The Heart of the Reformation

The core concept of justification is being declared righteous in the presence of God, and it represents the pivotal aspect of salvation through Jesus Christ. This definition of justification is crucial and cannot be emphasized enough. As Martin Luther asserted, it is “the doctrine on which the church stands or falls,”[1] and John Calvin described it as “the main hinge on which religion turns.”[2]

Both the Catholic and Protestant perspectives share the same basic idea of being declared righteous before God, but they differ in how this righteousness is attained. The Catholic viewpoint leans toward infused righteousness, suggesting that God, through Christ, assists us in becoming righteous over time. However, the Scriptures offer a distinct understanding of how righteousness is bestowed upon us.

The root of the discrepancy in the Roman Catholic Church’s doctrine lies in the confusion between sanctification and justification. Properly distinguishing between the two concepts elucidates how believers can be simultaneously declared righteous (justification) and made righteous (sanctification).[3]

Imputed righteousness does not entail God helping us become righteous but involves Him attributing the righteousness of Christ to us through faith alone, as Romans 4:3 demonstrates. In contrast, infused righteousness can be likened to a gradual process where God, through Christ, continually purifies us, like cleaning soiled clothing. At times, we may soil what God is working on, necessitating the assistance of sacraments to maintain our spiritual purity.[4] These “stains” can be minor imperfections or, in more severe cases, grave sins that require confession and penance to avoid eternal damnation.

However, Scripture teaches that we are not merely covered with a layer of unrighteousness, nor is there a gradual cleansing of unrighteousness. Instead, there is a complete removal of unrighteousness and an imputation of Christ’s righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). This justification brings us into union with Christ, constituting the entirety of the process. To argue that our justification is incomplete is to argue that God’s work is unfinished.

In opposition to the infused righteousness held by the Roman Catholic Church, Jesus declared that His work was finished, encompassing both the active work imputed to us (John 17:4) and the passive work done on our behalf (John 19:30). If the infused righteousness view were accurate, Jesus would have said, “tag you’re it,” instead of “it is finished.”

Hence, the doctrine of the imputation of Christ’s righteousness lies at the heart of the Gospel. Without it, the Gospel loses its essential message, for it is this doctrine that truly makes it good news.