Justification (theology)

===Joint Declaration on Doctrine of Justification (1999) ===
Roman Catholics and most Lutherans as represented by most of the Lutheran councils worldwide that agreed with the [[Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification]] (JDDJ), believe that they have found much agreement on the subject of justification. Examples:

* "We confess together that sinners are justified by faith in the saving action of God in Christ. Such a faith is active in love and thus the Christian cannot and should not remain without works. But whatever in the justified precedes or follows the free gift of faith is neither the basis of justification nor merits it.

* "We confess together that in baptism the Holy Spirit unites one with Christ, justifies, and truly renews the person.

* "We confess: By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works.

* "We confess together that all persons depend completely on the saving grace of God for their salvation. Justification takes place solely by God's grace.

* "We confess together that persons are justified by faith in the gospel "apart from works prescribed by the law" (Rom 3:28). (a faith which worketh by love. Gal.5:6)"

Other Lutherans, especially [[Confessional Lutheran]]s, maintain that this agreement fails to properly define the meaning of faith, sin, and other essential terms and thus do not support the Lutheran World Federation's agreement. Likewise, Catholics affirming the real and serious differences between the decrees of the [[Council of Trent]] and the normative Lutheran documents collected in the 1580 [[Book of Concord]] equally reject the 1999 "[[Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification|JDDJ]]" as fatally flawed.<ref>Cf., e.g., C. J. Malloy, ''Engrafted into Christ: A Critique of the Joint Declaration'' (New York: P. Lang, 2005)</ref> In July 2006 the World Methodist Council, representing 70 million Wesleyan Christians, including The [[United Methodist Church]], "signed on" to the Joint Declaration on Justification between Roman Catholics and the Lutheran World Federation.