Justification
God declares sinners righteous through Christ.
This doctrine defines Christian orthodoxy. Denial places one outside the historic faith.
Who binds this (creedal)
Every affiliated congregation inherits its denomination's position. Follow a chip to see the confession's language.
Key scriptures
- 2Cor 5:21 — For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
- Eph 2:8 — For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
- Gal 2:16 — Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
- Gal 3:24 — Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
- Gen 15:6 — And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
- Heb 10:14 — For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
- Isa 53:11 — He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
- James 2:24
- Jer 23:6 — In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
- Phil 3:9 — And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
- Ps 32:1 — Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
- Rom 3:24 — Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
- Rom 3:28 — Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
- Rom 4:5 — But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
- Rom 5:1 — Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
- Rom 5:9 — Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
- Rom 8:1 — There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
- Rom 8:33 — Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
What the confessions say
Articles of the historic confessions that address this doctrine.
- Reformed Westminster Confession of Faith 11.1 — Of Justification
- Lutheran Augsburg Confession Article 4 — Of Justification
- Reformed Westminster Larger Catechism Q70 — What is justification?
- Reformed Baptist 1689 London Baptist Confession 11.1 — Of Justification
- Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion Article 11 — Of the Justification of Man
- Roman Catholic Council of Trent (Canons) On Justification · Canon 11 — On Justification
The Church Fathers
The earliest Fathers who commented on the Scriptures above.
I have greatly rejoiced with you in our Lord Jesus Christ, because ye have followed the example of true love [as displayed by God], and have accompanied, as became you, those who were bound in chains, the fitting ornaments of saints, and which are indeed the diadems of the true elect of God and our Lord; and because the strong root of…
But as many as feared God, and were anxious about His law, these ran to Christ, and were all saved. For He said to His disciples: "Go ye to the sheep of the house of Israel, which have perished." And many more Samaritans, it is said, when the Lord had tarried among them, two days, "believed because of His words, and said to the woman,…
For the word which, in matters of doctrine, explains and reveals, is that whose province it is to teach. But our Educator. And when, having senselessly filled themselves, they senselessly played; on that account the law was given them, and terror ensued for the prevention of transgressions and for the promotion of right actions,…
It is a distinction of dispensations, not of gods. He enjoins those who are justified by faith in Christ and not by the law to have peace with God. With what God? Him whose enemies we have never, in any dispensation, been? Or Him against whom we have rebelled, both in relation to His written law and His law of nature? Now, as peace is…
Therefore the righteousness of God, coming through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, whether they be Jews or Greeks, justifies them once cleansed of their former crimes, and makes them capable of the glory of God: and this he does not from their merits, nor for their works, but freely bestows glory upon those who believe.…
Therefore (as I had begun to say), when God had determined to send to men a teacher of righteousness, He commanded Him to be born again a second time in the flesh, and to be made in the likeness of man himself, to whom he was about to be a guide, and companion, and teacher. But since God is kind and merciful to His people, He sent Him…