Q. 50. What is justification?
Justification is an act of God’s free grace in which he pardons all our sins and accepts us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ, received by faith alone, and not for our own works or merit.
Genesis 15:6; Psalm 32:1–2; Isaiah 61:10; Micah 7:18; Habakkuk 2:4; Luke 18:14; Romans 3:21–28; 4:5–8, 25; 5:1, 16–19; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21; Ephesians 2:8–9; Philippians 3:9; Galatians 2:16; Titus 3:5–7.
- AOR 11
- WSC 33
- WCF 11
- Heidelberg Catechism 56
- Belgic Confession 22–23
- Augsburg Confession 4
Free grace. Justification is by grace alone (sola gratia). It is the free gift of God’s love and mercy for mankind. “A man is not justified by the precepts of a holy life, but by faith in Jesus Christ — in a word, not by the law of works, but by the law of faith; not by the letter, but by the spirit; not by the merits of deeds, but by free grace” (Augustine, On the Spirit and the Letter 22).
Righteousness of Christ. We are justified “through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). Christ fully paid for our sins so that we could be fully pardoned (see Q. 31).
Received by faith alone. Faith alone (sola fide) is the only instrumental or receiving cause of justification. “We do not mean, properly speaking, that it is faith itself that justifies us—for faith is only the instrument by which we embrace Christ, our righteousness” (Belgic Confession 22). “We, too, being called by his will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or understanding, or godliness, or works which we have wrought in holiness of heart; but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has justified all men; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Clement of Rome, First Epistle 32). “It is ordained of God that he who believes in Christ is saved, freely receiving remission of sins, without works, by faith alone” (Ambrose, Commentary on Luke 7:50). This does not mean that good works are unnecessary (see Q. 51).
Not … works or earnings. We cannot earn forgiveness or attain a right standing before God by doing good works or keeping the law: “by works of the law no one will be justified” (Galatians 2:16). If we trust in ourselves that we are righteous, we will not be justified by God (Luke 18:9–14). This is good news for those who are “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3), and painfully aware of their own unworthiness. If we had to earn our right standing before God through our own works, we would inevitably fail, and be filled with fear and anxiety in God’s presence. But if our right standing before God comes through Christ alone, then by faith in him we can enjoy peace, comfort, and calm assurance. “That we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine and very full of comfort” (AOR 11). “Our blessedness lies in the forgiveness of our sins because of Jesus Christ” (Belgic Confession 23).
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