When we speak of the bible terms “justification” we are referring to “an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardons all our sins, and accept us as righteous in His sight, on the ground of the righteousness of Christ, whereby He imputes to us, that we receive by (“Sola fide” ) faith alone.” The doctrine, “Justificatio Sola fide” which was championed by the Reformist Luther, is the Latin term, that illustrates, one of the central doctrines of the bible that claims, “even the worst kind of sinner, can receive the “imputation of Christ’s righteousness, by trusting in Christ and in the work of His Cross and Resurrection.”
This doctrine of Justification is not only central in both the New Testament but to the Old Testament, and distinguishes Protestant or “reformed theology” from Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy … who believe, that Christ’s Justification can be imputed, upon you by the “merits of the “saints” (why they believe in praying to the saints) or by your penance, or good deeds. Now I cannot help myself but think about how this “idea” is not only one of the most erroneous “doctrines” in Church history and still today is taught in the Church! But the greatest clouding, undermining, or insult of the message of the purpose and power of the Cross!But, on the other hand, what could be said “against” “Protestant theology” on the doctrine of Justification by faith, is the following: It is not “only” proclaimed as a “Vertical Justification” but it is both a Vertical and a Horizontal Justification.
It means that when God saves a person by Grace through faith, yes the person is saved into a “personal relationship with Him. But, God, at the same time saves a person into a “Covenant community” or “kingdom culture” or into a “Holy and United Heavenly family.”
