JUSTIFICATION is used in theology to ergnify the acceptance of a sinner by God, and is frequently employed by the sacred writers as equivalent to the forgiveness of sin. Thus, St. Paul says, " Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which yo could not bo justified by the law of Moses." (Acts, xiii. SS, 39.) The Protestants and Roman Catholics differ respecting the signification that should ba attached to the word justification. The former maintain that the Hebrew word p"3;;;;1. and the Greek words and tiemiceeirore almost invariably employed In the Bible in a judicial sense ; that is, to declare a person righteous notwithstanding the sins he has committed, and to deliver him from the punishment which his sins had deserved. The latter Interpret the words in a physical sense; and maintain that to be justified is not to be reckoned righteous by God, but actually to be made righteous by the infusion of a sanctifying principle. The Protestants, on the contrary, believe, that though sanctification is a consequence of justification, yet it is a distinct and separate operation.
The reason or cause of our justification is generally divided by theologians into the originating, the meritorious, and the instrumental, cause, or the Call.00 eficten , the cause smeritoria, and the comae
oppnherdras.
I. The Originating carte it the love of God towards his fallen creatures (Item. ill. 24; Eph. it. 8). 2. The Meritorious according to the llth article of We Church of England, and the opinion of meet Protestants, "the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and not our own works or deserving." (Rom. iii. 25; v. 18; Eph. f. 7; Col. I. 14); but the Roman Catholic church maintains that good works, penances, and the intercession of saints alao contribute to our jeettleation. 3. The instrewsente/ cause is faith in the vicarious sacrifice of Christ; since the merit of Christ's sacrifice does not produce our pardon, mama we believe in its efficacy.
The consequences of justification are said to be : 1. Peace with God (Bons v. 1); 2. Tranquillity of conscience ; S. Adoption of the !Arsons justified into the family of God (Item. viii.14-17); 4. Spiritual )07. arising from the belief of our being adopted by God (` Rom.' xiv. 17); 5. The hope of eternal life.