Faith and Justification

Faith and Justification, Part II
Justification and Salvation

Related Posts: Why Covenants? ; Justification ; Grace ; Election ; Faith and Charity

Though we may “attain unto faith” (Mor. 7:40), we are not yet saved. Once we have attained unto faith we must add “to faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity” (2 Peter 1:5-7). This is the diligence that Peter taught is necessary “to make your calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10).

Paul wrote that we are “justified by faith” (Rom. 5:1-2) and also “a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ…for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Gal. 2:16). But Paul also taught that “[the] doers of the law shall be justified” (Rom. 2:13). Justification does not come by means of obedience. It is by faith. Nevertheless, the doers or the law shall be justified. In other words justification is by faith, but obedience to the commandments is necessary. Faith entails obedience, and we know that the wicked “shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:20-21; Rom. 2:8). But what is the relationship between justification and obedience.

There are several ways in which the word justification is used. I shall focus on one.

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