Martin Luther's Theology of Justification. A Response to the New Finnish Interpretation of Luther

Abstract

In his writings, Martin Luther strove to present justification as the glorious gift that it is: God’s free forgiveness given on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice for sinners. The Lutheran Confessions rightly maintain this truth. However, some modern scholars have attempted to separate Luther’s theology from that of the Confessions. In seeking common ground with the Russian Orthodox Church, theologians from the Lutheran Church of Finland have concluded that Luther’s understanding of justification includes not only God’s forensic declaration of righteousness on account of Jesus’ life and death, but also the actual righteousness created by the divine indwelling of Christ in the heart of the believer. This paper will prove from Scripture and from the writings of Luther that the justification of the sinner rests solely on the vicarious work of Christ, that on this point both Luther and the Confessions are in agreement with Scripture, and that the confusion of this doctrine – exemplified by the New Finnish Interpretation of Luther – robs Christians of the comfort God wants them to have.