Anglicanism and Justification - Introduction to Anglicanism

(Lesson Five)

For our lesson we will be reading Cranmer on justification by grace received in faith. As mentioned in a previous lesson, one of the great doctrines of the Protestant Reformation was the doctrine of justification. This great doctrine was first proclaimed by Martin Luther, a catholic monk who found that all his penances, his acts of charity, and his endless efforts to lead a pure life, could not justify him before a righteous God. In spiritual torment he turned to the Scriptures, and there he learned something he had not found in the Roman Church -- he was set right before God because of the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross for his sins, and this, and not his endless efforts to lead a pure life, justified him before a righteous God. As a result of this discovery, and much more, he began to proclaim the great doctrine of justification by grace received in faith which eventually led to his being excommunicated from the Roman Church and the beginning of the Lutheran Church in Germany. We will study this great doctrine, proclaimed by Luther, Cranmer, and other great reformers, as it is a doctrine that brings peace with God, with others, and with ourselves.

We are going to be reading a short selection taken from Cranmer’s Homily on Salvation. This homily was one of thirty-three homilies written by Cranmer and others to be read in Anglican churches. Prior to the severing of the relationship with Rome, English church services were in Latin and the people did not understand what was said and done in worship services. Once Anglicans formed their own church, however, it became necessary to instruct both the laity and the priests in the doctrines and truths the Reformers had received from their reading of Scripture. To enable this to happen, homilies were written in English to be read in worship. These homilies were written over a period of years, from 1547-1571. There were thirty-three of them and they were gathered together into two books. If you would like to see these homilies, they can be found here: http://www.anglicanlibrary.org/homilies/index.htm

We are going be reading only a small portion of Cranmer’s Homily on Salvation. I have modernized his English somewhat and broken our reading up into single, numbered sentences. This will enable us to study it very carefully and make sure we understand its life-giving message. You can find it in the file entitled “Cranmer on Salvation.”

Before reading Cranmer, however, we need to take a brief look at the biblical meaning of three words: justification, righteousness, and faith. In both the Old and the New Testaments, to be justified means to be brought into a right relationship with God or with other persons. Due to sin, we are not in a right relationship with God, and therefore, as we read about justification in Cranmer, we will learn how God has brought us into a right relationship with him through the merits of Christ.

From a biblical point of view, a righteous person is one whose words and deeds bring other persons into right relationships with each other and with God. Often the word “righteous” refers to those who help the poor and the defenseless, bringing them back into community with God and others so that they may be blessed with the life of the community. As we shall see when reading Cranmer, Jesus was righteous because he brought us back into relationship with God and each other.

A person who has faith in God is one who lays hold of God’s promised resources, becomes obedient to what God commands, and abandoning all self-interest and self-reliance, trusts God completely. God can be trusted because he is steadfast and reliable. The person who has faith becomes steadfast and reliable as well since he or she clings to a steadfast, reliable God.

Review Questions

1. What reformation person first proclaimed the doctrine of justification by grace through faith?

2. Copy and paste the remainder of this sentence: “We will study this great doctrine, proclaimed by Luther, Cranmer, and other great reformers, …”

3. Why were the homilies written?

4. In one sentence state the meaning of the word “justification.”

5. In one sentence, state the meaning of the word “righteous.”

6. In one sentence, state the meaning of the word “faith.”

Questions from Cranmer's Homily on Salvation

7. According to the title of Cranmer’s homily, from what two things does Christ save us?

8. In one simple sentence, state in your own words the meaning of sentence number 1.

9. Sentence 2 says we must seek two things. What are they and where can they be found?

10. According to sentence 3, what quality of God and what quality of Christ, allow us to receive justification and righteousness?

11. In sentence 3, how are righteousness and justification embraced?

12. According to sentence 4, God sent his son into the world to do several things for us. List them.

13. Briefly, in one or two sentences, how do you understand the wrath and indignation of God mentioned in sentence 4?

14. According to sentence 5, the things that Christ did, listed in question 16, are justification and righteousness. How, according to the passage from Paul, does one receive these righteous acts of Christ that put us in right relationship with God and each other? Give a one or two word answer.

15. Many people believe that being good puts us in right relationship with God. A good person is one who keeps the law. That is, one who does what God commands. What, in sentence 5, does Paul say about this? What do we need to do to be in right relationship with God?

16. According to sentence 7, what would happen to us if God were just but not merciful?

17. According to sentence 7, what would happen if God were merciful but not just?

18. According to sentences 8 and 9, there must be a payment for sin since God is just. Who paid that price and what was the price?

19. Sentence 11: State as simply as you can in one sentence the meaning of Romans 3.23-25.

20. There are three things that go together for our justification as described in sentence 15. What are they?

21. Returning to the understanding of faith given in question 11, recognizing what Christ did as described in question 17, understanding that by faith in Christ’s redeeming work we are justified (set in right relationship with God), describe in three or four sentences your understanding of justification as set forth by Cranmer.

22. According to sentence 17, faith does not deny our need to repent, love, fear, and dread God. Does loving God justify us before God? Does loving God put us in right relationship with God?

23. According to sentence 18, those who are justified before God by faith, that is, trusting that his son’s sacrifice was sufficient to justify, are required to do good works. Do these works set one right before God?

24. Sentence 19, why are our good works incapable of justifying us before God?

25. Sentence 20 is a summary of everything Cranmer has said to this point. Read it carefully and think about it. No answer is required here.

26. According to sentence 24, every true Christian is one who fulfills the law; that is, one who keeps the commandments of God. How is this possible?

27. Spend a few minutes thinking about your life. Consider the worst sins you have committed. Do you sometimes feel that God might condemn you because of these sins, or let something evil happen to you? If you are justified before God by the sacrifice of Christ, and if you hold fast to this, then you are the recipient of God’s favor, forgiveness, and kindness because you are in a right relationship with God. Sometimes God calls us to suffer because we follow Christ, and sometimes he allows us to suffer because of our sins, yet as we trust in him, he is always working to deliver us from evil. Sometimes that takes time. You are called to exercise faith, that is, believe that Christ put you right with God by his sacrifice and live according to that belief. Do you believe this message? Also, according to Cranmer, none of your good works justify you before God because all your works are imperfect and tainted with sin. Therefore, you are not in a position to judge and condemn others because of their sins. Do you judge others? Nor are you to condemn yourself because God has offered Christ as a sacrifice for your sins. Therefore, as far as God is concerned, your sins are forgiven and you are a beloved child of the Father. Do you believe, accept, and rejoice in what Christ has done for you?

In light of the teaching on justification, write a paragraph describing what this teaching means for your relationship to God, to others, and to yourself.

Discussion Questions

Once you have found several people, describe to them the meanings of the words justify, righteous, and faith. Share with them that God is both just, and therefore, a price needed to be paid for our sin. He is also merciful, and therefore, he sent Christ do atone for our sin. Read several passages from Scripture which describe this, using some of the verses quoted by Cranmer. Then explain to them that we are justified and righteous before God as we hold to him in faith because of what Christ did for us. Then show the connection between faith and works, that good works do not justify, but that we are commanded to love God and love others. Finally, tell them how you think justification affects our relationship to God, to each other, and to ourselves, referring to question 32 of the homework. Then ask them three questions: 1. Do you believe that you are set right before God because of Christ’s sacrifice, and if so, how does that affect your relationship to God? 2. How does justification affect your relationship to others? 3. How does justification affect your relationship to yourself?

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Anglicanism and Justification - Introduction to Anglicanism

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