In the article, “Joint Declaration on the doctrine of justification”, by the Lutheran World federation and the Catholic Church, the author takes us through a journey of the pivotal basis for the Lutheran and the Roman Catholics Church dialogue, that before now was a subject of condemnation. Further showing us that there was no basis for condemnation, as a common ground was reached on their individual beliefs of their understanding of being justified by faith through Christ. What the compilers of the dialogue report clearly state in the pages of the work is that, what both the Lutheran and the Roman Catholic Church teaches about justification by faith is the same; the perceived difference is in their method of delivery.
Furthermore, the writers of this report journeyed with us through biblical passages, on different teachings on justification by faith. Some of the detailed topics on justification are: righteousness and justification, justification and forgiveness of sins, and the faith work of a justified man.
Again, the writers went back to the sixteenth century and made a brief highlight of the reason for the dialogue, stating that, the doctrine of justification was the root cause of the division of the western church. And that for the wounds to be healed, and gaps bridged, a consensus needs to be reached on the topic, based on modern studies.
Finally, the writers outlined the key areas on which a common understanding was built. Some of which are that: God alone justifies a man, man is justified by his faith in Christ, and that justification is not by our effort, but by Gods grace.
Justification and Satisfaction
Justification and satisfaction, can best be linked by making reference to the book of Isaiah chapter fifty three and verse eleven, which talks about the suffering of Christ on the cross and God deriving satisfaction from seen his son on the cross(New King James Version,Is.53.11).From the text, we can deduce that, God is speaking of himself and his son, that the suffering of his son satisfies his justices, or meets his standard for the forgiveness of the sins of humanity.The text further explains that, humanity is justified through their knowledge of him, that is speaking of Christ. In another bible passage it speaks of faith coming through the hearing of Gods word, the implication is that as we listen to his word to gain knowledge, our faith Builds through which we are justified.
Personal Thoughts
I firmly believe that, man is justified by faith. Man on his own is imperfect in his dealings, often times he finds it difficult to do the things that he wills, as clearly encapsulated in Pauls teachings. Our justification is therefore by faith in Gods words, which by implication is faith in Christ. In Genesis one the bible writes that, in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God. In the book of John the bible speaks of the word becoming flesh, which is Christ that was prophetically announces in Genesis one. This is to say that, man is justified through faith in Christ, the son of God. If this understanding of Gods Word was available then, as it is now, they would have been no basis for the condemnation between the Lutheran, and the Catholic Church.
Works Cited
The New King James Version. Ed. Thomas Nelson. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1980. Print.