Forensic: pertaining to courts of law. Late ministries are rising up that put tremendous focus on the court-like terms used in Scripture to explain and illustrate salvation.

Justification = declared righteous
God pictured in Scripture as the righteous Judge
Jesus' last cry on the cross, "It is finished!" (tetelestai) which means "debt paid in full."  

Two responses I think are needed.

First, the forensic nature of the gospel is needed greatly in our time where benefit-driven preaching has plagued spiritual stomachs with spiritual candy lacking nutrition. But second, a forensic-only focus is incomplete. Yes, the gospel is forensic, but not forensic only.

We are not only escaping God's judgment, we are embracing Jesus Christ.
We are not only embracing Jesus to escape judgment, we are replacing our empty idols with the glory and satisfaction of Jesus Christ.

The idea that the gospel is simply and only to escape judgment like a convicted criminal getting his debt paid is simply false. Forensic language is biblical. But that is not the only language used.

The joy of salvation does not just sing, "I'm not going to hell!" but also belts out, "I have gained ten times more than the world in Jesus Christ!" Jesus cried out, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" (Mat 11:28). This offer of salvation has nothing close to courtroom language in it. When people are looking for rest, a courtroom is usually not the first thing that comes to mind!

Jesus told the woman at the well, "Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life" (John 4:14). Jesus told the Jews, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst" (John 6:35). To somehow turn these passages into court-terms is ridiculous. People don't go to court to eat bread and drink cool water. Yes, Christ paid our fine, but He also offers everlasting satisfaction, a spiritual feast that feeds something much deeper than one's stomach.

It is important that we not over-emphasize one biblical flavor at the expense of another. An exaggerated emphasis on forensic language surrounding salvation can lead to a heartless and brittle approach to people and evangelism that sees humans as nothing more than criminals on death row. Yes, apart from Jesus we are criminals on death row—but so much more than that! People are weary, hungry, and thirsty, and Jesus offers them life everlasting that meets these felt and real needs!