Jesus’ Third Gift is Justification
Jesus’ third gift is justification. In my previous post, I used the analogy of a facet in cut crystal. For today I’d like to suggest that we think of Jesus’ third gift, justification, as a color sent out by the facet righteousness.

But who sees the color?

Like salvation and righteousness, justification is a gift, not something we work to earn. We receive it immediately, at the same moment we believe Jesus is our Savior.
In Webster’s dictionary, justification is defined as the act, process, or state of being justified (judged, regarded, or treated as righteous and worthy of salvation) by God.
 
God the Father sees us justified.

What does it do for us?

As a result of salvation and Christ’s righteousness shared to cover us, justification qualifies us to live in the new heavens and new earth that He’ll create when He comes again.
We’re still living in this sin-flawed world so justification isn’t always obvious in our behavior. However, nothing can take it away from us. Christ’s death, the means that provides this gift, is irreversibly effective.
Salvation, righteousness, and justification are all gifts from Jesus. We can’t earn them. There’s one more gift on the list with a heavy-weight name. and it’s the one God allows us to participate with: Sanctification.