserve.

A love based on conduct would keep 
people guessing, Have I done 
enough? Instead, God cares for you simply because you're you, 
and He expects nothing in return. Consider the prodigal's life after his 
homecoming party. He didn't move into the servants' quarters and get to work. 
He was reinstated to his place as the second son of a wealthy man, with all of 
the privilege that entails. In the same way, believers are the Lord's cherished 
children (2 Cor. 6:18). When God looks at His loved ones, He doesn't focus upon 
past failures, faults, or sin. He sees the heirs to His kingdom—men and women 
who love Him and desire to spend eternity in His presence.

No matter how far we may 
wander from the Lord's perfect will for our lives, we are always welcome back. 
The Bible teaches that God's love cannot be lost, regardless of sin or poor 
decisions (though we may have to live with the consequences). Our Father's arms 
are always open.