Why Justification?
Dr. Joseph A Pipa, Jr. – Executive Editor

R.L. Dabney reminded us that each generation needs to examine and reaffirm for itself the principal doctrines. One would have thought that the doctrine of justification was secure, but today the traditional statement of the doctrine of justification by faith alone is under attack from a number of directions. In this issue of katekomen we address two of the formulations of justification that seem to depart from the biblical, confessional statement; namely, the positions of Drs. N.T. Wright and Norman Shepherd. We also include an article by Dr. Morton H. Smith that states the biblical and confessional doctrine.
     I encourage our readers to study Chapter xxv in the Westminster Confession of Faith. This chapter teaches that every response to Scripture must be out of faith. The Confession teaches that “faith acts differently upon that which each particular passage (in the Bible) contains; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come.” Thus we are reminded that all obedience comes from faith. But the Confession also reminds us that “the principle acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.” Indeed it is true that saving faith obeys as well as receives. But it is not the obedience of faith that justifies. Rather, justifying faith rests on Christ alone for imputed righteousness. We must not abandon this important, biblical distinction. We hope this issue of katekomen will aid you in the examination and reaffirmation of the essential, wonderful doctrine of justification by faith alone.

Why katekomen?

katekomen — “let us hold fast, retain, keep.” John Owen suggests that the following ideas are included in the meaning of this word: “1. A supposition of great difficulty, with danger and opposition, against this holding the profession of our faith; 2. The putting forth of the utmost of our strength and endeavors in the defense of it; 3. A constant perseverance in it, denoted in the word ‘keep’; -possess it with constancy.”
     We have chosen this word as the title for this regular publication, not merely because it is part of Greenville Seminary’s theme verse, but because it expresses our desire, in all that we undertake, to be faithful to the Word of God and to the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, it is our prayer that this publication and GPTS will be used of God to edify and strengthen his Church as we seek to “hold fast” and “to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”