Justification, forgiveness and works

Justification, literally, is to be made righteous (or just) in the eyes of God.  It is simultaneously, the process of Sanctification.  Being made right in the eyes of God, we are made holy.  Sanctified.

The entire process begins, in my opinion, with the process of "sanctification".  Turning to and seeking God.  At this point, one begins to seek justification but has already begun the process of sanctification because in seeking God, one acts in a holy manner.


This is done by works.  Sanctification is done by learning what it is that God desires of us and putting that knowledge into action.  Once we begin to do the works which God wants, then we begin to become just in His eyes.  As Scripture says:
Luke 11:41
But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

I take this to mean that as we do the works which God wills for us, He begins to forgive our sins.  

At a certain point, however, we become contrite of our past sins and seek forgiveness.  THIS is that aspect of justification which I frequently forget.  And it is the reason why I frequently get confused when reading 
Romans 4.

Romans 4

1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
² For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 

³ For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

⁴ Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

⁵ But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

⁶ Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

⁷ Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

⁸ Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

⁹ Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

As mentioned in previous blogs.  St. Paul was here making a Sacramental teaching.  He was not teaching the false doctrine of faith alone.  He was teaching the Catholic Doctrine that in the Sacraments one must have faith in Christ, we call it the "proper disposition", and Christ will do the work of washing our souls of sin.

But what is Christ doing specifically?  What is that called?  We call it "justification".  It is sanctification in a roundabout way because when our souls are wiped clean, we are therefore right before God.  Holy.

But it is also called something else.  Forgiveness.  That is precisely the point which kept confusing me with the reference to David.  King David is making a reference to his adultery with Bathsheba.  He is making a reference to God forgiving him for his sin.  And he did no works in order that his sin not be imputed to him.  He merely repented.  God did the rest.

Why is that important?  To me, its important because I'm trying to understand how Martin Luther, presuming good faith, could have gotten it so wrong?

Sincerely,

De Maria