Let's focus primarily on how Paul uses the word. It is, after all, a very central Pauline concept.
As a starting point, let's look at Romans 3:21-25 -
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.
The concept of justification is closely related to the concept of righteousness. They derive from the same greek word. In the above passage...
As a starting point, let's look at Romans 3:21-25 -
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.
The concept of justification is closely related to the concept of righteousness. They derive from the same greek word. In the above passage...
"Righteousness" - δικαιοσύνη, dikaiosyne
"Justified" - δικαιούμενοι, dikaioymenoi
So justification has something to do with righteousness, but what? There are three main answers that I'm aware of:"Justified" - δικαιούμενοι, dikaioymenoi
- Catholic Position - Justification is existential. In Justification, God infuses the righteousness of Christ into our souls and we actually become existentially righteous.
- Reformed Position - Justification is forensic. In Justification, God legally declares a person to be righteous. Justification does nothing to the person's existential state, but it does affect their legal status.
- New Perspective - Justification is covenantal. This may not be the best word to describe the position. But according to NPP, in justification a person becomes recognized as a member of the covenant community and is thus liable to the blessings of the covenant. It's not clear to me how righteousness fits into this because NPP sees justification as neither infusion of righteousness nor a forensic imputation. NPP is confusing.
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