Defining the Issues
WE AGREE:
Luther: The Preparation (The 2nd Article of the Creed)
The need: since the Fall, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God
God’s motivation: God so loved the world… The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
The method: (Christ) born… lived… suffered, died for all…humbled himself for us
The victory: over sin, death and hell… risen, ascended, exalted on high
The result: dikaiwsiV = The (process/act) of justifying; or, Hoenecke Research 2
“universally applicable justification” (allgemeine Rechtfertigung); or, the gift God promises to “whoever believes in him (Christ).”
Universal Objective Justification
Definition of “Objective Justification” (UOJ):
”By this term (‘universal, objective or general justification’) we mean to say that God has justified, declared righteous, or acquitted, the whole world of sinners, or in other words, that God has in His heart forgiven the sins of all men. … God acquits or justifies the unbeliever, that is, he announces to the unbeliever that his sins are forgiven (NOTE: ‘forgiven’, NOT ‘redeemed, atoned’) and through that message the Holy Ghost creates faith in the unbeliever’s heart.” (Prof. S. Becker, “Universal Justification,” Conference paper, p. 1, 6/12/1984 [See WLS essay file].
NOTE:
a) UOJ is divine fiat that occurred in connection with the resurrection.
b) There is no reference to faith.
c) By continued sinning a person forfeits this justification. That is why the Gospel must still be preached.
d) Pointing to a forfeited justification is supposedly very comforting
Confusing By-product
Objective Justification = Perfect Redemption
Confronted by those who teach UOJ, some people have chosen to ignore the definition on the left, and make (i.e. hear) their own definition. In effect, they use the term “Objective Justification” as a synonym for Universal Redemption (i.e., that Christ’s redemption was perfect for all people and for every sin). Thus they avoid the mental gymnastics in the left column. In effect, this solution takes a theological term and uses it in place of the Biblical term “redemption.” Research 3
As this approach muddies up the distinction between redemption and justification, it is contrary to the principle: “Careful distinctions make good teaching.”
I have met a number of WELS and ELS pastors who use this meaning of UOJ. They conclude that there is no problem
Luther: The Distribution (The 3rd Article of the Creed)
The commission: Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.
The Gospel message: Since Christ died for all, he died for you. He has paid for
your sins; Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ; you will be forgiven, justified, saved.
The open-ended promise: whoever believes in him will be saved.
The essence of faith: Son of God … loved me and gave himself for me (Gal 2:20).
The power of the proclamation: The HG works faith in the proclamation.
The blessing of faith: Many reasons for comfort during a stressful lifetime.
The triumph: a perfect life in heaven… God will wipe away all tears… forever.
A Real-time Conversation with a Former Roman Catholic
He: What is this teaching about Objective Justification?
Me: There are some people who teach that at the time of Christ’s resurrection, God in his mind forgave everyone. God decided to do this directly without the Bible or the Means of Grace to create faith.
He: If that is true, why do we need the Bible and churches?
Me: They say that because people sinned after that, they forfeited the forgiveness or justification, kind of like when Adam and Eve fell into sin.
He: But Adam and Eve were without sin. They could have avoided sin. But I am totally and clearly a sinner, so Objective Justification couldn’t help me. Was God so stupid that He did something that had no chance of success.
Me: Well, they say that because of the forfeiture we now have to have churches and the preaching of the Gospel. We have to tell people: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved (justified, reconciled, forgiven).”
He: I know that. I believe that. But – – – if a sin forfeits the justification that God decided in his mind, I better get busy doing my penances because my next sin might also forfeit the justification through faith. If sin forfeits justification one time, how can I know that it won’t do that a second time?
Me: Let’s just stick to Luther’s explanation of the 2nd and 3rd Article of the Creed. OK?