Justification

We are indebted to the Reformation for the recovery of the truth of salvation through faith alone and not works. Truly, the Reformation was a glorious light after the darkness of the ages that preceded it. Nevertheless, much teaching remained clouded by the prejudices of former thinking. It remained until the 1800's before the truth of justification was brought into the full light of Scripture. Nevertheless, even today, the most common teaching concerning justification is called the "Imputed Righteousness of Christ." Unfortunately, it confounds God's righteousness with righteous conduct in man, and the law becomes the measure of Christ's righteousness. In the Pauline doctrine of justification, I now stand before God in Christ, in all the blessedness of that position knowing that my sins have been forgiven, my guilt has been put away, and I have been judicially cleared from all the consequences connected with my former life; I am "justified in Christ" (Gal. 2:17 JND). The life I once had is altogether done with at the cross.