Justification Intro

Through Faith in Christ

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This truth is central to anyone's understanding of the Gospel. And yet, so many do not seem to understand it, nor its importance in Biblical theology. A great many of the questions I get by email or in personal conversations usually touch on some aspect of this truth. It is my conviction, that many of the questions I receive would almost answer themselves, if everyone better understood the nature of Justification by Faith. Unfortunately, there is a famine of hearing the Gospel. Too many appear to be missing even a rudimentary understanding of this Biblical teaching.

For example: Some time ago a member of our church was talking with a UPCI minister's wife. The minister's wife asked her where she was going to church. Our member mentioned the name of our church. The minister's wife politely smiled and then commented: "Well, I hear they are teaching something about that 'justification'. I don't know much about it, but I would be careful if I were you." This is a perfect example of how little is known about a central doctrine of the Bible by some who are the very leaders of the church.

Then, there are those who have been taught a nominalistic Christianity. This is sometimes labeled "easy believism." It is expressed by a confession of knowledge without real personal trust in Christ as Savior and Lord. This is the result of being taught the right doctrines to believe and being instructed in the proper forms to follow, without a rich and solid grounding in the profound grace of God offered to us in Christ. Some have called this "dead orthodoxism." It is possible to believe in the right doctrine, while failing to believe in the One to whom all Biblical doctrine points: Jesus Christ! This is a Christianity with head knowledge, but lacking a true saving relationship and full, dependant trust in the living Lord Jesus Christ.

On the other hand, there are a number of Evangelicals who believe that Justification is a relic from the 16th century. They would like all Protestants to look to a more inclusive view of the Gospel which would allow all to come into an alliance with the Roman Catholic Church. They see the Reformation view of the doctrine of Justification as too exclusive and misinformed. What we need, they say, is a Spirit-centered or transformational view of the Gospel which brings the Protestant and Catholic views together.

All of these examples make it urgently clear that the truth of Justification by faith in Christ needs to be published with a strong and certain voice. It starts for all of us with having a sound understanding of the doctrine itself.

For an introduction to the subject of Justification by Grace through Faith read: "What Makes You Right with God?"

A shorter version of "What Makes Your Right with God?" can be found at "What is Justification?"