can assure you that most of them do not teach the gospel by it, because they have changed what Paul meant by it into a false doctrine.   Justification by faith, as popularly taught is not the gospel.  That is, if by this concept you think that God has somehow come to a legal conclusion that you are perfectly righteous in his sight, acquitting you of sin, then that is not the gospel.  The gospel is not coming into God's court and then walking out again because in some amazing way he said according to his records you are sin free, innocent, or righteous, and the case is dismissed for lack of evidence against you.  Having faith in God does not compel him to declare you innocent or righteous.  That is, indeed, what a lot of teachers say justified by faith means![1]

            Let us describe the situation as it really is for the one who understands the gospel.   You find that you are in God's court and He says, "You are a sinner, and guilty as charged!"[2]   "There will be no acquittal," the scripture teaches.  God does not acquit sinners.[3]   What is to be done?  You are guilty, and God cannot dismiss your case by issuing a legal declaration of your righteousness or innocence in the matter of sin.  As a sinner, God commits you to death row.[4]

            Then, the Son of God steps forward to plead for your life, and He says that He has a way for you to be delivered from the penalty.   If you confess your sin, he says, I will pay the penalty myself so that your sin may be pardoned.   You must trust in Me.  You then accept the just decision of the judge in finding you guilty, and trust in Christ.  You go forth from court ready to serve God knowing that your sins are forgiven.   You realize that the basis of your salvation is God's pardon, because Christ paid the penalty.             

            A pardon is forgiveness, and a sinner once pardoned is still a sinner forgiven.  He or she is not counted as sinless in God's eyes or on his books.  You were found a legal sinner, and that is what the books say.  In the penalty