Thinkingstuff
Active Member
Your problem when it comes to Justification is that you have introduced a false dichotomy. You have absolutized the forensic nature of Justification and insist that God's declaration doesn't effect change (an ontological change) in the one justified. Where as in the Catholic view one could say:Justification is a one time permanent event , it happens at the moment the sinner receives Christ by faith!
In the end your view of Justifaction falls short because its only a declaritive statement or a legal fiction but Catholics know what God said in Exodus 23:7"God's justifying sentence is regarded as effective and thus as producing what it declares" - A. Dulles, "Justification in Contemporary Catholic Theology"
Thus God doesn't want to just make a declaration ie forensic justification view (ie a legal fiction) but to cause an ontological change in the one justified.Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked."
Thus scriptures and Paul would disagree with you. What does Paul say?
Thus we are not only given a experiential change in relationship but given an actual righteous nature. We are made righteous. We see this false dichotomy which disengages the declaration and the actuality of ontological change challenged by Paul when he saysFor as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous
So Justification cannot be simply just forenesic.this is the mercifuljustice God, who gives life to the dead and calls the nonexistent into existence