bold = Main text
Chapter, Paragraph grey = Comment text
1 Pre, 1 | 1.The doctrine of justification was of central
2 Pre, 1 | doctrine of justification was of central importance for the
3 Pre, 1 | the Lutheran Reformation of the sixteenth century. It
4 Pre (1) | Smalcald Articles, II,1; Book of Concord, 292.~
5 Pre, 1 | doctrines."2 The doctrine of justification was particularly
6 Pre, 1 | Catholic Church and theology of that time, which in turn
7 Pre, 1 | and defended a doctrine of justification of a different
8 Pre, 1 | doctrine of justification of a different character. From
9 Pre, 1 | justification was the crux of all the disputes. Doctrinal
10 Pre (2) | doctrinarum" Weimar Edition of Luther's Works (WA), 39,
11 Pre, 1 | Catholic Church's Council of Trent. These condemnations
12 Pre, 2 | tradition, the doctrine of justification has retained
13 Pre (4) | Report of the Joint Lutheran-Roman
14 Pre, 3 | Justification by Faith" (1983)6 of the Lutheran-Roman Catholic
15 Pre, 3 | USA and "The Condemnations of the Reformation Era - Do
16 Pre, 3 | Ecumenical Working Group of Protestant and Catholic
17 Pre, 3 | theologians in Germany. Some of these dialogue reports have
18 Pre, 3 | churches. An important example of such reception is the binding
19 Pre, 3 | is the binding response of the United Evangelical-Lutheran
20 Pre, 3 | Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Germany to the "Condemnations"
21 Pre, 3 | the highest possible level of ecclesiastical recognition
22 Pre, 3 | with the other churches of the Evangelical Church in
23 Pre, 4 | 4. In their discussion of the doctrine of justification,
24 Pre, 4 | discussion of the doctrine of justification, all the dialogue
25 Pre, 4 | responses show a high degree of agreement in their approaches
26 Pre, 4 | to summarize the results of the dialogues on justification
27 Pre, 4 | about the overall results of this dialogue with the necessary
28 Pre, 5 | to show that on the basis of their dialogue the subscribing
29 Pre, 5 | articulate a common understanding of our justification by God'
30 Pre, 5 | consensus on basic truths of the doctrine of justification
31 Pre, 5 | basic truths of the doctrine of justification and shows
32 Pre (9) | the self-understandings of the participating churches,
33 Pre, 6 | let alone a replacement of them. Rather, as the appendix
34 Pre, 6 | Rather, as the appendix of sources shows, it makes
35 1 | 1. Biblical Message of Justification~
36 1, 8 | 8.Our common way of listening to the word of
37 1, 8 | of listening to the word of God in Scripture has led
38 1, 8 | Neh 9:16f,26) as well as of God's "righteousness" (Isa
39 1, 9 | Testament diverse treatments of "righteousness" and "justification"
40 1, 9 | are found in the writings of Matthew (5:10; 6:33; 21:
41 1, 9 | s letters also, the gift of salvation is described in
42 1, 9 | these is the "justification" of sinful human beings by God'
43 1 (10)| 122-147. At the request of the US dialogue on justification,
44 1 (10)| pp. 124-180. The results of this study were summarized
45 1, 10 | the gospel as the power of God for salvation of the
46 1, 10 | power of God for salvation of the person who has fallen
47 1, 10 | has fallen under the power of sin, as the message that
48 1, 10 | that "the righteousness of God is revealed through
49 1, 10 | resurrection all dimensions of his saving work have their
50 1, 10 | human beings are in need of God's righteousness, "since
51 1, 10 | have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:
52 1, 10 | fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23; cf. Rom
53 1, 10 | calls upon the testimony of the Old Testament to undergird
54 1, 10 | put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood,
55 1, 10 | own doing; it is the gift of God - not the result of
56 1, 10 | of God - not the result of works" (Eph 2:8f).~
57 1, 11 | Justification is the forgiveness of sins (cf. Rom 3:23-25; Acts
58 1, 11 | from the dominating power of sin and death (Rom 5:12-
59 1, 11 | 12-21) and from the curse of the law (Gal 3:10-14). It
60 1, 11 | occurs in the reception of the Holy Spirit in baptism
61 1, 11 | through faith in "the gospel of God's Son" (Rom 1:1-3). ~
62 1, 12 | that comes from the Word of Christ (Rom 10:17) and is
63 1, 12 | love (Gal 5:6), the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22f).
64 1, 12 | in accord with the will of God. That is why the Apostle
65 1, 12 | Gal 2:20). Christ's "act of righteousness leads to justification
66 2 | 2. The Doctrine of Justification as Ecumenical
67 2, 13 | interpretations and applications of the biblical message of
68 2, 13 | of the biblical message of justification were in the
69 2, 13 | century a principal cause of the division of the Western
70 2, 13 | principal cause of the division of the Western church and led
71 2, 13 | A common understanding of justification is therefore
72 2, 13 | By appropriating insights of recent biblical studies
73 2, 13 | on modern investigations of the history of theology
74 2, 13 | investigations of the history of theology and dogma, the
75 2, 13 | concerning the doctrine of justification. In light
76 2, 13 | justification. In light of this consensus, the corresponding
77 2, 13 | doctrinal condemnations of the sixteenth century do
78 3 | The Common Understanding of Justification~
79 3, 14 | theological conversations of recent years, has led to
80 3, 14 | to a shared understanding of justification. This encompasses
81 3, 15 | justification is the work of the triune God. The Father
82 3, 15 | foundation and presupposition of justification is the incarnation,
83 3, 15 | death, and resurrection of Christ. Justification thus
84 3, 15 | in accord with the will of the Father. Together we
85 3, 15 | saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we
86 3, 16 | sacrament in the community of believers and who, at the
87 3, 16 | believers into that renewal of life which God will bring
88 3, 17 | conviction that the message of justification directs us
89 3, 17 | special way towards the heart of the New Testament witness
90 3, 18 | 18.Therefore the doctrine of justification, which takes
91 3, 18 | more than just one part of Christian doctrine. It stands
92 3, 18 | essential relation to all truths of faith, which are to be seen
93 3, 18 | the teaching and practice of our churches to Christ.
94 3, 18 | the unique significance of this criterion, they do
95 3, 18 | interrelation and significance of all truths of faith. When
96 3, 18 | significance of all truths of faith. When Catholics see
97 3, 18 | deny the special function of the message of justification.
98 3, 18 | function of the message of justification. Lutherans
99 3, 18 | Catholics share the goal of confessing Christ in all
100 4 | the Common Understanding of Justification~
101 4, 19 | completely on the saving grace of God for their salvation.
102 4, 19 | to persons and the things of this world is no freedom
103 4, 19 | judgment and are incapable of turning by themselves to
104 4, 19 | God to seek deliverance, of meriting their justification
105 4, 19 | justification before God, or of attaining salvation by their
106 4, 20 | consent as itself an effect of grace, not as an action
107 4, 21 | human beings are incapable of cooperating in their salvation,
108 4, 21 | person can reject the working of grace. When they emphasize
109 4, 21 | exclude any possibility of contributing to one's own
110 4 | Justification as Forgiveness of Sins and Making Righteous~
111 4, 22 | power and imparts the gift of new life in Christ. When
112 4, 22 | love. These two aspects of God's gracious action are
113 4, 22 | 30): both the forgiveness of sin and the saving presence
114 4, 22 | and the saving presence of God himself. Because Catholics
115 4, 23 | emphasize that the righteousness of Christ is our righteousness,
116 4, 23 | through the declaration of forgiveness and that only
117 4, 23 | forgiving love ("the favor of God"12), they do not thereby
118 4, 23 | thereby deny the renewal of the Christian's life. They
119 4, 23 | the life-renewing effects of grace in human beings. ~
120 4, 24 | Catholics emphasize the renewal of the interior person through
121 4, 24 | person through the reception of grace imparted as a gift
122 4, 24 | always brings with it a gift of new life, which in the Holy
123 4, 24 | thereby deny that God's gift of grace in justification remains
124 4, 24 | justification remains independent of human cooperation. [cf.
125 4, 25 | faith in the saving action of God in Christ. By the action
126 4, 25 | in Christ. By the action of the Holy Spirit in baptism,
127 4, 25 | they are granted the gift of salvation, which lays the
128 4, 25 | or follows the free gift of faith is neither the basis
129 4, 25 | faith is neither the basis of justification nor merits
130 4, 26 | it affects all dimensions of the person and leads to
131 4, 26 | and love. In the doctrine of "justification by faith
132 4, 26 | justification itself and the renewal of one's way of life that necessarily
133 4, 26 | the renewal of one's way of life that necessarily follows
134 4, 26 | indicated from which the renewal of life proceeds, for it comes
135 4, 26 | comes forth from the love of God imparted to the person
136 4, 27 | through baptism as hearers of the word and believers in
137 4, 27 | in it. The justification of sinners is forgiveness of
138 4, 27 | of sinners is forgiveness of sins and being made righteous
139 4, 27 | which makes us children of God. In justification the
140 4, 27 | salvific and creative working of this gracious God, who remains
141 4, 27 | teaching emphasizes the renewal of life by justifying grace,
142 4, 28 | continuously exposed to the power of sin still pressing its attacks (
143 4, 28 | within the selfish desires of the old Adam (cf. Gal 5:
144 4, 29 | understand this condition of the Christian as a being "
145 4, 29 | grants the righteousness of Christ which they appropriate
146 4, 29 | Nevertheless, the enslaving power of sin is broken on the basis
147 4, 29 | sin is broken on the basis of the merit of Christ. It
148 4, 29 | on the basis of the merit of Christ. It no longer is
149 4 (15)| Apology II:38-45; Book of Concord, 105f.~
150 4, 30 | Catholics hold that the grace of Jesus Christ imparted in
151 4, 30 | sense" and that is "worthy of damnation" (Rom 8:1)16.
152 4, 30 | not merit the punishment of eternal death17 and does
153 4, 30 | and peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation through the
154 4, 30 | Reconciliation through the word of forgiveness imparted to
155 4, 30 | imparted to them in virtue of God's reconciling work in
156 4, 31 | standard for the conduct of the justified also. ~
157 4, 32 | distinction and right ordering of law and gospel is essential
158 4, 32 | essential for the understanding of justification. In its theological
159 4, 32 | unreservedly to the mercy of God in Christ, which alone
160 4, 33 | a lawgiver in the manner of Moses. When Catholics emphasize
161 4, 33 | to his children the grace of eternal life18. [See Sources
162 4 | 4.6 Assurance of Salvation~
163 4, 34 | on the mercy and promises of God. In spite of their own
164 4, 34 | promises of God. In spite of their own weakness and the
165 4, 34 | their faith, on the strength of Christ's death and resurrection
166 4, 34 | on the effective promise of God's grace in Word and
167 4, 34 | Sacrament and so be sure of this grace. ~
168 4, 35 | Reformers: in the midst of temptation, believers should
169 4, 35 | promise they are assured of their salvation, but are
170 4, 36 | Catholics can share the concern of the Reformers to ground
171 4, 36 | in the objective reality of Christ's promise, to look
172 4, 36 | liberates us from the darkness of sin and death and awakens
173 4 | 4.7 The Good Works of the Justified~
174 4, 37 | lives, this consequence of justification is also for
175 4, 37 | to bring forth the works of love. ~
176 4, 38 | by grace and the working of the Holy Spirit, contribute
177 4, 38 | meritorious" character of good works, they wish to
178 4, 38 | emphasize the responsibility of persons for their actions,
179 4, 38 | to contest the character of those works as gifts, or
180 4, 38 | remains the unmerited gift of grace. ~
181 4, 39 | 39.The concept of a preservation of grace
182 4, 39 | concept of a preservation of grace and a growth in grace
183 4, 39 | sharing in the righteousness of Christ is always complete.
184 4, 39 | they view the good works of Christians as the fruits
185 4, 39 | as the fruits and signs of justification and not as
186 4, 39 | unmerited "reward" in the sense of the fulfillment of God's
187 4, 39 | sense of the fulfillment of God's promise to the believer. [
188 5 | The Significance and Scope of the Consensus Reached~
189 5, 40 | 40.The understanding of the doctrine of justification
190 5, 40 | understanding of the doctrine of justification set forth
191 5, 40 | consensus in basic truths of the doctrine of justification
192 5, 40 | basic truths of the doctrine of justification exists between
193 5, 40 | and Catholics. In light of this consensus the remaining
194 5, 40 | the remaining differences of language, theological elaboration,
195 5, 40 | emphasis in the understanding of justification described
196 5, 40 | the Catholic explications of justification are in their
197 5, 41 | doctrinal condemnations of the 16th century, in so
198 5, 41 | they relate to the doctrine of justification, appear in
199 5, 41 | new light: The teaching of the Lutheran churches presented
200 5, 41 | condemnations from the Council of Trent. The condemnations
201 5, 41 | not apply to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church
202 5, 42 | away from the seriousness of the condemnations related
203 5, 42 | related to the doctrine of justification. Some were
204 5 (21)| Condemnations of the Reformation Era, 27.
205 5, 43 | consensus in basic truths of the doctrine of justification
206 5, 43 | basic truths of the doctrine of justification must come
207 5, 43 | influence the life and teachings of our churches. Here it must
208 5, 43 | there are still questions of varying importance which
209 5, 43 | relationship between the Word of God and church doctrine,
210 5, 43 | this common understanding of justification and to make
211 5, 43 | in the life and teaching of the churches. ~
212 5, 44 | overcoming the division of the church. We ask the Holy
213 App | Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification~In parts 3
214 App | Justification~In parts 3 and 4 of the "Joint Declaration"
215 App | hereafter: DH). ~Evaluation of the Pontifical Council for
216 App | Promoting Christian Unity of the Study Lehrverurteilungen -
217 App | hereafter: USA). ~Position Paper of the Joint Committee of the
218 App | Paper of the Joint Committee of the United Evangelical Lutheran
219 App | Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany and the LWF German
220 App | document "The Condemnations of the Reformation Era.Do They
221 App | VELKD). ~The Condemnations of the Reformation Era. Do
222 App | The Common Understanding of Justification (paras 17
223 App | forensically conceived picture of justification is of major
224 App | picture of justification is of major importance for Paul
225 App | biblical or Pauline way of representing God's saving
226 App | structures, and theologies of the church by the extent
227 App | hinder 'the proclamation of God's free and merciful
228 App | the Reformation doctrine of justification by faith alone,
229 App | out his saving gifts. All of us in this dialogue affirm
230 App | to foster 'the obedience of faith' (Rom. 1:5) in God'
231 App | Spirit, for the salvation of the faithful and the praise
232 App | and the praise and honor of the heavenly Father" (USA,
233 App | that reason, the doctrine of justification - and, above
234 App | from the forgiving love of God, which we merely allow
235 App | postconditions. The doctrine of justification therefore
236 App | particular interpretation of our relationship to God
237 App | to God can claim the name of 'Christian'. At the same
238 App | the fact that the doctrine of justification is significant
239 App | component within the whole of our church's teaching, but
240 App | whole doctrine and practice of our churches, is - from
241 App | from a Lutheran point of view - fundamental progress
242 App | Catholics, the doctrine of justification has a different
243 App | status in the hierarchy of truth; but both sides agree
244 App | agree that the doctrine of justification has its specific
245 App | particular interpretation of our relationship to God
246 App | to God can claim the name of "Christian". At the same
247 App | criteriological significance of the doctrine of justification
248 App | significance of the doctrine of justification for sacramentology,
249 App | which is the free gift of God's grace. Even the beginnings
250 App | grace. Even the beginnings of justification, for example,
251 App | not a 'work'. The response of faith is itself brought
252 App | through the uncoercible word of promise which comes to human
253 App | teaching construes the relation of God to his human creatures
254 App | monergism' or the sole efficacy of Christ in such a way, that
255 App | person's willing acceptance of God's grace - which is itself
256 App | which is itself a gift of God - has no essential role
257 App | emphasis on the passivity of human beings concerning
258 App | cooperation in the event of justification itself. Justification
259 App | Justification is the work of Christ alone, the work of
260 App | of Christ alone, the work of grace alone" (VELKD 84,3-
261 App | Justification as Forgiveness of Sins and Making Righteous (
262 App | creative and renewing character of God's love; nor does it
263 App | understood the 'crediting of Christ's justification'
264 App | without effect on the life of the faithful, because Christ'
265 App | where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life
266 App | the personal character of grace, and its link with
267 App | possession) on the part of the human being - something
268 App | 13) sums up in the triad of 'faith, hope, and love'" (
269 App | that faith in the sense of the first commandment always
270 App | nothing prior to the free gift of faith merits justification
271 App | justification and that all of God's saving gifts come
272 App | Christ effected by the word of promise itself .. This is
273 App | 50). ~- Cf. The Council of Trent, Session 6, Chap.
274 App | Consequently, in the process of justification, together
275 App | together with the forgiveness of sins a person receives,
276 App | God, so that the renewal of the human being, without
277 App | justification and sanctification, of faith and works, which however
278 App | emphasizing that the renewal of the human being does not '
279 App | compelled to stress the renewal of the human being through
280 App | justifying grace, for the sake of acknowledging God's newly
281 App | itself, and that the renewal of the human being does not
282 App | the sins that are those of daily existence.~What is
283 App | Concupiscence and other effects of original and personal sin,
284 App | contradiction to God ..object of the lifelong struggle against
285 App | question is how to speak of sin with regard to the justified
286 App | without limiting the reality of salvation. While Lutherans
287 App | which expresses the teaching of the Christian as 'being
288 App | Catholics think the reality of salvation can only be maintained
289 App | denying the sinful character of concupiscence. With regard
290 App | the Jewish law as means of salvation. This law was
291 App | reference to Canons 19f of the Council of Trent, the
292 App | Canons 19f of the Council of Trent, the VELKD (89,28-
293 App | follows:~"The ten commandments of course apply to Christians
294 App | as stated in many places of the confessions.. If Canon
295 App | to keep the commandments of God, this canon does not
296 App | power only on condition of keeping the commandments
297 App | Concerning the reference of the Canon regarding the
298 App | regarding the commandments of the church, there is no
299 App | commandments are only expressions of the commandments of God;
300 App | expressions of the commandments of God; otherwise it would
301 App | the 'convicting function' of the law which is important
302 App | thinking. ~For 4.6:Assurance of Salvation (paras.34-36) (
303 App | live before God in spite of their weakness, and with
304 App | foundation and the point of departure [of the Reformers
305 App | the point of departure [of the Reformers is] ..the
306 App | reliability and sufficiency of God's promise, and the power
307 App | s promise, and the power of Christ's death and resurrection;
308 App | LV:E 56). ~- The Council of Trent also emphasizes that "
309 App | divine mercy on account of Christ;" and that we must
310 App | must not doubt "the mercy of God, the merit of Christ
311 App | mercy of God, the merit of Christ and the power and
312 App | and the power and efficacy of the sacraments; so it is
313 App | his own weakness and lack of dispositions, to be anxious
314 App | fearful about his own state of grace" (Council of Trent,
315 App | state of grace" (Council of Trent, Session 6, chapter
316 App | personally the objective efficacy of the absolution pronounced
317 App | pronounced in the sacrament of penance, which comes 'from
318 App | assurance on the forgiveness of God uttered in the absolution ..
319 App | uncertain - that the assurance of forgiveness is not a security
320 App | forgiveness is not a security of forgiveness (securitas);
321 App | look only to Christ's word of forgiveness" (LV:E 53f). ~- "
322 App | in the objective reality of Christ's promise, 'whatsoever
323 App | believers on the specific word of absolution from sins. ..
324 App | Christ alone and his word of forgiveness [is not to be
325 App | regarding the understanding of the assurance of salvation "
326 App | understanding of the assurance of salvation "can even less
327 App | start from the foundation of a biblically renewed concept
328 App | biblically renewed concept of faith. For a person can
329 App | self-commitment to God and his word of promise. But if he believes
330 App | is unreliable in his word of promise. In this sense it
331 App | faith is the assurance of salvation" (LV:E 56). ~-
332 App | reference to the concept of faith of Vatican II, see
333 App | to the concept of faith of Vatican II, see Dogmatic
334 App | no. 5: "'The obedience of faith' ..must be given to
335 App | offering 'the full submission of intellect and will to God
336 App | the certitude (certitudo) of faith which looks alone
337 App | For 4.7:The Good Works of the Justified (paras.37-
338 App | excludes the possibility of earning grace - that is,
339 App | bases the earning or merit of eternal life on the gift
340 App | eternal life on the gift of grace itself, through membership
341 App | explicitly excludes any notion of a claim or any false security (
342 App | who introduced the concept of merit, in order to express
343 App | express the responsibility of human beings, in spite of
344 App | of human beings, in spite of the 'bestowed' character
345 App | the 'bestowed' character of good works" (LV:E 66). ~-
346 App | understand the language of "cause" in Canon 24 in more
347 App | it is done in chapter 16 of the Decree on Justification,
348 App | Justification, where the idea of communion with Christ is
349 App | done in the first sentence of the second paragraph of
350 App | of the second paragraph of 4.7: growth in grace, perseverance
351 App | connection with the true sense of the biblical term 'wage'
352 App | the confessions can speak of a preservation of grace
353 App | speak of a preservation of grace and a growth in it.
354 App | compared with it the works of Christians are only 'fruits'
355 App | that is owed - not because of our merits but because of
356 App | of our merits but because of the promise" (VELKD 94,20-
|