So what exactly is the Doctrine of Justification by Faith Alone? First we must define what it means to be justified in the eyes of God. Based upon what was accomplished on the Cross, God pardons and declares the sinner to be "just", and Christ's righteousness is passed upon to the sinner. Wayne Grudem defined "justification" in his "Systematic Theology" book as: "An instantaneous legal act of God in which he (1) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ's righteousness as belonging to us, and (2) declares us to be righteous in his sight."
Now that we have established what it means to be justified, we will look at how we are declared to be justified. We must first have true, saving faith. "yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified." (Galatians 2:16). Once the sinner is given the gift of faith, they are then declared justified. Faith is the means in which God justifies us. It is not meant to try to earn favor with God.
There are no other ways to be declared "not guilty" by God. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that justification is first obtained by baptism, and then if the adult is to continue to be justified, faith is essential. Faith alone is not enough, and you must accept the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. The RCC also teaches that there are different levels of justification. Ludwig Ott, Catholic theologian, wrote: "The Council of Trent, however, declared that the measure of grace of justification received varies in the individual person who is justified, according to the measure of God's free distribution and to the disposition and the co-operation of the recipient himself." When we make justification of our own merit, it is no longer a free gift from God. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
As a side note, if you believe in justification by faith alone, the RCC has declared anathema on you. From the Council of Trent:
"CANON XXIV.-If any one saith, that the justice received is not preserved and also increased before God through good works; but that the said works are merely the fruits and signs of Justification obtained, but not a cause of the increase thereof; let him be anathema."
In every religion, man works towards God. Biblical Christianity, however, states that we are saved by grace through faith alone. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) Even though we are required to believe, that faith is still a gift from God. The good works that the Apostle Paul goes on to talk about are the result of true faith. "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1) Because God has made a legal declaration that, through faith, Christ's righteousness has been given to us, we are no longer at war with God.
The righteousness that we are given, is one not of our own, but one that belonged to someone else. It is justitia alienum, an alien righteousness. It is outside of us, extra nos. It belongs to Christ. Martin Luther wrote, in regards to alien righteousness: "Everything which Christ has is ours, graciously bestowed on us unworthy men out of God’s sheer mercy, although we have rather deserved wrath and condemnation, and hell also. Through faith in Christ, therefore, Christ’s righteousness becomes our righteousness and all that he has becomes ours; rather, he himself becomes ours."
Confusion about justification through faith alone comes sometimes when reading James 2:14-17: "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James is merely stating that if someone professes faith, but does not produce any form of good works, then they do not possess true saving faith at all. This is not true faith, and it is useless.
When we deny, or don't have a proper understanding of "justification by faith alone", we deny God all the glory due to Him. There are no works, or sacraments that can earn our way to Heaven. Yet, the Doctrine of Justification by Faith Alone leaves us fully dependent on God. It is only by placing your faith in Jesus Christ that Christ's righteousness will be counted as yours.
"For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law"- Romans 3:28
“Once
a Christian is righteous by faith and has accepted the forgiveness of
sins, he should not be so smug, as though he were pure of all sins… He
is righteous and holy by an alien or foreign holiness—I call it this for
the sake of instruction—that is, he is righteous by the mercy and grace
of God. This mercy and grace is not something human; it is not some
sort of disposition or quality in the heart. It is a divine blessing… Is
not this righteousness an alien righteousness? It consists completely
in the indulgence of another and is a pure gift of God, who shows mercy
and favour for Christ’s sake.’ - See more at:
http://churchsociety.org/blog/entry/alien_righteousness#sthash.SZHb6cD7.dpuf
“Once
a Christian is righteous by faith and has accepted the forgiveness of
sins, he should not be so smug, as though he were pure of all sins… He
is righteous and holy by an alien or foreign holiness—I call it this for
the sake of instruction—that is, he is righteous by the mercy and grace
of God. This mercy and grace is not something human; it is not some
sort of disposition or quality in the heart. It is a divine blessing… Is
not this righteousness an alien righteousness? It consists completely
in the indulgence of another and is a pure gift of God, who shows mercy
and favour for Christ’s sake.’ - See more at:
http://churchsociety.org/blog/entry/alien_righteousness#sthash.SZHb6cD7.dpuf
“Once
a Christian is righteous by faith and has accepted the forgiveness of
sins, he should not be so smug, as though he were pure of all sins… He
is righteous and holy by an alien or foreign holiness—I call it this for
the sake of instruction—that is, he is righteous by the mercy and grace
of God. This mercy and grace is not something human; it is not some
sort of disposition or quality in the heart. It is a divine blessing… Is
not this righteousness an alien righteousness? It consists completely
in the indulgence of another and is a pure gift of God, who shows mercy
and favour for Christ’s sake.’ - See more at:
http://churchsociety.org/blog/entry/alien_righteousness#sthash.SZHb6cD7.dpuf
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