Justification

Justification is a concept in theology, especially in the various branches of Christianity. It refers to the act by which individuals are made or considered righteous through the action of God. The process of justification, the means by which it occurs, and its effects are areas of significant debate and divergence among Christian denominations.

Overview

Justification is a divine act where God declares the sinner to be innocent of his sins. It is not that the sinner is now sinless, but that he is "declared" sinless. This justification is a once-for-all, non-repeatable act of God. The sinner is justified before God and his relationship with God is changed forever.

Theological Perspectives

Protestantism

In Protestantism, justification is generally understood to be a forensic (i.e., purely legal) declaration by God that the believer is considered righteous. This is often related to the doctrine of imputed righteousness, where the righteousness of Christ is given to the believer at the moment of faith.

Roman Catholicism

In Roman Catholicism, justification includes both the infusion of righteousness into the believer (making the believer righteous), and the divine acceptance of this new righteousness.

Eastern Orthodoxy

In Eastern Orthodoxy, justification is achieved by cooperative grace, in which human free will and God's grace cooperate to lead to the believer's justification.

See also

• Sanctification
• Imputed righteousness
• Infused righteousness
• Righteousness