What is Justification?: Debate: Rebuttals

This is the second part of the debate between Jim Drickamer and myself on the topic of Justification.

Jim Drickamer’s Rebuttal: Calvinist View

Kevin wrote in his explanation of the Roman Catholic position on justification that, “Christ instead of declaring us righteous actually makes us righteous.” It would have been a much more accurate representation of the Bible’s doctrine of justification for him to have written, “Christ in addition to declaring us righteous also makes us righteous.”

Scripture teaches that there is a process of growing in holiness. In Romans 12, Paul calls it being conformed to the image of Christ and being transformed by the renewing of your mind. In II Peter 3: 18, the apostle says to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In Philippians 3: 12, Paul describes himself as not already perfect but as someone who is pressing on to make it his own. And in James 2: 24, this apostle writes that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Clearly, there is a process here.

Scripture also teaches in Romans 3: 21 that the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law. In Romans 3: 22, Paul writes about the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. He teaches that people are justified by God’s grace as a gift through the redemption in Christ. In Romans 3: 26 Paul says that God is the One Who justifies the person who has faith in Jesus. He tells us that the apostles held to the teaching that people are justified by faith. In Romans 4: 3, Paul gives us the example of Abraham whose faith was accounted to him as righteousness. Paul even tells us that God did not write only for Abraham that his faith was accounted to him as righteousness, but God also wrote that for us, in that we are also justified through faith.

Just as clearly as there is a process to justification, there is also an accounting or reckoning or imputation by God, a declaration by Christ, that sinners are justified by grace through faith.

In other words, justification has two different meanings in Scripture. In some contexts, it is a process of being made righteous. In others, it is the imputation or gift of righteousness to a believer.

But justification should never be understood as merely a legal construct or opinion inferred or implied by words with no basis in fact and reality.

Paul tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3: 23). And they are justified by God’s grace as a gift through the redemption in Christ (Romans 3: 24). God put forward Jesus as a propitiation by His blood to be received by faith (Romans 3: 25). God did this, because He had passed over sins in former times (Romans 3: 25). Passing over sin without punishing the guilty would be an injustice. But God showed that He was just and the Justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. The guilty were punished, because God made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us (II Corinthians 5: 21). Christ died for our sins (I Corinthians 15: 3). Christ has become the Mediator of the New Covenant so that those who are called receive an eternal inheritance, because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant (Hebrews 9: 15). Christ has appeared once for all to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Hebrews 9: 26). God has made those who believe in Christ alive together with Christ, by canceling the record of debt that stood against them. He set this aside by nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2: 13-14). Or in the words of Isaiah 53: 11, “Out of the anguish of His soul He shall see and be satisfied; by His knowledge shall the righteous One, My Servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and He shall bear their iniquities.”

When God imputes righteousness to believers, He is not seeing in them a fictitious, dreamed up, phony righteousness. Instead, He is imputing to them the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Faith is the instrument through which a man is justified, but the ground, the basis of this justification is the person and work of Jesus Christ Himself.

According to Romans 5: 1, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Through Christ we also have obtained access by faith to this grace in which we stand, and a process begins. We rejoice in sufferings. We know that suffering produces endurance, then character, and then hope. While we were weak, Christ died for the ungodly. God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Therefore, since we have been justified by His blood, we shall be saved by Him from the wrath of God.

Kevin has written about four phases of justification: initial, progressive, final, and re-justification. He does not indicate where being declared righteous by faith fits into these phases. It is likely, however, as the first justification to be what Kevin calls initial. This brings up an important question:

By grace through faith on account of Christ, God justifies a sinner. It is reasonable to think that at the same time that sinner’s progressive justification is begun. Let’s say this sinner dies without having made much significant progress in progressive justification. What else is required for him to be fit for Heaven according to Revelation 21: 27?

The correct answer is nothing, unless God is to be unjust through double jeopardy. God has already laid all of that sinner’s sins on Jesus. Jesus has already atoned for all of them. God has already declared that sinner not guilty of any sin. Whatever impurities or unholiness there was in that man has been removed from God’s sight. Besides, his name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Word Count: 993

Kevin Noles’ Rebuttal: Catholic View

In surprising fashion, Jim decided not to really rebut my opening statement but instead preach on topics that we both mostly agree with. Only the last three paragraphs did he decide to debate this topic. He could mean anything by it since there can be many different answers dependent upon the situation that Jim intends here since he never addressed final justification. It is quite disappointing there was not more substance here since I know there is plenty that we could hash out.

Jim misunderstands me when he says, “It would have been a much more accurate representation of the Bible’s doctrine of justification…” I will clarify. A declaration by God is a creative act. When God declares something it becomes something. When God said “Let there be light,” it isn’t the declaration we are in awe about but the creative power of His words that actually brought forth light. The same goes for, at Judgment Day, and declares us in whatever state we are in. We actually become what God declares. Jim acknowledged this creative power in his rebuttal so there is no need to go further.

Jim brings up a great point with the Book of Life. Since Jim believes in Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS) and no necessity of Re-justification it makes sense to address this.

Revelation 20:12: “Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done.”

Exodus 32:33: ‘But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.’

Psalm 69:28: “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous”

If you are in the Book of Life you are saved yet the last two verses tell us that you can also be blotted out of the Book of Life

If Jim’s intent, with his question, was that the person’s name continued in the Book of Life then he of course is saved as that is what is meant in the Bible about your name being in the Book. However, this does not detract from someone who had their name blotted out and never again was put in. Those people are clearly not saved any more. Jim makes the assumption that OSAS is true but provides no evidence of it and cannot since it runs contrary to the Bible as shown in these verses. The implications of OSAS is that once we are saved in our initial justification we can commit sins ad infinitum and still be saved since good works are not automatic otherwise we would see many, many more saints on earth who do nothing but Holy works and a constant avoidance of sin. Instead, this is not the world we live in. We have a world full of sin and it is near impossible to tell most Christians from Atheists. No, instead people who commit mortal sins separate themselves from Christ and in effect get blotted out of the Book of Life as Exodus 32:33 says.

St. Paul shows us this in Romans 2:

Romans 2:6-7: “For he will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life”

Romans 2:10: “but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.”

Romans 2:13: “For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.”

By our works comes the final justification or, if we choose not to be obedient, our condemnation. Faith is assumed. As I showed in my opening statement, St. Paul himself admits that he too could be blotted out (disqualified).

It’s interesting that Jim uses Abraham since his faith journey resembles Catholic teaching much more than Protestant teaching. Abraham was justified three times. Not twice as Jim claims but three.

In reference to Genesis 12 the author of Hebrews states:

Hebrews 11:8: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go.”

Abraham is reckoned righteous in Genesis 15:6.

James 2:20-24, “Do you want to be shown, you foolish fellow, that faith apart from works is barren? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, and the scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness”; and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

James here is referring to Genesis 22:6, “And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife” and says he was justified because of his actions! This is progressive justification, faith and works working hand in hand.

If Jim believes OSAS to be true (hence no need for Re-justification) he needs to show that we cannot ever be separated from Christ, that St. Paul doesn’t mean that he would become disqualified from salvation and that we do not need to act in congruence with Christ in our salvation. If one, who is saved, chooses to work against Christ by committing sin it is them who separates themselves from God. God, being just allows us to be with Him or against Him but also is all forgiving should we choose to return to Him. Surely a just God would allow us this freedom instead of choosing ahead of time who is saved and who is not saved even if He knows what choices we will make.