Justification is a Forensic Term
Aug 31, 2009
In his discussion on justification, Francis Turretin gives the following five reasons why justification must always be explained as a forensic term:
1. The passages which treat of justification admit to no other than a forensic sense (cf. Job 9:3; Ps. 143:2; Rom. 3:28; 4:1-3; Acts 13:39).
2. Justification is opposed to condemnation (Rom. 8:33-34).
As accusation and condemnation occur only in a trial, so also justification.
3. The equivalent phrases by which our justification is described are judicial (cf. Jn. 5:24, “not to come into judgment,” see also Jn. 3:18; Rom. 4; 5:10; 2 Cor. 5:19).
4. Justification is to be used in the sense that Paul employed it in his disputation against the Jews (i.e, Paul argued about how the sinner can stand before the judgment seat of God and obtain a right to life, whether by works of the law (Jews) or by faith in Christ (Paul).
5. Unless justification is taken is a forensic sense, it would be confounded with sanctification.
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