Studies of Religion 1

Christianity

Shaun McManus

The word Justified is defined as pronounced or treated as righteous. Justification

by faith is Gods act of removing guilt and punishment of sin while at the same time
affirming sinners to be righteous through Christs atoning sacrifice. Of the formation,
doctrine and expression of Christianity, justification by faith is at the core of Christian
belief. It is expressed through the contribution of Paul of Tarsus to Christian
formation through his beliefs and expression of Christianity; Pauls influence on the
development of Christianity that shaped and separated it from Judaism through
establishment of Christian communities throughout the Roman Catholic Empire and
letters of advice to those communities. Doctrine is shown through the teachings of
sexual ethics throughout the variants of Christianity and each of their stances on
issues such as pre-marital sex and homosexuality. Expression of Christianity is
conveyed through rituals and practices of Christianity, being Baptism, which
communicates the beliefs of Christianity. The formation, doctrine and expression of
Christian faith are illustrated through Pauls beliefs, the teachings of sexual ethics and
the ritual of Baptism to form Christianity.
Paul of Tarsus (originally Saul of Tarsus) is considered by many Christians to be the
greatest principal disciple of Jesus (13 th disciple), second to Jesus in the development
of Christianity. Acknowledged as a Saint, Paul drove much advancement in
Christianity among the gentiles and is considered to be of the earliest primary sources
of Christian formation and doctrine. It is recognized that it was Paul who emphasized
the expansion of Christianity as a religion, breaking it away from the sect of Judaism
and its practices. Pauls impact on the development of Christianity is evident through
his missionary journeys to spread the word of Christ and his letters to outer in the
Roman Empire that provided the foundation of the developing Christian doctrine and
ethical teaching, emphasizing justification by faith.
A strategy of Evangelization (The process of converting individuals to Christianity)
was used by Paul to address the Jewish community and convert the gentiles through
the word of God. They set off from Antioch to begin their journeys (Set apart for me
Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. So after they had
fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. Acts 13: 2-3)
of spreading Christianitys message. As a starting point, the Jewish audience was
targeted for them to accept Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecies "We tell you the
good news: What God promised our fathers he has fulfilled for us, their children, by
raising up Jesus" (Acts, 13:32-33). After proclaiming the word of God in the Jewish
synagogues which proved ineffective, Sergius Paulus, a governor in Cyprus was
interested to hear in the word of God and after the blinding of Elymas converted to
Christianity he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord (Acts
13:11). The preaching of the word of God among the gentiles was received positively,
opposed to the Jews and was where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians,
When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; all
who were appointed eternal life believed (Acts 13:48). Pauls objective of these
journeys was to emphasize that Christianity was open to all and an inclusive
community the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out to the Gentiles also (Acts 10:45)
and his works clearly demonstrated that through Justification by faith that Christianity
is open to a magnitude of communities.
Pauls preaching of Justification by faith and Gods grace, is achieved through the
practice of acts of love. Through letters to both individuals and communities, Paul

Studies of Religion 1

Christianity

Shaun McManus

spoke of and defined the major Christian beliefs: Salvation, Revelation the Humanity
and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Paul made Christianity as a faith available to all, no
matter whether they were Jew or Gentile, male or female, freed or slave (Galatians
3:28). Justification by faith is recognised through works (i.e. sacrifices and
commandments). Building upon Jesus teachings, Paul taught that just simply obeying
commandments was not a clear way to earn justification; it was a way to show love
for Jesus within put right with God through our faith in Christ (Galatians 2:16).
Paul shared a belief that being justified by faith with God brings peace and joy and
that works of the law are not under justification by faith. This reference to Jewish
traditional practice that identified them as a separate community through observation
of the Sabbath, circumcision and eating kosher which distinguished the Jewish society
as Gods covenant people I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the
nations to be my own (Leviticus 20:26). Pauls views however, revealed that these
lawful practices were not to be traditional practices to portray a love for God, which
excluded non-Jewish individuals. He highlighted that faith in Christ would allow
entry to all through an induction into the Christian community (Baptism) Jew or
Gentile (Galatians 3:28). In Pauls first letter to the Corinthians love is patient
and eternal (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) he mentions Agape to emphasize his core idea
and belief that without love and an open outlook on life, humanity will only gain a
lack of a strong bond with God. Through Pauls letters, he established that
Christianity was an all-encompassing religion accepting of all individuals achieved
through justification by faith to accomplish its true capabilities as a religion.
Christian ethics is a branch of Christian theology that defines concepts of virtuous and
sinful behaviours within the Christian community. Ethics, coming from the Greek
word ethica which comes from ethos meaning customs refer to a system of
principles and standards by which communities make judgments on wrong and right.
Morals refer to the behaviours of individuals. Sexual ethics in Christianity concerns
the morality of actions of individuals in a physical nature and the need to conform to
particular rules of conduct such as chastity etc. The Catholic Church as well as its
other variants investigates both issues of Pre-marital sex and Homosexuality.
Pre-marital sex is recognised as the practice of sexual activity between individuals
who are unmarried. Paul elaborates in the Bible that to the unmarried and the
widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control
themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion (1
Corinthians 7:8-9). Pauls views state that sexual activity between couples should be
shared only after marriage to not damage the sanctity of the connection of love. The
Roman Catholic Church (RCC) describes that marriage is the union between a man
and a woman and that sex is sacred between them only. Breaking of this offends the
dignity of marriage, destroying the idea of family and weaken a sense of fidelity. 1 It
is further emphasized through the scripture God blessed them, saying, Be fertile and
multiply; fill the earth and subdue it"(Genesis 1:28). RCC reflects that sexual
intercourse is meant to be practiced after marriage with the objective of procreation
"that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female, for this
reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two
shall become one flesh'" (Matthew 19:4-5). Pope John Paul II once announced
Sexuality too is depersonalized and exploited, from being the sign, place and
language of love, that is, of the gift of self and acceptance of another, in all the others
1 Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church

Studies of Religion 1

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Shaun McManus

richness as a person, it increasingly becomes the occasion and instrument for selfassertion and the selfish satisfaction of personal desires and instincts lamenting the
decline in respect for marital love2. The Anglican perspective on premarital sex is
tolerant of the activity however, strongly endorsed marriage as a necessary
commitment for long term relations as stated by representative of the Anglican
Church, The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams previous. He has also stated
that he doesnt believe the Church has sanction against those who practice sexual
activity outside of marriage. However, in contrast to this, in 2013 the new
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby stated, regardless of sexual preference, sex
outside of marriage is wrong To abandon the ideal simply because its difficult to
achieve is ridiculous This was met with a mass amount of disagreement believing the
Archbishops words to be wrong. The Catholic Church as well as its variants of
Christianity in turn believes that premarital sexual relations are wrong and should
only be between a man and women under marriage. It is the following of these sexual
ethics that an example of Justification by faith through the human ability to abstain
oneself from extramarital sex that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her
hath committed adultery already (Matthew 5:27-28).
The word homosexuality is drawn from the Greek prefix homo meaning the same,
this relates to individuals who are attracted to their own gender. 3 Homosexuality is
understood by Christians as a barrier to the idea of marriage and a family, whereas
others see this as sin believing it to be an abomination you shall not lie with a male
as with a woman, it is an abomination (Leviticus 18:22) deserving exclusion from
communion. Pauls letter to the Romans states: God giving up on humans who gave
into unnatural passions men committing shameless acts with men and receiving due
penalties for their errors (Romans 1:26-27). Though unclear on the shameless acts
and penalty Paul makes clearer in 1 Corinthians the reference to fornicators,
idolators, adulterers, male prostitutes, and sodomites will be excluded from the
Kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) With its emphasis on marriage and
procreation, the Bible is against homosexuality. However, in the modern world,
homosexuality is being accepted in Christian variants such as the Episcopal Church in
America. The Episcopal Church is a supporter of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
intersexed (LGBTI) individuals stating: homosexual persons (LGBTI as a whole) are
children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon love,
acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church4 and ordaining ministers
and priests who are homosexual into their community such as the ordaining of Ellen
Barrett as the first openly lesbian priest in the Episcopal Church in 1977. Justification
by faith and sexual ethics both suggest together that Christians must be against
instances of homosexuality to allow grace with God however, developments in the
modern worlds views have shifted to allow the inclusion of the LGBTI community
into the Christian community.

Baptism is a key component of justification by faith as it is central to the formation

and expression of core Christian beliefs. Within all Christian variants, Baptism plays a
2 The Gospel of Life
3 Cambridge University Studies of Religion Textbook extract
4 Journal of the General Convention of The Episcopal Church,
Minneapolis 1976

Studies of Religion 1

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Shaun McManus

significant role as a ceremony of purification and welcoming into the Church, creating
a sound and global understand within the religion Baptism is not just a practice but
also a sacrament, it is a rite that admits candidates into the Christian Church
Community (Janet Morrissey). There are distinct differences in the ritual of Baptism
across the variants of Christian faith, The Catholic, Uniting, Presbyterian, Lutheran
and Orthodox Churches baptize followers as infants through; overhead sprinkling of
water (aspersion) and the pouring of water over the head (effusion). Protestant
Churches practice Baptism on individuals at puberty age or adulthood and their
consent the child is received into the fellowship. Justifying oneself to a life of purity
through the Church is a common focus on Christianity and its variants.
Justification by faith acknowledges core beliefs through Baptism to include: Spiritual
Rebirth, Cleansing and Purification through Christ, Admission into the Christian
Church, faith in the Holy Trinity, power of the Holy Spirit and the need for Salvation,
faith and repentance. Baptism illustrates the participation in the Life, Death and
Resurrection of Christ, as well as forgiveness of sin, highlights a connection between
individuals being baptized and the Church. Paul writes in his letters And now why
are you waiting? ...Be baptized and wash away your sins, in the name of the Lord.
(Acts 22:18). This additionally suggests that by justifying oneself to God through
faith is evident through baptism as it was Paul that referred to baptism as the
Entrance into Gods heart as it is important to achieving justification by faith.
Formation of Christian doctrine and expression is clearly seen in baptism. Water is
illustrated to be symbolic throughout all variants in Christianity for baptism. There is
one baptism in the Church of God. Baptism is the initiation into a life of faith and that
is a gift from God5 There is an aspect of welcoming into the Church there is also the
forgiveness of sin, as well as salvation from original sin. Through baptism you are
reborn through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) Pauls letter indications that baptism
heals an individuals sin against God. Justification by faith is adhered through its
practices within the Church to build a stronger collection with God.
Christianity, through its formation, doctrine and expression all connect to form the
core of Christian faith. Through Pauls journeys and letters to various Christian
communities signify how as Christians, should accept all into its community and
practice as an all-embracing culture. The Christian beliefs of sexual ethics are
challenged and modified through Christian variants through modern day acceptance
of individuality, and the practice of baptism to further express justification by faith
through its tradition of welcoming new followers into Christianity. The formation,
doctrine and expression of Christianity all work together to create a justified faith
through works.

5
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a1.
htm

Studies of Religion 1

Christianity

Shaun McManus