Justification by Faith
As taught in the Anglican / Episcopal tradition
Teaching that we are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of Christ and not for our own works.
In the Anglican tradition, the doctrine of justification by faith is not merely one theological proposition among many; it is, as the Reformers often stated, the articulus stantis et cadentis ecclesiae—the article by which the church stands or falls. For the serious learner, understanding this subtopic requires moving beyond the surface-level definitions of "saved by grace" to a deep engagement with the question: How can a sinful human being stand before a holy and righteous God without being consumed? The Anglican answer, forged in the fires of the 16th-century English Reformation and anchored in the Prayer Book and the Thirty-nine Articles, is that we are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works or deservings.
By the end of this lesson
- **Identify** the forensic (legal) nature of justification as distinct from the transformative nature of sanctification within the Anglican tradition.
- **Distinguish** between the "instrumental cause" of justification (faith) and the "meritorious cause" (the work of Christ).
- **Explain** the concept of "imputed righteousness" and how it differs from the Roman Catholic concept of "infused righteousness" as defined during the Reformation era.
- **Articulate** the relationship between faith and good works as presented in Article XII of the Thirty-nine Articles, ensuring that works are seen as the "fruit" rather than the "root" of salvation.
- **Trace** the historical development of the doctrine from the Pauline epistles through the English Reformation, specifically referencing the contributions of Thomas Cranmer.
- **Defend** the doctrine of justification by faith against the twin errors of legalism (earning salvation) and antinomianism (the belief that grace excuses lawless living).
- **Apply** the pastoral implications of this doctrine to the "troubled conscience," explaining how justification provides objective assurance of God’s love.
- **Compare** the classic Anglican Reformational view of justification with modern "New Perspective" readings (e.g., N.T. Wright), noting points of continuity and divergence.
Scripture
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