Numerous concepts serve as the cornerstone of Christianity. Nevertheless, the doctrine of salvation is generally believed to be one of the most sophisticated phenomena that have been instrumental in the rapid spread of the faith. Moreover, numerous heated debates concerning the nature and the most precise meaning of the term have primarily defined the history of Christianity and led to the development of various branches. The Bible provides multiple approaches to the doctrine and explains it by utilizing various techniques. Justification has become one of the most broadly used images that define salvation. Therefore, a dedicated analysis is needed to explain the relationship of human sinfulness to this aspect of the doctrine of salvation.
Throughout history, numerous religions have provided complex frameworks that allowed for developing valuable guidelines that could navigate people and help them make moral and socially beneficial decisions. A universal set of rules and incentives had to be developed to ensure that people were motivated enough to adhere to the expected norms. Nevertheless, human consciousness is somewhat separated from religious teachings at a certain point, directing the course to those aspects that could be comprehended empirically (Inglehart, 2021). Thus, the concept of sin rapidly expanded and has become crucial for various religions.
In Christianity, people are believed to inherit original sin, which is generally considered highly controversial and has been interpreted in numerous ways. The definition can vary significantly, from a tendency to sinful behavior to automatic collective guilt. Nevertheless, the story of Adam’s rebellion in Edem is widely believed to be crucial for understanding people’s nature. Thus, the original sin implies that the purpose of life for people and the most significant event is salvation.
Those who have already been justified by grace are believed to preserve through faith and witness the return of Christ. Glorification in the doctrine of salvation points to the certainty of the event. Therefore, the concepts of original sin and salvation are deeply intertwined and represent the cornerstone of the basic guidelines utilized by millions of Christians daily (Coleman, 2021). It allows people always to realize the reasoning behind the importance of good works and charity.
Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection are believed to be central to salvation. The term implies saving people from sin and its consequences. The process mentioned above of saving is not a single event, as the entire phenomenon covers numerous issues that underpin such an opportunity. Christians live in constant hope that they will be saved (Hart, 2019). Nevertheless, theologists have argued about the exact criteria that define the possibility of salvation throughout history. Some of the differences in the approaches have become significant enough to underpin the creation of new branches of Christianity.
Given its prominent role, there are numerous images of salvation in the Bible. The image of Justification was one of the first concepts used to teach about the salvation offered to people through Jesus Christ (Tarigan et al., 2022). There are two types of salvation: the initial that occurs at birth and the final. The latter is accomplished through a life dedicated to striving to do God’s will, referred to as sanctification.
Different branches of Christianity have developed their unique perception of Justification. In fact, the different approaches to the phenomenon provide one of the most significant fault lines that allow distinguishing between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. Catholicism has historically emphasized the essential role of the observance of the moral law. Moreover, the Catholic doctrine implies that God directly transmits grace into a person’s soul, increasing intensity. In Catholicism, faith is shown through good works and charity.
In Protestantism, righteousness is believed to be imputed by grace through faith in the cross of Jesus Christ. Moreover, different churches collectively referred to as Reformed Christianity emphasize the fiduciary nature of faith. Thus, faith alone can be considered enough for Justification, while moral behavior and goods works are less critical concerning salvation. The Methodist doctrine provides a similar framework, with minor differences. It underlines the crucial role of the New Birth and believes that sanctification initiates righteousness.
The factors that lead to Justification loss can also differ. Lutherans believe that the loss of faith leads to the loss of Justification. Catholics claim that the cause of losing Justification is mortal sins. In general, Protestant churches are inclined to believe that Justification and, consequently, salvation cannot be fully lost by a Christian, as the grace will preserve until the return of Christ. Despite the different approaches to one of the central phenomena in Christianity, all the branches emphasize the importance of good works, as justified people can create products of faith through them.
Moreover, from the point of view of theological contours, justification lies in the foundations of Christian knowledge, comprehension of the truth, and expansion of knowledge about the universe. In brief, it is an action of God aimed at eradicating guilt for sin and restoring “human rights” in the world. Based on theological concepts, to be justified means to take off the burden for committing atrocities and thus atone for the guilt (Tarigan et al., 2022). Nevertheless, man is still burdened with certain “obligations” to the Supreme Being.
The doctrine of salvation imaged through Justification plays a remarkable role in the Christian life. It provides exact criteria for being freed from the penalties for sin, including the original “evil deed.” This doctrine is essential because it will be able to provide people with a vivid concept that can be recognized as the goal of life by many in today’s atheistic society. The righteousness of Jesus is so pure that God declares humans righteous and justified. It is necessary to realize that there is no other strategy for any person to express honestly, whether through acts or other phenomena.
References
Coleman, R. J. (2021). Original sin in the twenty-first century. Wipf and Stock Publishers.
Hart, D. B. (2019). That all shall be saved. Yale University Press.
Inglehart, R. F. (2021). Religion’s sudden decline: What’s causing it, and what comes next? Oxford University Press.
Tarigan, S., Simanjuntak, F., & Suwito, T. P. (2022). Paul’s concept of salvation theology and its relevance. International Journal of Social and Management Studies, 3(2), pp. 205-211. Web.