What does it mean to be "justified?"

While I was on my mission I came across several scriptures in the New Testament that mentioned being "justified." I had no idea what it meant to be justified. I thought that it probably had something to do with being supported like justified in your actions, or justified with your answer, but I just wasn't really sure. I wrote home to my dad about this topic and began to search the scriptures on my own. What I found was an amazing set of doctrines that link in perfectly with the Gospel. It is Justification, Purification, and Sanctification.
The first place I went to was the dictionary where one of the definitions of justification says "To cause to be free of the guilt or penalty of sin, and to be reconciled to God." In my journal I have written, "Faith is required in order to be justified, and we have access to the Peace that God offers through faith. Grace = Peace, Grace = Diving love and protection, Peace = Calm, tranquility. So we have access to grace and peace, or God's love, protection, and tranquility through faith in Jesus Christ, and then comes a hope of the glory of God. Hebrews 5:9 says "being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." Being cleared of blame or guilt by the blood of Jesus Christ, we will escape the wrath of God, His punishment to those who break His commandments, as required by the law of Justice." Justification is a divine verdict at the bar of judgement of not guilty, but not only are we found not guilty, but because Christ shares his absolute and infinite perfection with us, we are also found to be fully righteous. Whereas He formerly condemns, He now vindicates (which means cleared from suspicion, wrongdoing, hint of wrongness.) Although as sinners we once lived under God's wrath, as believers we now live under God's blessing. Titus 3:7 "That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life...not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." We are saved not by our own works, but by the Grace of Christ. And how does He do it? He tells us, let me break down the last part of that scripture. "He saved us, by the washing (cleansing with water) of regeneration (being spiritually reborn) and renewing (to become new, or restore to a former sound condition) of the Holy Ghost. What does that sound like? The basic Gospel of Christ. Faith, repentence, baptism by immersion, and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We are saved, justified, and made heirs by the power of the Atonement when we submit ourselves to Him, and follow His Gospel, which has now been restored to the earth in all its fulness.

Eternal Truths

For FHE tonight we read an amazing talk! It was given by Elder Neal A. Maxwell in 1979. Whenever I stumble across a great talk like this (thanks Matt for sending the link our way) it makes me wonder what other talks are out there that I am missing out on. You can click here for the link to this talk. I would highly recommend reading it. It is also amazing that even though this talk was given almost 30 years ago, it still totally applies today. Right now Devin is learning in law school how to "shepardize" a case - which basically means validating it and making sure that the law from the case still applies and that is hasn't been overturned by a later court, etc. Isn't it nice to know that we don't have to do that with the Gospel? The church is true. The doctrines we are taught are eternal. It is nice to know that we will always have a reliable place to turn for wisdom, counsel, comfort, or whatever else we may need. Unlike man-made law that changes as the opinions of men and society change, God's laws are the same and has never changed, nor ever will. No matter what else is going on in this world the church is constant. For that I am truly grateful.

Anyway, on to what I thought was so profound. I don't even think it needs an introduction. Just read what he said.

"When, in situations of stress, we wonder if there is any more in us to give, we can be comforted to know that God, who knows our capacities perfectly, placed us here to succeed. No one was foreordained to fail or to be wicked.

When we have been weighed and found wanting, let us remember that we were measured before and were found equal to our tasks; and therefore, let us continue but with a more determined discipleship.

When we feel overwhelmed, let us recall the assurance that God will not overprogram us; he will not press upon us more than we can bear (see D&C 50:40).

God bless you and keep you, my special friends, to the end that you will carry out each and every assignment given to you so very long ago. You have been measured and found adequate for the challenges that will face you as citizens of the kingdom of God; of that you should have a deep inner assurance. Be true to that trust, as all of us must."

I was just so comforted in knowing that no matter how crazy we think our lives are or how hard the trials or callings or responsiblities or whatever that we are facing seem, we can do it. I have always heard quoted that "Heavenly Father will not tempt you above that which ye are able to bear" but for some reason the way that Elder Maxwell said this just struck a different cord inside of me. It really made sense. Heavenly Father knows us. We are His children. He knows how we are going to respond, He knows our likes and dislikes, He knows our challenges, but most importantly, He knows us, and He loves us. He did not put us on this earth to fail. He wants us to succeed and He is going to help us and comfort us through the tough times. Maybe now that I am a mother I can better understand the love that Heavenly Father has for us. There is no way that I would set Amy up to fail. While I would not ask her to do things knowing that she could not do them, I wouldn't deliberately make things too easy for her either. I love her and am going to do whatever I can to see her succeed. We grow through our trials, our challenges stretch us. Our Heavenly Father is exactly the same way. And it is so comforting to know that. Sometimes we just need a gentle reminder of the truths we already know.