“Knowing God” by J.I. Packer is a phenomenal book that covers so many different topics relevant to the Christian life. He has a single chapter that goes through Romans 8, which he calls the peak of the gospel.

Romans 1–7 does a great job at laying the foundation of original sin, our failure to keep the law, and our desperate need for a savior from death, the wages of our sin. As Christians, we know that we are justified by faith alone in Christ alone:

Romans 3:28 says,
“For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”

Romans 5:1 says,
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Hallelujah! We have been justified by faith in Christ and we are at peace with God now, all because of Jesus Christ. Amen.

But what does it mean that we are justified before God? And is that all that we are to God? Or is there more to God’s intimate love for His sheep?

I seek to bring you two points in this article:

---

1. Justification Was Only Made Possible by the Life and Death of Jesus Christ

What is justification? It simply means, “declared righteous,” in a theological sense, before God.

Ray Comfort often uses the following example: It’s as if you were to be in court and declared guilty for speeding, but someone else paid the fine—the judge would legally be allowed to let you go. You would be justified in the sense that the situation was made right because the penalty was paid.

For this is what Christ has done for us—He paid the fine with His atoning blood for sinners, so that all who would believe in Him would be made right before God.

This is the substitutionary atonement that Christ made on our behalf. His penal substitution, or taking our place for our sins, was completed on the cross when He said “It is finished.” The resurrection was the propitiation or proof of God’s satisfaction with His son’s sacrifice and appeasement of His divine wrath—justifying all of those who would believe in Christ as their Savior.

But what about Christ’s life?

Justification is making us right before God, but surely it is not our own righteousness that is appeasing to God—rather, it is Christ’s! For He lived the life that we could not live—not sinning once, keeping the law perfectly where we could not, and fully pleasing the Father in every way.

His righteousness is what saves us, not our own.
His righteousness is imputed on us, and combined with His penal substitution, we are justified in Christ alone, and truly made right before God.

2 Corinthians 5:21
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

This is why John Calvin said that:

“Justification [by faith alone in Jesus Christ] is the main hinge on which religion turns.”

It is a doctrine that we ought to cling to and love and thank Christ for every day—for what He did in His life and death.

---

2. While You See the Beauty of Justification, We Must Discuss the Superiority of Adoption That Goes Beyond the Joy of Justification

J.I. Packer makes a profound point that adoption is “the highest privilege that the gospel offers: higher even than justification.” He goes on and says:

“Adoption is higher, because of the richer relationship with God that it involves… [some] treat adoption as a mere subjection of justification, but this is inadequate. The two ideas are distinct, and adoption is the more exalted.”

Packer eludes to his reasoning for making such a statement because of the relationship aspect regarding justification and adoption.

In justification, he makes the point that God is Judge, and our relationship with the Judge is viewed in terms of law. We as sinners are declared righteous before God the Judge only because of Christ’s sacrifice in our place on the cross.

Packer then makes the point:
“—but justification does not of itself imply any intimate or deep relationship with God the Judge. In idea, at any rate, you could have the reality of justification without any close fellowship with God resulting.”

He then contrasts this with adoption:

“Adoption is a family idea, conceived in terms of love, and viewing God as Father. In adoption, God takes us into his family and fellowship—He establishes us as His children and heirs. Closeness, affection and generosity are at the heart of the relationship.

To be right with God the Judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is greater.” (pg. 206–207)

Go back to the speeding ticket judge—we have no personal relationship with that judge, even though he declared us right in court.

Adoption is elevated above justification because of the personal relationship that comes with being adopted.
There is a deep intimate care and love for a child that is adopted into the family. That child is now viewed as blood and family.

We ought to see the beauty of our sonship to God—that He has chosen us and loved us as His children, brought into His family as a child of God through Christ alone.

Packer adds a verse from Charles Wesley’s “Conversion Hymn” saying:

“A slave redeemed from death and sin,
A brand plucked from eternal fire,
That I, a child of wrath and hell,
I should be called a child of God,
Should know, should feel my sins forgiven,
Blessed with this [foretaste] of heaven!”

---

What joy we should have being adopted into God’s family.
To be lost, but then be found.
To be dead, but brought to life.

Romans 8:16
“…but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!” ”

For God is our Father who loves and cares for our needs. And Christ is “the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

May we look forward to worshiping our Father in heaven for eternity, as sons and daughters in our house that He has prepared for us, because of the righteousness of Christ and His life and death for His sheep.

To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.