The Reformation Project: Thesis 8

8. Justification is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone for the glory of God alone. The only thing that we contribute to our justification is our sins.

The first statement in this thesis is a classic statement regarding four of the five solas ("alones") of the Protestant Reformation. Understanding the meaning of justification is of vital importance to understanding what Christianity is about; yet, surveys have indicated that a sizable percentage even of active churchgoers lack familiarity with the term.

Is that important? Many modern churches attempt to minimize religious lingo, and there is a sense in which they have a point. Over the years, churches have developed ways of speaking that don't make sense to outsiders -- and one might argue that in at least some cases are unbiblical. It seems proper that in some instances that language that lacks meaning to hearers should be discarded.

But, churches cannot lose all of their religious terminology without losing their Christian identity. One might illustrate this way. Several years ago, I lived in Nashville when an NHL team -- the Predators -- came to town. I had seen a few hockey games on television, but I did not really understand much in the way of strategy -- players coming on and off the ice seemed chaotic -- and many of the rules were a mystery. What is icing? Why did they call offsides?

The NHL did not change its rules and terms to help southerners unfamiliar with the game to figure it out. In my case, I was able to attend a presentation by the team's radio announcers -- hockey evangelists? -- who showed highlights while explaining rules and the ins and outs of what was happening during the game. I even learned about the ethics of brawling!

Then, the game made sense. I have since attended many games, both in Nashville and since moving to Dallas, and I enjoy the sport.

Terms like justification are key words to Christianity: you don't understand the game if you don't get this. For the health of the church, the content of the above thesis must be taught.

According to the standards of my church, justification is " an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone." Thinking through those phrases will call to mind the joyful benefits of having been justified.

For more of this series of posts, see the Table of Contents

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