Justification by Faith in Christian Theology
Justification by faith is a central doctrine in many Christian traditions, understood as God's judicial act of pardoning sins and declaring believers righteous [1]. This declaration is not based on human works or adherence to the law, but on faith in Jesus Christ [2, 4]. The Apostle Paul emphasizes this in Romans, stating that "righteousness of God is revealed therein, on the principle of faith, to faith: according as it is written, But the just shall live by faith" [3].
The concept of justification is often contrasted with condemnation, signifying a legal acquittal rather than a moral transformation [1]. It means that the demands of the law are considered satisfied in the justified person [1]. John Calvin, a key figure in Reformed theology, dedicated significant portions of his Institutes of the Christian Religion to expounding this doctrine, defining both its name and reality [7]. He and other Reformed theologians, such as John Gill, emphasize that justification is "freely by his grace" and not by human effort [8]. Gill further clarifies that faith is not the cause of justification, but rather the means by which it is received; God is the one who justifies, moved by His free grace, and the righteousness of Christ is the matter of justification [9].
Different traditions articulate the specifics of justification by faith. The Augsburg Confession, a foundational document for Lutheranism, presents its understanding of justification [11]. Similarly, the Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion affirm this doctrine [13]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, explains that justification is "received by faith through the atonement made by Christ," and refers to it as "God's method of justifying sinners through faith in his Son" [10]. He also notes that neither Jewish law nor any other law could justify a person, underscoring the necessity of justification by faith in God's mercy [6].
Eastern Orthodox theologians, such as John Chrysostom, also discuss the "righteousness of God without the Law" as manifested through Christ, indicating a similar understanding of God's provision for righteousness outside of legalistic adherence [12]. While justification is a forensic act, it is distinct from sanctification, which is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in making a believer holy [5]. Justification is a declaration of righteousness, while sanctification is the process of becoming righteous in practice [1, 5].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Justification — A forensic term, opposed to condemnation. As regards its nature, it is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon (q.v.) of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; an”
- Philippians “Philippians 3:9 (Darby) — and that I may be found in him, not having my righteousness, which [would be] on the principle of law, but that which is by faith of Christ, the righteousness which [is] ofGod through faith,”
- Romans “Romans 1:17 (Darby) — for righteousness ofGod is revealed therein, on the principle of faith, to faith: according as it is written, But the just shall live by faith.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Justification Before God — Promised in Christ -- Isa 45:25; 53:11. Is the act of God -- Isa 50:8; Ro 8:33. Under law Requires perfect obedience. -- Le 18:5; Ro 10:5; 2:13; Jas 2:10. Man cannot attain to. -- Job 9:2,3,20; 25:4; Ps 130:3; 143:2; Ro 3:20; 9:31,32. Under the gospel Is not of works. -- Ac 13:39; Ro 8:3; Ga 2:16; 3:11. Is not of faith and works united. -- Ac 15:1-29; Ro 3:28; 11:6; Ga 2:14-21; 5:4. Is by faith alone. -- Joh 5:24; Ac 13:39; Ro 3:30; 5:1; Ga 2:16. Is of grace. -- Ro 3:24; 4:16; 5:17-21. In the name of Christ. -- 1Co 6:11. By imputation of Ch”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sanctification — Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:1”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 2:16: Knowing that a man is not justified - See the notes on Rom 1:17; Rom 3:24 (note), Rom 3:27 (note); Rom 8:3 (note). And see on Act 13:38 (note) and Act 13:39 (note), in which places the subject of this verse is largely discussed. Neither the works of the Jewish law, nor of any other law, could justify any man; and if justification or pardon could not have been attained in some other way, the world must have perished. Justification by faith, in the boundless mercy of God, is as reasonable as it is Scriptural and necessary.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 66: 2036 CHAPTER 11. OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH. BOTH THE NAME AND THE REALITY DEFINED. In this chapter and the seven which follow, the doctrine of Justification by Faith is expounded, and opposite errors refuted. The following may be regarded as the arrangement of these chapters:—Chapter 11 states the doctrine, and the four subsequent chapters, by destroying the righteousness of works, confirm the righteousness of faith, each in the order which appears in the respective titles of these chapters. In Chapter 12 the doctrine of Justificat”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 3:20: Being justified freely by his grace,.... The matter of justification is before expressed, and the persons that share in this blessing are described; here the several causes of it are mentioned. The moving cause of it is the free grace of God; for by "the grace of God" here, is not meant the Gospel, or what some men call the terms of the Gospel, and the constitution of it; nor the grace of God infused into the heart; but the free love and favour of God, as it is in his heart; which is wonderfully displayed in the business of a sinner's justification before him: it appe”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 5:1: Therefore being justified by faith,.... Not that faith is at the first of our justification; for that is a sentence which passed in the mind of God from all eternity, and which passed on Christ, and on all the elect considered in him, when he rose from the dead; see Rom 4:25; nor is it the chief, or has it the chief place in justification; it is not the efficient cause of it, it is God that justifies, and not faith; it is not the moving cause of it, that is the free grace of God; it is not the matter of it, that is the righteousness of Christ: we are not justified by f”
- Philippians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Philippians 3:9: And be found in him - Be found a believer in Christ, not having mine own righteousness - not trusting in any thing I have done or could do, in order to my salvation; relying on no scheme of justification, set up either formerly by myself or by others. But that which is through the faith of Christ - That justification which is received by faith through the atonement made by Christ. The righteousness which is of God - God's method of justifying sinners through faith in his Son. See the notes on Rom 3:21, Rom 3:23 (note), Rom 3:25 (note), where this subject is trea”
- Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), Article IV. Of Justification.: Article IV. Of Justification.”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: duty then to flee it. Since then you have not fled you have pulled the punishment more sorely on yourself, and the good deed of the Law has been made to you a supply of greater vengeance. Now then having added to their fear, he next brings in the things of grace, as having brought them to a strong desire of the remission of their sins, and says, Ver. 21 . “But now the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested.” 1273 1273 With iii. 21 begins the great central argument of the epistle: the positive development of the doctrine of justification b”
- Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), 11.Of Justification.: 11.Of Justification.”