Lutherans are known to elevate the doctrinal slogan “justification by faith (alone)” as the center piece of the Christian faith and one that must not be compromised or relinquished when discussing the salvation we have in Jesus Christ. To Eastern Orthodox ears such a focus on justification as the center piece of faith seems odd or perhaps misplaced as the mystery of salvation is surely more robust and multi-faceted than simply justification by faith, is it not?
Lest we dismiss what the Lutherans are trying to tell us too quickly as too theologically narrow or simply a pet doctrinal distinctive that sets them apart from other Christian confessions, let’s consider why they place the emphasis they do on this doctrinal slogan.
When Lutherans tell us that justification by faith is the doctrine by which the church stands or falls, what they are telling us is salvation is found in no other name than Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12): it is Jesus the Messiah who fully accomplishes and secures our salvation by which we as broken, sinful humanity add nothing to or contribute. Salvation by grace is just that: grace that is outside our ourselves, freely given by the Father through the work of Jesus, the Son of God. The Christian faith is unlike any other religious system in that humanity does’t save itself, but relies on outside (divine) intervention, thus the gaze of salvation is always one that looks outside itself to the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. Simply faith that trusts the promise of God as revealed and accomplished in Jesus Christ is that which saves, not because faith is magical, but rather because the object of faith is grounded in historical reality which tells us the cross of Jesus Christ is enough to save humanity.
It is in this sense then that the Lutherans mean that justification by faith is the doctrine by which the church stands or falls is the foundational confession that sets the church apart from any other institution. And in this spirit all Christians should utter a hearty “amen” for what Luther and his followers were trying to emphasis and preserve for the Christian church.
“Here is the first and chief article:
[1] That Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, “was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification” (Rom. 4[:25*]);
[2] and he alone is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1[:29*]); and “the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53[:6*]);
[3] furthermore, “All have sinned,” and “they are now justified without merit by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus … by his blood” (Rom. 3[:23–25*]).
[4] Now because this must be believed and may not be obtained or grasped otherwise with any work, law, or merit, it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us, as St. Paul says in Romans 3[:28*, 26*]: “For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law”; and also, “that God alone24 is righteous and justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.”
[5] Nothing in this article can be conceded or given up, even if heaven and earth or whatever is transitory passed away. As St. Peter says in Acts 4[:12*]: “There is no other name … given among mortals by which we must be saved.” “And by his bruises we are healed” (Isa. 53[:5*]).
On this article stands all that we teach and practice against the pope, the devil, and the world. Therefore we must be quite certain and have no doubt about it. Otherwise everything is lost, and the pope and the devil and whatever opposes us will gain victory and be proved right” (Martin Luther, Smalcald Articles; emphasis added).
Caveat Lector 