No-one can stand upright before God (Psa 130:3). God’s law condemns us and before the presence of Christ we can only acknowledge our sinfulness (Luke 5:8). Even people’s best efforts are viewed as filthy rags (Psa 53:1,3 Isa 64:6 Rom 3:9-23). God’s assessment of the human condition is beyond dispute: no one is good or righteous. Human beings, created in God’s image and accountable to God, all fall far short of that ultimate standard of righteousness. It is also witnessed most wonderfully in the character and life of Jesus the Messiah who was tempted in every way like us yet remained without sin (John 14:9 Heb 4:15). That absolute standard of what is right is expressed in the Mosaic law especially as it is summarised in the Ten Commandments and the law of love (Deut 5:6-22 6:1-9 Matt 19:16-22 22:36-40 Rom 7:12 13:8-9). Even Pharaoh acknowledged that the Lord is righteous (Exod 9:27 see Psa 119:137). This triune God is the ultimate moral standard. To appreciate justification, it is important to start with the one true and living God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Luther emphasised five solas (“alones”) that are particularly relevant to justification: it is by God’s grace alone, through our faith alone, in Christ alone, to God’s glory alone with Scripture alone being the ultimate authority for this truth. It is a precious doctrine that is constantly attacked and misrepresented. The good news concerning God’s justification of sinners by faith in Christ alone without the addition of human deeds or the church’s administrations was the biblical truth rediscovered by Protestant Reformers and is one of the distinctive features of Evangelical Protestantism.
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