A BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF THE KEY WORDS IN THE BIBLE
Bible Corner - No. 18 JUSTIFICATION
'Justification by faith only' is the watchword of classical Protestantism. It was Martin Luther's rediscovery of this aspect of Paul's teaching that set the Reformation in motion; and members of the United Reformed Church belong to that tradition.
Paul was always looking for new ways of illustrating the Gospel, so in his letter to the Romans he uses a metaphor drawn from the law courts. He pictures a judge taking the unprecedented step of acquitting persons clearly guilty; not simply 'letting them off' or 'putting them on probation' but actually declaring that they have no case to answer!
It is just like that, says Paul, when God 'justifies (i.e. acquits) the ungodly' (Romans 4:5 A.V.) - when God treats bad people as if they were good and brings them into a new and 'right' relationship with himself.
But who are these people whom God treats in this amazing way? Those who have faith, says Paul; those who abandon all reliance on their own ability to 'get right with God' and instead put all their trust in the redemption effected by Christ on their behalf (Romans 3:21-24).
Isn't justification just another name for forgiveness? Not quite. Justification always refers to the once for all divine act that brings persons into a right relationship with God, giving them a new status as his adopted sons/daughters. Forgiveness refers to any occasion when God repairs a broken relationship with himself - hence that very necessary petition in the Lord's prayer.
Relevant Passage 5:1-11 (note: GMB uses 'put right with God' for justified).
Howard Rady
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