Justification (theology)

===Other===
[[Universal reconciliation|Universalism]] became a significant minority view in the 18th century, popularized by thinkers such as [[John Murray (minister)|John Murray]] (the American, not [[John Murray (theologian)|the Scot]]). Universalism holds that Christ's death on the cross has entirely atoned for the sin of humanity; hence, God's wrath is or will be satisfied for all people. Conservative and liberal varieties of universalism then point in different directions. Pluralistic [[Unitarian Universalism]] asserts that many different religions all lead to God. Others teach that God's love is sufficient to cover for sins, thus embracing some form of the [[Atonement (Moral influence view)|moral influence]] theory of [[Peter Abelard]]. For some universalists, justification either was accomplished once and for all in the crucifixion, or is altogether unnecessary.

A range of so-called [[New Perspectives on Paul]], represented by Protestant scholars such as [[E.P. Sanders]], [[N.T. Wright]], and [[James Dunn (theologian)|James Dunn]], have given rise to a re-thinking of the historical Protestant understanding of justification. Proponents of this view argue that Paul's letters have too often been read through the lens of the Protestant Reformation rather than in the context of first-century Second Temple Judaism, and therefore impose a religion of legalism on their understanding of [[Pharisees|Pharisaism]]. This view has been criticized by a number of Reformed ministers and theologians including [[John Piper (theologian)|John Piper]], [[D.A. Carson]], and [[Sinclair Ferguson]].<ref name="Piper2008">{{cite book |last=Piper |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GDpOPgAACAAJ |title=The Future of Justification: A Response to N.T. Wright |publisher=Inter-Varsity Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-84474-250-9 |location=Downers Grove, IL |language=en}}</ref><ref name="CarsonMoo2013">{{cite book|last1=Carson|first1=D. A. |last2=Moo|first2=Douglas J. |title=Introducing the New Testament: A Short Guide to Its History and Message|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WVEt0ys3ERkC&pg=PA78|year=2013|publisher=Zondervan|location=Grand Rapids, MI|isbn=978-0-310-51489-3|pages=78–79}}</ref><ref name="Ferguson2016">{{cite book|last=Ferguson|first=Sinclair B. |title=The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, and Gospel Assurance—Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3lFdCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT72|year=2016|publisher=Crossway|location=Wheaton, IL|isbn=978-1-4335-4803-1|pages=72–74}}</ref>

The [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church), believes that while justification is a gift from God,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/gs/justification-justify?lang=eng|title=Justification, Justify|access-date=2018-02-19}}</ref> the recipient must choose it through striving to do good works to the extent possible. The [[Second Nephi|Second Book of Nephi]] states "...it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."<ref>{{Cite web |title=2 Nephi 25 |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/eng/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/25 |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=www.churchofjesuschrist.org |language=en}}</ref> In LDS theology, justification is not earned through good works, but rather chosen by striving to rid one's life of sin. This allows God to rescue his children from sin while not infringing on their agency.<ref>[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/gs/agency?lang=eng&letter=A Agency]</ref>