Gerðir kirkjuþings - 1995, Page 111

4.3 The Justified as Sinners
(24) Catholics and Lutherans confess together that the justified always remain depend-
ent upon the unconditional justifying grace of God. Even the justified are not exempt
from the onslaught of sin, and they constantly need justifying grace. The justified, too,
must ask God for forgiveness daily, as they do in the Lord’s Prayer, and they are not
exempt from a lifelong struggle against the selfish desires of the old Adam (cf. GaJ
5:16; Rom 7:7-10), against sinfui inclinations and against the power of sin which still
presses in upon them (cf. Rom 6:12-14).
(25) - In this sense Lutherans say that the justified are 'at the same time just and
sinful." On the one hand they have by faith a share in the righteousness of Christ,
which actually binds them to Christ and makes them righteous before God. Still, when
they look to themselves, they recognize that they remain sinners in constant need of
the justifying grace of God. But the enslaving power of sin is broken; it no longer
dominates the justified because Christ exercises dominion over sin.
(26) - In terms of content, there is agreement with Lutherans when Catholics say that
"concupiscence,' which remains after baptism, is in contradiction to God and is the
object of a lifelong struggle. And yet concupiscence no longer separates the justified
from God. Properly speaking, it therefore is not sin.
4.4 Justification by Faith and Grace
(27) Catholics and Lutherans confess together that the sinner is justified by faith in
the saving act of God in Christ. As trust in God’s gracious promise, this justifying
faith includes love toward God and hope in God. Faith is active in love and cannot
remain without works. Whatever in the justifíed precedes or follows the free gift of
faith is neither the basis of justification nor merits it.
(28) - According to Lutheran understanding the sinner is justifíed through faith alone.
Thereby Lutherans intend to assert that nothing other than the saving action of God
in Christ imparted in the word of promise and grasped in faith is and remains the
basis of justification. Justification is forgiveness of sin and communion with Christ
accomplished through the word of promise itself and received in faith.
(29) - According to Catholic understanding justification as forgiveness of sins and
being made righteous takes place through sanctifying grace (gratia gratum faciens).
Thus the continuing dependence of this created grace on the 'uncreated grace,' the
very graciousness of God, is stressed. Sanctifying grace therefore never becomes a
possession at the disposal of human beings to which they might appeal before God, but
is and remains entirely dependent on the salvation-constituting activity of the gracious
God.8 In justification those justified are received into communion with Christ and
receive from him faith, hope and love.9
8 Cf. The Condemnations of the Eeformation Era - Do They Still Divide? 47-53,
106