Declarative Justification
ALL evangelical Protestants hold the doctrine of justification by faith as a prominent article of their creed. They declare with great vehemence that we are “not under law, but under grace.” As a result of a one-sided, and consequently false, view of this fundamental truth of the gospel, many have come to treat justification by faith as an excuse for sin, rather than as a means of deliverance from sin. To such we commend the following clear statements concerning justification: “We are justified by faith instrumentally; by the blood of Christ meritoriously; and by works declaratively. To be justified at all is to be justified in all three ways.” “Faith alone justifies, but faith which justifies is never alone.” Justifying faith is “faith working through love.” We are told that “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness,” but we are just as plainly told that “faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect.” We should not be so fearful of the heresy of justification by works that we should discard the works of faith. Against the Pharisees Jesus brought the charge, “They say, and do not.” In Paul’s day some used the doctrine of the coming of the Lord as an excuse for idleness. For such the apostle laid down the rule, “If any will not work, neither let him eat.” The only legitimate use of food is to supply strength to be expended in working, and the refusal to work is a sufficient reason for cutting off the food. The gift of that faith which works can be received and retained only by permitting it to work in the life those fruits of righteousness which reveal the presence of Him who said, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” In teaching the doctrine of justification by faith we should not forget to make it clear that the genuine experience is revealed in works such as Jesus himself4commended. The righteousness of Christ is imparted, as well as imputed. We work out the salvation which he has worked in. Declarative justification means Christian character.