However, the teaching that salvation is by this legally fictitious righteousness for acquittal is very popular.   But it is a lawless doctrine of iniquity.   Salvation is based on the pardon of a sinner, who remains a sinner until God transforms him through sanctification and holiness, and legal recognition of or righteous status for us will not come until we are truly righteous.

            Well then, what then does justified by faith mean?   If it does not mean an acquittal before God by legal innocence, then what does it mean?   I mean we could totally ignore the phrase and simply believe in the Gospel as described in John 3:16 and we would not be confused.  You can be saved without understanding the dispute about this false doctrine.  You can even be saved if you think a legally fictitious righteousness is imputed, but know in your heart that you are forgiven because Christ paid the penalty, and not because you received an acquittal.[1]   There are many people, however, who believe this doctrine, and believe the right facts of the gospel. Nevertheless, they have not trusted in God, and instead have trusted in applying to this doctrine for their acquittal before God.   They will not be saved, because the true gospel requires trust in the God who executes just justice against all sin, just as John 3:16 teaches, "He gave his only begotten Son."   Moreover, God does not appreciate people lying about the divine court proceedings that saved sinners.  We are not acquitted of sin.  We are pardoned through Christ's payment of the penalty.

            Now we will explain what justified by faith actually does mean, and show an equally powerful statement of the gospel in the correct understanding of this phrase.   Paul does teach the gospel by this phrase.   However, the translators and interpreters of Scripture have caused us to miss his meaning.  So what does it mean?

            The Greek word for justified means "justice is done".  This sense is foreign to English, but native to Greek.  The English justified excludes the idea of justice being done to someone or justice done for someone.  English justified is usually taken in the sense of acquittal, being declared in the right, receiving a favorable verdict in court.   However, in Greek having justice done to/for someone is possible.  I will get to the technical Greek details in a