Paul and Justification: The Relevance of Paul for Today

Here the author deals with the contemporary relevance of Pauline
doctrine of justification/righteousness/salvation. This paper intends to study 
the Pauline concept of justification and related ideas in the Indian context
characterised by rich religiosity and spirituality on the one hand, and the
increasing polarisation on the basis of ideology, religion, sex-gender ste­-
reotypes, class and caste on the other. Towards this purpose we begin the
paper with a brief analysis of the Indian situation with special reference to
its socio-cultural and religious aspects.
The paper is divided into two parts. Part I will analyse the meaning of
justification/salvation and related ideas. In the process of investigation 
we shall delineate the salient features of Paul’s theology of justification.
Part II will deal with the implications of Pauline theology for today. Ow­-
ing to constraints of space, our study shall be restricted to issues pertain­-
ing to women and religious pluralism.
Thus moving away from the legalistic and fundamentalist notion of justi­-
fication, the fact of being saved by the faith o f  and in Christ (Rom 3:21­
26) enables us to live humbly (example of Abraham) before God in a
spirit of gratitude to God’s gracious gift. It urges us to move towards the
realisation of Paul’s egalitarian vision (Gal 3:26-29). Our identity as hu-­
man beings created in God’s image and likeness and our ‘oneness’ in
Christ shall not to be obscured by divisive forces. Our personal experi­
ence of the justifying act of God manifested in Jesus’ love and poured into
our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5) empowers us to be commit­
ted to the liberative mission of Jesus in today’s Church and Society.