#931 Simul Iustus et Peccator

Dr. craig’s response

Until recently the Lutheran Church was the state church in Norway, so presumably you have some cultural acquaintance with Lutheran theology, Erik. Luther would have understood exactly how you feel. One of his most important insights, arising out of his doctrine of justification as a legal declaration of God, is that as a result of God’s pronouncing us legally pardoned of our sins, even as we struggle against our bent towards sinning, we are simultaneously righteous and yet sinners (simul iustus et peccator). In contrast to medieval Roman Catholic theology, which thought of justification as God’s infusing into us saving grace like a sort of antidote to sin, Luther correctly saw that Paul’s teaching in the New Testament is that justification is like a legal proclamation. When a convicted criminal is pardoned, he is restored to right standing before the law, but he does not instantly become a virtuous, upstanding person. We may hope that he embarks upon a program of moral reform, so that he gradually becomes a good person. In the same way, God pardons us of our sins while enabling us to avoid sin through the power of the Holy Spirit and to be gradually conformed to the image of Christ.

This latter process, which begins with regeneration, or the new birth, is called sanctification. It is distinct from justification in that it is a moral transformation that takes place in our lives over time. Justification and sanctification, though distinct, are inseparable. The person who places his faith in Christ as his Savior and Lord is simultaneously pronounced righteous by God and born anew of the Holy Spirit, embarking on a path of spiritual transformation. As we allow the Holy Spirit to empower and guide us, we shall become more like Christ and sin less and less. We have the promise of I John 1.9 that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” So you are absolutely right to take seriously the Bible’s proscriptions of sin and to seek earnestly to live a sinless life, but in God’s sight you have been pronounced righteous. You are simul iustus et peccator.