Jesus Christ has atoned for all the sins of all mankind and in this way has earned God’s forgiveness for all people. Thus, Christ’s resurrection from the dead is also the justification of the whole world. We call this objective justification.
2 Cor. 5:19: God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation.
1 Joh. 2:2: He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Heb. 1:3: The Son... when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Jer. 23:5-6: I will raise unto David a righteous Branch... and this is the name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUNESS.
Rom. 3:23-24: All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Rom. 4:25: Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.
Luther: “For He (God’s Son) has died for the sins of the whole world. Now it is most assuredly true that I too belong to the world. Therefore it is most assuredly true, that he has also died for my sins.” (On the basis of Rom. 3:28, thesis 19, from the year 1535).
God proclaims this forgiveness to me in the Word of the Gospel and in the promises of the Sacraments, from which I receive it through mere faith, solely by grace, as a free gift, without a single work or merit on my part. This faith God counts unto me for righteousness. We call this justification by faith. (subjective justification).
Rom. 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.
Rom. 4:5: To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Rom. 4:16: Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace.
Lutheran Confessions: “The word justify means to declare righteous and free from sins, and to absolve one from eternal punishment for the sake of Christ’s righteousness, which is imputed by God to faith. Phil. 3:9" (Formula of Concord, Thorough Declaration, 3:17).
