Justification BY Man and God
The main reason justification by Faith Alone was accepted was that men lost track of what justification was. In other words the term was taken to mean the final act of legal forgiveness, when God actually removes sin. Many mis-understood Luther and Luther mis-understood some scripture Luther uses justification for post-forgiveness.
Luther taught you were justified when believing forgiveness was accomplished not necessarily to receive forgiveness.
It would be like God saying to Abraham in Genesis 22 that he would be blessed, and justification occuring after Abraham believed in the blessing being real.
Gen 22:15
And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
Gen 22:16
And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
Gen 22:17
That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Gen 22:18
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
We have to reject this application of Genesis 22, Abraham being justified because Abraham believed the blessing isn't what James said, Abraham was justified by works even before the blessing was spoken and the blessing was given because he offerred his son and not by faith only.
Luther's theory confused people. Thus justification grew to be limited to God's actions plus belief, and not man's work in any way, here is Luther's view of justification after absolution.
Also they teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake, who, by His death, has made satisfaction for our sins. This faith God imputes for righteousness in His sight. Rom. 3 and 4.
So justification was later viewed from a limited process, only from God's work. Luther's theory of justification required a faith only theology applied post-forgiveness.
when they believe that they are received into favor
This could be after baptism, believing baptism led to forgiveness, or after absolution believing it was effective. Luther's theory leads to some possible contradictions.
How can you be forgiven through absolution and then be forgiven again when you believed in the absolution. He needed to choose when forgiveness actually occurred and if forgiveness differed from justification. If forgiven by absolution then they were forgiven before justification by faith. Also, you would be forgiven before being imputed righteousness under his theory.
that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake
It clearly implies you are only forgiven if you believe in faith only.
It could be that justification isn't for forgiveness, but for the right to eternal life, thus ongoing faith justifies after baptism or absolution leading to life when Christ comes.
This makes some sense but still doesn't meet the teaching of James honestly.
This is viewed as if nothing we do is taken into account by those who misunderstand Luther and they spread the misconception, only Christ's action. In reality God would take into account our action such as confession, baptism, prayer, forgiveness of others, caring for others, and repentance before Christ's action is accounted in our behalf. Yes, we are forgiven because of Christ but our actions are taken into account as well. Our actions are what God uses to measure if faith is real. Our actions don't measure up to moral perfection but they do measure up to faith and love.
an example is Simon the Sorcerer whom Peter refused to absolve of bribery attempts,
Justification is the entire legal process of rendering a man guiltless against a law, and is also a term used to measure us against God's requirements for eternal life. Protestants excused man's part from the term because Christ provided the ransom, which was a misunderstanding and shortening of the entire concept. The ransom is only one part of the justification process. The ransom provides forgiveness for sin, but does not take away the conditions of the completed gift which includes continued faith, love, and holiness.
Peter's sermons demonstrate other obligations.
Examples from Peter's sermons pre-baptism:
repent and be baptized Acts 2:38
repent and be converted Acts 3:19
Examples from Peter post-baptism
Act 8:22
Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Peter's command {Two works} - repent and pray
Simon had seen the Apostles impart the Holy Spirit upon converts after their baptism, Simon offered a bribe to have the power to lay hands. Peter pointed out the sinfullness and gave a solution. One point that needs to be made
Some such as baptists would argue Simon was never forgiven and saved in the first place, but he was baptized and according to them baptism was a sign you are already saved, they might say he continued to have evil inclinations and wasn't saved, but he did not get the evil thought in his head until he saw the apostle perform the action of giving the Spirit, thus Simon did not have the thought prior and had to realize it.
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
He did not have this notion prior. So, evangelicals saying he was never saved is without support;
Peter's commands to repent and pray were part of the process leading to forgiveness after baptism.
Simon evidently didn't believe Peter's advice was sufficient and asked Peter to pray for him, the scriptures do not give us Peter's reply, so we are left with understanding Peter's response to repent and pray were sufficient.
Catholics, including Luther, do not believe Peter's command was sufficient and turned to priestly absolution.
Thus the person such as Simon enters into the process whether pre-baptism or post-baptism. If you file an appeal to a court you are actually entering into the justification process. Thus whatever part man does in the legal process is a part of justification.
appeals
motions
prayers
recompense
Compromise
Bonding
Ransom
Repentance
All of the actions above can be used to move toward closing a case to a judges satisfaction, so that he can say justice has been done. Even in cases of redemption there may be paper work to be filed and other requirements to be met.
Luther spoke of justification as the final act in a longer process, the process itself required the actions of all parties.
Luther seems to be implying repentance and prayer are already completed through confession through the priest, absolution has been given, then faith in the absolution is all that is necessary.
Take the marriage of Ruth and Boaz as an example.
1. There was a legal process that could be followed.
2. Both parties had to know their duties and rights.
3. They had to follow the process.
Thus, justification requires all parties to follow the process as outlined in the covenant.
Justification requires the actions of more than one party, it requires God and man's involvement.
So Luther's confession was partly incorrect,
Also they teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for Christ's sake, through faith,
This in a way says that absolution by the priest does not complete justification without the individual practicing faith afterward. It is a slight toward justification solely by priestly absolution.
Luther saw justification only in forgiveness by Christ, but did not account for the necessary steps or requirementsrequirement of a completelycompleted gift.
Justification for the completed gift requires our strength and our works, even though Luther was correct that we do not merit justification and our works cannot complete justification, they are a part of the over all process.
Confession
prayer
repentance
baptism
forgiveness of others
Love of the brethren
are all from our strength, and though they are not of themselves able to grant forgiveness, they are in the process.
Justification in a greater scheme involves the entire process of being called, obeying, and being forgiven, and being granted eternal life.
By limiting the term to only God's part they deceived mankind. They twisted the concept to their own destruction.
Act 8:18