Iustitia aliena is a Latin phrase meaning “alien righteousness.” This was and continues to be the heartbeat of the Reformation– the basis of the Christian’s justification before God. The reason that we are, as Luther said, simul justus et peccator (righteous and simultaneously sinner) before God is because of this iustitia aliena credited to the Christian’s account by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Without the active obedience of Christ imputed to us, God would not be both “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). Thus, God declares the sinner who has faith in Christ righteous, not based on the sinner’s own righteousness, but based solely on the righteousness of Christ.
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