Final Justification is a theological error that teaches that while a person is initially justified by faith in Christ, their final justification before God is dependent on their covenant faithfulness or good works. This view suggests a two-stage process of justification: an initial justification by faith and a final justification that includes an assessment of the believer’s life and works.
History:
This belief finds roots in Roman Catholic theology and later developments within certain post-Reformation movements. It has gained prominence in some strands of Federal Vision theology and the New Perspective on Paul, particularly in the works of scholars like N.T. Wright.
Roman Catholicism has historically taught that justification is a process, where faith, along with infused righteousness and works, contributes to one’s final standing before God. The Council of Trent (1545-1563) affirmed this view, declaring that works done in grace contribute to one's final salvation.
In more recent theology, the Federal Vision movement within Reformed circles has emphasized covenant faithfulness as playing a significant role in one's ultimate justification. N.T. Wright, a key figure in the New Perspective on Paul, has also proposed a view where final justification involves the assessment of one's life lived in faithfulness, though his views are nuanced.
Theology:
Final justification theology proposes that while believers are initially justified by faith alone, their final acceptance by God is contingent upon covenant faithfulness or good works as evidence of their faith. This blurs the line between justification and sanctification, suggesting that faith alone is not sufficient for one’s ultimate salvation.
This view often argues that justification is not a one-time forensic declaration but involves progressive aspects, where the believer’s works become a necessary condition for final approval at the judgment. This leads to a form of justification by faith and works, which contradicts the Protestant doctrine of sola fide.
Criticism from Reformed Theology:
Historic Christian orthodoxy, especially within the Reformed tradition, has rejected final justification through works as inconsistent with the biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone. The Westminster Confession of Faith and the Belgic Confession uphold that justification is a one-time declaration by God, where the sinner is declared righteous based solely on the imputed righteousness of Christ through faith (Romans 5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:21). Works are the fruit of justification, not its basis or condition (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Key Errors in Final Justification:
Confusion of Justification and Sanctification: By making good works necessary for final justification, this view merges justification (a legal declaration by God) with sanctification (the ongoing process of being made holy). Historic orthodoxy maintains a clear distinction: justification is by faith alone, while sanctification is the result of that faith.
Undermining the Sufficiency of Christ’s Work: The Bible teaches that Christ’s righteousness is imputed to believers at the moment of faith, fully securing their right standing before God (Romans 3:21-28). Final justification implies that Christ’s work is insufficient without the believer’s cooperation through covenant faithfulness.
Contradicting the Assurance of Salvation: Reformed theology teaches that believers can have assurance of their salvation because their justification is grounded solely in Christ's perfect work (Romans 8:1). The idea of final justification introduces uncertainty by tying salvation to the believer's performance, which undermines assurance.
Conclusion:
Final Justification through works is a theological error because it contradicts the historic Protestant teaching of justification by faith alone. In Reformed theology, believers are justified at the moment of faith, based entirely on Christ's righteousness, and their works are evidence of their salvation, not a condition for their final acceptance before God. The United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA) and other Reformed bodies have officially rejected this view as it distorts the core tenets of the gospel and the doctrine of grace.