Justification by Faith in the Biblical Narrative
Justification by Faith in the Biblical Narrative
The concept of justification by faith is rooted in the biblical narrative, particularly in the Pauline epistles. The apostle Paul writes in Romans 1:17 that "the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith" [2]. This statement underscores the centrality of faith in understanding God's righteousness.
Justification is a forensic term that refers to God's judicial act of pardoning sins and declaring believers righteous [1]. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, justification involves "the pardon of sin" and a declaration that "all the claims of the law are satisfied" [1]. This concept is closely tied to the idea of faith, which is described as "trust" in the biblical context [5].
In Romans 3:26, Paul explains that God is "just and the one who justifies the person by faith in Jesus" [3]. This verse highlights the connection between justification and faith in Jesus Christ. The Galatian epistle further emphasizes this link, stating that "a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ" [4].
The biblical basis for justification by faith is exemplified in the story of Abraham. According to Paul, Abraham's faith was "accounted to him for righteousness" (Galatians 3:6) [11]. This example illustrates that justification is not earned through works but is received through faith. The Reformed tradition, as represented by John Calvin, emphasizes that justification is a gift from God, received through faith alone [8].
Different Christian traditions have interpreted justification by faith in various ways. The Lutheran tradition, as expressed in the Augsburg Confession, affirms that "men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are justified freely for Christ's sake, by faith" [12]. Similarly, the Anglican tradition, as stated in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, asserts that "we are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith" [13].
The Eastern Orthodox tradition, represented by John Chrysostom, also emphasizes the importance of faith in justification, but understands it within the context of theosis, or deification [10]. The Reformed tradition, in line with Calvin's teachings, stresses the role of faith in justification while also highlighting the importance of the believer's union with Christ [8].
While there are nuances in how different traditions understand justification by faith, there is a broad consensus that faith is the means by which believers are justified before God. As Charles Hodge notes, "God justifies those who believe in the fulfilment of the promise" of redemption through Jesus Christ [9]. This understanding is rooted in the biblical narrative and has been a cornerstone of Christian theology across various traditions.
The implications of justification by faith are far-reaching. According to Matthew Henry, justification by faith brings peace with God, access to God's grace, and a sense of assurance [7]. This doctrine is closely tied to the concept of assurance, which is described as the "full assurance of faith" in Hebrews 10:22 [6].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Justification — A forensic term, opposed to condemnation. As regards its nature, it is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon (q.v.) of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; an”
- Romans “Romans 1:17 (LITV) — for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; even as it has been written, "But the just shall live by" "faith." Hab. 2:4”
- Romans “Romans 3:26 (LEB) — in the forbearance of God, for the demonstration of his righteousness in the present time, so that he should be just and the one who justifies the person by faith in Jesus.”
- Galatians “Galatians 2:16 (BSB) — know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Faith — Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true (Phil. 1:27; 2 Thess. 2:13). Its primary idea is trust. A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust. It admits of many degrees up to full assurance of faith, in accordance with the evidence on which it rests. Faith is the result of teaching (Rom. 10:14-17). Knowledge is an essential element in all faith, and is sometimes spoken of as an equivalent to faith (John 10:38; 1 John 2:3). Yet the two are distinguished in this respect, that faith includes in it assent, which is an act ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Assurance — The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the "assurance" (Gr. pistis, generally rendered "faith") or pledge God has given that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance. The "full assurance [Gr. plerophoria, full bearing'] of faith" (Heb. 10:22) is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. The "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2) is an entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth. The "full assurance ”
- Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 5 (introduction): The apostle, having made good his point, and fully proved justification by faith, in this chapter proceeds in the explication, illustration, and application of that truth. I. He shows the fruits of justification (Rom 5:1-5). II. He shows the fountain and foundation of justification in the death of Jesus Christ, which he discourses of at large in the rest of the chapter.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 66: 2036 CHAPTER 11. OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH. BOTH THE NAME AND THE REALITY DEFINED. In this chapter and the seven which follow, the doctrine of Justification by Faith is expounded, and opposite errors refuted. The following may be regarded as the arrangement of these chapters:—Chapter 11 states the doctrine, and the four subsequent chapters, by destroying the righteousness of works, confirm the righteousness of faith, each in the order which appears in the respective titles of these chapters. In Chapter 12 the doctrine of Justificat”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 23: and yet the justifier of them that believe. The Apostle teaches that such has been the method of justification from the beginning. It was witnessed by the law and the prophets. There had never, since the fall, been any other way of justification possible for men. As God justified Abraham because he believed in the promise of redemption through the Messiah; so He justifies those now who believe in the fulfilment 153 of that promise. ( Rom. iv. 3, 9, 24 .) It was not Abraham’s believing state of mind that was taken for righteousness. It is ”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: shows further from Scripture that none other than believers have a share in Abraham’s blessing, i.e., are justified.”—Meyer.—G.A.] Then, that they might not turn round, and object that, true it was Abraham was justified by Faith, for the Law was not then given, but what instance would be found of Faith justifying after the delivery of the Law? he addresses himself to this, and proves more than they required: namely, not only that Faith was justifying, but that the Law brought its adherents under a curse. To be sure of this, liste”
- Galatians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Galatians 3:6: The apostle having reproved the Galatians for not obeying the truth, and endeavoured to impress them with a sense of their folly herein, in these verses he largely proves the doctrine which he had reproved them for rejecting, namely, that of justification by faith without the works of the law. This he does several ways. I. From the example of Abraham's justification. This argument the apostle uses, Rom. 4. Abraham believed God, and that was accounted to him for righteousness (Gal 3:6); that is, his faith fastened upon the word and promise of God, and upon his be”
- Augsburg Confession (Lutheran) “Augsburg Confession (Lutheran, 1530), Article IV. Of Justification.: Article IV. Of Justification.”
- Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), 11.Of Justification.: 11.Of Justification.”