How important is the doctrine of Justification by Faith in today’s Church?

This doctrine – the very foundation of all other Christian doctrine – is described by Luther as follows:

“This doctrine can never be urged and taught enough. If this

doctrine is overthrown or disappears, then all knowledge of

the truth is lost at the same time. If this doctrine flourishes,

then all good things flourish: true religion, true worship, the

glory of God, the right knowledge of all conditions of life, and

of all things.”

It means that in God’s eyes, we are totally dead in sin, but are made totally acceptable to God by the saving works of Christ, not our “goodness since conversion”.

Sadly, today the Christian churches have allowed Satan, the world and our sinful self to build a rugged mountain range of pride and human reason around us – a mountain range which would make the Himalayas look like anthills. ‘Good works’ theology – our natural religion (to which we always want to return) is referred to here. (Prov.14:12)

We are hardly ever reminded, that because of original sin Christ has had to do

it all for us. Instead, we rely on our own “goodness” since conversion as we do what we think are good deeds, instead of giving all praise and glory to Christ for His power working within us. Christ becomes a mere example to follow (What would Jesus do?) and not the source of all good in us (What did Jesus do?).

In teaching Justification by Faith, five basic truths must be remembered:

1. Original Sin is a total condition; (Ecc.7:20, Rev.3:17)…it is the cause of actual sin which we still have after conversion. When presenting the law, it is important to explain that the human race died spiritually the moment sin entered into the world, and is referred to as our “human condition”. After conversion, this condition is called “the flesh”. For those growing in Christ, they become more and more aware of what actual sin is (Rom.7, Gal.5) thus avoiding going back to good-works theology. As long as this world exists, there will never be a perfect Christian who knows it all!

2. The standard of God’s judgement (Acts 17:30-31, Rev.19:11)…is His holy and righteous law which demands perfection. It is important to stress this standard of judgement because many concede that Christ achieves something, but insist they have to contribute something as well. So they hope they are good enough. However, the Christian faith stresses that Christ alone achieved salvation for us, and works through us in our Christian living.

3. The gospel is the redemptive work of Christ (Rom.5:8, Titus 3:5)…who took all our sin (including original sin) on Himself, rescuing us from eternal death and the devil. The gospel is often referred to as the most important teaching (in relation to Justification by Faith). It certainly is important. However, to teach gospel without law leads to people turning gospel into law, so they have some knowledge instead of conviction. For example: you MUST love one another,

or you MUST be humble.

4. The Great Exchange (Rom.1:17, Rom.5:18-19)…all our sin (past, present and future) was put on Christ on the cross and His righteousness covers us so that God sees us as righteous – perfect. To be constantly reminded of Justification by Faith is a great joy to believers – to trust that my sin (including original sin) is imputed to Christ, and His perfection is imputed to me. There is no greater joy.

5. Christ lives in us, and we in Him (John 6:53, Gal.2:20). The bible is full of references to God being the real power in our lives. John’s gospel has a lot to say about Christ being our light and life, especially chapter 6 where Christ feeds the 5,000 and relates this to spiritual food for life.

God makes it quite clear that the purpose of scripture (2 Tim. 3:16) is teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. This order is important. These days people are being praised for rebuking error without teaching Justification by Faith. When this happens, we revert to legalism.

Because it often takes time for the Spirit to get through to us, it is vital never to assume that people have properly grasped the meaning of Justification by Faith. It should therefore be regularly explained. Because there is so much ambiguity in Christianity today, unless the doctrine of Justification by Faith is fully explained, people have no way of knowing whether the author is referring to the truth, or legalism. Therefore, to regularly explain it will always be appreciated by those who understand it because, as Luther pointed out “they can never hear enough of it”.

Though the mountain range of self-centredness is so great today, I believe we could well be living in the time God referred to in the last sentence of Revelation 20 v.3.

We have every reason to be concerned at what is going on in the Christian churches but we have no reason to despair. Read what Christ says in Luke 3:4-6 (referring to Isaiah 40). See also Matthew 17:20-23, 21:21-22.

Because the mountain range of humanism and self-esteem around us is so great, no human being can conquer it. Christ alone is the one who does remove it for every one of His children. Through the power of the Spirit, Christ has given us the faith we have (Eph.2:8-9) and promises to rescue all whom the Father has given Him.

(John 6:37-40). He not only strengthens (with rebuke and discipline) those who trust in Him (Heb.12:4-13, Rev.3:19). He also promises to bring in the sheep who are not yet in the fold (John 10:16).

When the Spirit moves us to trust Christ through the teaching of Justification by Faith we have assurance and certainty and are moved to witness to the power of Christ living in us.

Clem Schulze

February 2004