THE GREAT PROBLEM OF JUSTIFICATION

THE GREAT PROBLEM OF JUSTIFICATION

 This problem lays the Biblical background for whole doctrine. It is a moral and                              ethical  problem with three aspects:

                      The Sinful Character of All Men - Rom. 3:21, 23 - no problem to justify righteous men "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets."  "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

                      The Non-Relaxable Nature of the Moral Law - Rom. 2:12-13 "For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law."  "(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified."

                        - cf. Kant's "Categorical imperative"  Men must do good.  Hypothetically, the law could save if men would keep it. Cf. Lev. 18:5; Rom. 10:5; 2:13. But this doing of the law had to be perfect. Cf. Gal. 3:10; James 2:10.

             The Holy and Righteous Character of God - Hab. 1:13  "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?"

                        -           His very nature makes it impossible for God to overlook sin.

                                       Note: argument - In view of these three things the justification of any man would seem to be morally impossible. In the light of this fact Rom. 4:5 is the most startling statement in the Bible. "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."