Justification (theology)

===Arminianism/Methodism===
{{Main article|Imparted righteousness}}
[[John Wesley]], the founder of [[Methodism]], was heavily influenced by the thought of [[Dutch Reformed Church|Dutch Reformed]] theologian [[Jacob Arminius]] and [[Hugo Grotius]]' [[Atonement (Governmental view)|governmental theory]] of the atonement. Hence, he held that God's work in us consisted of [[prevenient grace]], which undoes the effects of sin sufficiently that we may then freely choose to believe. An individual's act of faith then results in becoming part of the body of Christ, which allows one to appropriate Christ's atonement for oneself, erasing the guilt of sin.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/wesley/serm-005.stm |title=John Wesley: Sermon 5: Justification by Faith<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2006-05-03 |archive-date=2014-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330135025/http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/wesley/serm-005.stm |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to the [[Articles of Religion (Methodist)|Articles of Religion]] in the ''[[Book of Discipline of the Methodist Church]]'':

{{blockquote|We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort.<ref>[http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=1650 The United Methodist Church: The Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church – Article IX – Of the Justification of Man] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926233830/http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=1650 |date=2007-09-26 }}</ref>|title=The Articles of Religion of the Methodist Church|source=Article IX – Of the Justification of Man}}

[[Methodist theology]] teaches that justification and [[Regeneration (theology)|regeneration]] occur during the [[born again|New Birth]]:<ref name="Emmanuel2002"/>

{{quotation|Though these two phases of the new birth occur simultaneously, they are, in fact, two separate and distinct acts. Justification is that gracious and judicial act of God whereby a soul is granted complete absolution from all guilt and a full release from the penalty of sin (Romans 3:23-25). This act of divine grace is wrought by faith in the merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Regeneration is the impartation of divine life which is manifested in that radical change in the moral character of man, from the love and life of sin to the love of God and the life of righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1:23). <ref name="Emmanuel2002">{{cite book |title=Guidebook of the Emmanuel Association of Churches |date=2002 |publisher=[[Emmanuel Association]] |location=[[Logansport, Indiana|Logansport]] |pages=7–8 |language=English}}</ref>|title=Guidebook of the Emmanuel Association of Churches|source=Principles of Faith, [[Emmanuel Association|Emmanuel Association of Churches]]}}

However, once the individual has been so justified, one must then continue in the new life given; if one fails to persevere in the faith and in fact falls away from God in total unbelief, the attachment to Christ – and with it, justification – may be lost.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://gbgm-umc.org/UMHISTORY/Wesley/sermons/serm-086.stm |title=Sermon redirection<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2006-05-03 |archive-date=2013-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614190017/http://gbgm-umc.org/UMHISTORY/Wesley/sermons/serm-086.stm |url-status=dead }}</ref>