Justification by Faith Alone?

According to Migliore (2004), “justification is God’s gracious forgiveness of sins that is received by faith alone…That we are justified means that our justified means that our broken relationships with God has been restored by an act of free grace and forgiveness…God’s act of justification is a free gift and is no way dependent upon us, although it calls for our response” (p.  236). Justification by faith alone brings up the question, if we are justified, does it matter how live?  The Apostle Paul addresses this question in Romans 13:1-6:  

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.  Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.  We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin (NLT). 

It is helpful for us to address the inseparable nature of justification and sanctification.  Migliore (2004) highlights Calvin’s understanding of a two-fold grace through Christ; justification and sanctification.  Sanctification, like justification requires a response.  What does that response look like?  Does it mean that sanctification comes by our best efforts to live as God intends?  We can once again turn to Paul’s writing to address these questions.  In Galatians 5:3-6 Paul responses to the belief that gentile Christians need to be circumcises by stating:

I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.  But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love (NLT).

According to Paul seeking justification and sanctification by our own efforts negates the justification through faith.  Sanctification, like justification, is received by grace through faith.  The response needed is not change created by our effort, but rather, an intentional act of being receptive to God’s transformational grace.  Addressing the spiritual disciplines Foster (1998) states, “The Disciplines are God’s way of getting us into the ground; they put us where he can work within us and transform us…We must always remember that the path does not produce the change; it only places us where the change can occurs.  This is the path of disciplined grace” (p. 7-8).  Justification through faith calls for an initial response, to receive Christ’s atonement, but it also calls for an ongoing response, a response that allows for God’s transformation in our lives. 

Foster, R.J. (1998).  Celebration of Disciplines: The path to Spiritual growth 3^rd Ed.  San Francisco, CA: Harper.  

Migliore, D.L. (2004).  Faith seeking understanding: An introduction to Christian theology.  2^nd Ed.  Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.