Reformation Sunday October 30, 2011 Sermon Romans 3:21-26 Sola Fide: By Faith Alone
The Trajectory of the Doctrine of Justification Definition: “Justification is an act of God whereby He declares unjust sinners to be just after He has imputed to them the righteousness of Christ.” (R.C. Sproul) Taught in Scripture Our individual problem: we are not righteous (just) (Rom 3:9-20) The difficulty of our justification: How can a just God declare us righteous (just) without violating His own glory? (Job 9:2; Ps 130:3; Rom 3:19-20) The ground of justification: the obedience of Christ in His life and death (Rom 5:18; Gal 4:5) The cause of justification God's free gift (Rom 1:17; 3:21) Not caused by good works (it is apart from the law) (Rom 3:21) The “components” of justification Imputation of Christ's righteousness to us (Rm 4:3; Gn 15:6) Imputation of our sins to Christ (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:24) The means of justification (the instrumental cause): faith alone in Jesus Christ alone (Rom 3:22, 28-30; 4:1-3, 16; Gal 2:16) Corrupted by the Catholic church Infused righteousness Baptism as the primary instrumental cause of justification Indulgences Recovered in the Reformation Imputed righteousness (Rom 3:22-26; 4:5-8; 5:19-21; Titus 3:5-7) Challenged by critics Apparent conflict with James “New view” of Pauline justification Evangelicals and Catholics Together (ECT), 1994, 1997 Impact of social issues (abortion, homosexuality) Compromises sola fide Proclaimed by the Church (Gal 3:8-9; 2:15-21) Justification by faith alone: “The article upon which the church stands or falls” (Martin Luther)
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