7 Quick Takes on Justification

7 Quick Takes on Justification

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There are two valid definitions for “Justification”.

1. The forgiveness of sins
2. A declaration of righteousness

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There are also two ways that one is justified.

The first is accomplished in the Sacraments, when our sins are washed away as we call upon Christ's name (Acts 22:16). This is justification by faith apart from works.

The second is accomplished at the Judgment Seat of Christ where we will be judged for all that we have done in the Body, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). This is justification by faith and works.

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Justification by faith and works is also the preparation of man for the reception of grace in the Sacraments: 

2001 The preparation of man for the reception of grace is already a work of grace. This latter is needed to arouse and sustain our collaboration in justification through faith, and in sanctification through charity. God brings to completion in us what he has begun, "since he who completes his work by cooperating with our will began by working so that we might will it:" Indeed we also work, but we are only collaborating with God who works, for his mercy has gone before us. It has gone before us so that we may be healed, and follows us so that once healed, we may be given life; it goes before us so that we may be called, and follows us so that we may be glorified; it goes before us so that we may live devoutly, and follows us so that we may always live with God: for without him we can do nothing. http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2001.htm

An adult who converts to the faith of Jesus Christ, must justify himself in preparation for the Sacraments by performing works worthy of penance. He performs these good works by exercising faith in God. Just as we exercise our muscles, this strengthens his faith making him more open to receive the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit which transforms him according to his faith. He is then sent out again to continue doing the works which God prepared for him from the beginning of time and continue to exercise and enlarge his faith so that he becomes more open and properly disposed to receive more Sanctifying grace which is imparted by the Sacraments.

Which is completely consistent with Scripture which says, only doers of the law will be justified (Romans 2:13) apart from the works of the law (Romans 3:28).

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Luther confused Justification by faith apart from works with faith alone.

When St. Paul said, “justified by faith apart from works”, Luther interpreted that as faith “alone”: But that s not what St. Paul meant. St. Paul was teaching the justification which occurs in the Sacraments.

Let me explain:

St. Paul taught the Catholic Teaching that only those who do the works of the Law are justified:

Romans 2:13
King James Version (KJV)
13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

In Catholic Teaching, we are justified by faith and works. That is the foundation and root of all justification. Faith is expressed and perfected in works.

However, the Church also teaches that we are justified in the Sacraments where we are washed in sanctifying grace. Especially Baptism. Sacraments are God’s mighty works. We don’t do anything except submit to His works in the proper dispostion, which is that of faith.

This is the Justification by faith apart from works to which St. Paul referred.

The process is evident in every semester of RCIA. By faith, we seek the Lord and study to show ourselves approved. Only those who undergo this process are then JUSTIFIED in Baptism.

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Justification by faith apart from works succinctly describes the Sacraments of Baptism,
Reconciliation, Confirmation, Anointing and Eucharist.

The Catholic Church teaches that the Sacraments are Works of God: 

740 These "mighty works of God," offered to believers in the sacraments of the Church, bear their fruit in the new life in Christ, according to the Spirit. (This will be the topic of Part Three.)

987 "In the forgiveness of sins, both priests and sacraments are instruments which our Lord Jesus Christ, the only author and liberal giver of salvation, wills to use in order to efface our sins and give us the grace of justification" (Roman Catechism, I, 11, 6).

This is also what Scripture calls justification by grace (Romans 3:24). And justification by faith apart from works (Gal 2:16). It is the reason why we walk on Mt. Sion with the Saints (Heb 12:22-24). It is the advantage which Christians who are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have over all other nations and creeds. The Sacraements are pre-Judgment events.

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Scripture tells us that God selects and justifies only from the group of men who do the works of the law.  

Not from those who do not keep His Law.

Salvation by faith and works is the teaching of Scripture:
Romans 2:
King James Version (KJV)
6Who will render to every man according to his deeds:7To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

Romans 2:13
(For not the he
arers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Romans 8:7-8
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

In other words, doing the law doesn't automatically justify anyone. But not doing the law automatically condemns. Because those who are justified will only come from the set of people who do the works of the law.


Example:
A man is an unrepentant murderer and sinner. He will never be justified by God because he rejects the law. He will be condemned. Scripture says elsewhere:

1 John 3:4
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Therefore, if you read Romans 2, it says:

Romans 2

⁴Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

⁵But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

⁶Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

⁷To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

⁸But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

⁹Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

¹⁰But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

¹¹For there is no respect of persons with God.

A man keeps the law in obedience to Christ:

Galatians 3:24

King James Version (KJV)

²⁴Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Which brings us to the Sacraments. For one must have faith in order to be justified and Baptism is the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Spirit. One can't approach Baptism without faith demonstrated in works of love.

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Therefore, faith and works are the basis of all justification.

a. Because only those who believe God’s promises will be justified by God in the Sacraments (Mark 16:16; 1 Cor 11:28-29).
b. And only those who prove their faith by works of love will be justified by God (Romans 2:13; Gal 5:6).
c. And of course, it is the basis of our justification before the Just Judge on the Last Day, when God will bring to light what all men have done:

1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

But Justification by faith apart from works and Justification by faith and works are seamlessly combined in the Catholic Sacramental System.  (Read More)

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