Justification is a foundational doctrine in Christian theology, emphasizing the gracious act of God declaring sinners righteous through faith in Jesus Christ. As articulated in Romans 3:23-24, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, yet are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. This doctrine underscores the imputation of Christ's righteousness to believers, as Paul elaborates in 2 Corinthians 5:21, stating that God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. Furthermore, Galatians 2:16 affirms that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, highlighting the centrality of faith in this transformative process. The doctrine of justification also addresses common prejudices against the imputation of Christ's righteousness, reminding us that it is not based on human merit but solely on divine grace, as seen in Ephesians 2:8-9. Ultimately, justification assures believers of their standing before God, as expressed in Romans 5:1, where Paul declares that since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
John Owen addresses common prejudices against the doctrine of the imputation of the righteousness of Christ. He refutes objections that claim this doctrine is not explicitly mentioned in Scripture, highlighting the importance of understanding the essence of the doctrine rather than specific terminol