Justification by Faith
As taught in the Methodist / Wesleyan tradition
The relative change of status where God pardons our sins and accepts us as righteous for Christ's sake.
The doctrine of justification by faith stands as the "articulus stantis et cadentis ecclesiae"—the article by which the church stands or falls. Within the Methodist tradition, this subtopic answers the most fundamental question of human existence: How can a sinful human being be made right with a holy and righteous God? For John Wesley and the subsequent Methodist movement, justification is not merely a legal transaction in the heavenly courts; it is the gateway to a restored relationship and the necessary precursor to the "new birth" and the lifelong journey of sanctification. While Wesley inherited the Reformation's emphasis on sola fide (faith alone), he nuanced it within a "Via Salutis" (Way of Salvation) that emphasized the preventer—or prevenient—grace of God, which enables the human response of faith.
By the end of this lesson
- **Identify** the distinctively forensic (legal) nature of justification within the Methodist *Via Salutis* and how it differs from the transformative nature of the New Birth.
- **Distinguish** between "prevenient grace," which prepares the soul for faith, and "justifying grace," which effects the pardon of the sinner.
- **Explain** the role of Christ’s "merit" as the sole meritorious cause of justification, as articulated in the Methodist Articles of Religion.
- **Articulate** the meaning of "faith" in the Wesleyan tradition, specifically as a "sure trust and confidence" in the mercy of God through Christ.
- **Trace** the historical development of the doctrine from the Protestant Reformation through John Wesley’s Aldersgate experience.
- **Defend** the doctrine of justification by faith alone (*sola fide*) against the charge that it leads to antinomianism (lawlessness).
- **Apply** the doctrine of justification to the practice of "Assurance," explaining how a believer can know they are right with God.
- **Compare** the Methodist reading of Romans 4 and 5 with mainstream Reformed and Roman Catholic interpretations, noting the emphasis on the "presentness" of salvation.
Scripture
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