What exactly is Legal Declaration or forensic justification? I know it's the Protestant belief, but I do not understand it. When I was a protestant I used to believe that I recieved a new born spirit ( a literal creation) but still lived in a boday that lusted after sin. I always quoted the verse in Romans where St. Paul talks about the struggle in the christian life within our bodies.

I believe in infused justification, but do protestants really believe that their sins are just "covered" and not literely "washed away." Ah! That is to deny Christ finished work on the cross if that is the case! But really, I don't understant this. I never even heartd it preached when I believed in free will and election.

-- Jason (Enchanted fire5@aol.com), May 27, 2004

Answers

bump

-- (bump@bump.bump), May 27, 2004.

Jason,

I'm not sure how well this will answer your question, but I think it gets at some of the things you're addressing. This post was made recently by Gail here at the Ask Jesus forum.

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This really boils down to the issue of justification. Luther taught that we are "snow covered dung" and never will be anything more than "snow covered dung," so that we wear a cloak provided by Christ which hides our sinfulness, i.e, "Imputed righteousness"

The Church believes in actual cleansing or "purging", that we are literally and actually cleansed, not just once at the beginning of Christian life, but throughout our lives . . . we go from "glory to glory." This is called "intrinsic righteousness."

Here is a brief, but I think accurate synopsis of the differences between the two camps (taken from presenttruthmag.com)

Protestants believe to justify means to account as righteous. Catholics believe to justify means to make righteous.

Protestants believe justification comes by the imputation of Christ's righteousness. Catholics believe justification comes by an infusion of grace.

Protestants believe the grace of God in Christ makes the believer acceptable and pleasing in God's sight. Catholics believe sanctifying grace in the believer makes him acceptable to God.

Protestants believe man is justified by an extrinsic righteousness (a righteousness wholly without). Catholics believe man is justified by an intrinsic righteousness (a righteousness which God puts within man).

Protestants believe God justifies the ungodly who believe. Catholics believe God justifies only those who are born again.

Protestants believe justification is God's verdict upon man in the Person of Christ. Catholics believe justification is God's regenerating act in man.

Protestants believe the sinner is justified by Christ's imputed righteousness alone. Catholics believe the sinner cannot be justified by imputed righteousness alone, but by righteousness poured into his heart.

Protestants believe justification enables God to treat the sinner as if he were just. Catholics believe justification means that the sinner is really made just.

Protestants believe the believer is pronounced righteous because Christ, his Substitute, is found righteous before God. Catholics believe the believer is pronounced righteous because the Spirit of grace has made him righteous.

Protestants believe justification is a declaration of the fact that Jesus, who stands in man's place, is righteous. Catholics believe justification is a declaration of what is a fact in the man himself.

Protestants believe justification is so infinite that it cannot be reduced to an intrahuman experience. Catholics believe justification is an act of grace within man.

Protestants believe justification is received by faith alone. Catholics believe justification comes by faith which has become active by charity.

Protestants believe justification enables God to bring regeneration and sanctification to the heart of the believer. Catholics believe regenerating grace enables God to justify the believer.

Protestants believe sin still remains in man's nature after justification and regeneration. Catholics believe justification wholly eradicates sin; only concupiscence and weakness remain.

Protestants believe the believer can claim no merit for good works performed by God's enabling grace. Good works are acceptable only through the mediation of Christ's imputed righteousness, which covers all human deficiencies in the good works of the believer. Catholics believe sanctifying grace within the believer makes good works acceptable to God.

Protestants believe at all times the believer is accepted only in the Person of Christ, his Substitute. Catholics believe sanctifying grace with in the believer makes him acceptable to God.

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), May 21, 2004.

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), May 27, 2004.