The Resistance of Self-Justification to God's Grace

Abstract

The doctrine of justification-by-faith has gathered much dust in the museum of historically contextualized doctrines. When we take a new look at justification-by-faith, it glistens like a mirror in the sunshine. It reflects to us human beings who we are. We are self-justifiers. In the name of justice, we perpetrate violence. The pursuit of justice does as much damage as the pursuit of injustice. Like a mirror, justification-by-faith reveals who we are and who God is: we are self-justifiers, while God is a gracious justifier of sinners. Can the Tuomo Mannermaa School of Luther research, which rightly emphasizes the indwelling model of justification-by-faith, recognize that the Christ present in faith is the scapegoated victim of human self-justification? Once we are effectively justified by divine grace, we sinners may learn that we are no longer compelled to self-justify. Liberated from self-justification, according to Lutheran spirituality, the Christian is free to love for the sake of the beloved.