What is Justification (theology)?
[[image:Fra Angelico 024.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Harrowing of Hell]] as depicted by [[Fra Angelico]]]] In [[Christian theology]], '''justification''' is [[God]]'s act of [[wikt:pardon|pardoning]] someone's [[sin]]s, because of their belief in [[Christ]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/justification.html|title = Justification|publisher = WebBible Encyclopedia|accessdate = 2007-08-08}}</ref> The idea of justification is found in several books of both the [[Old Testament]], and [[New Testament]]. [[Protestant]]s believe justification is the line that divide the [[Roman Catholic]]s from the [[Protestant]]s during the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]]<ref>For example, Kurt Aland, ''A History of Christianity'', vol. 2, trans. James Schaaf (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1986) p. 13-14.</ref> [[Martin Luther]] and other reformers taught that [[Sola fide|faith alone]] made a person right with God, apart from doing good works. However, they taught that after they were justified by faith, good works would follow. Catholics tended to stress that the good works were part of what made a Christian acceptable to God. In recent times these two positions have come closer together. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_31101999_cath-luth-joint-declaration_en.html|title=Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification|website=www.vatican.va|access-date=2020-07-28}}</ref> ==References== <references/> {{religion-stub}} [[Category:Christian theology]] [[Category:Christian terminology]]