Doctrinal note: judgment according to works and justification by faith (grounded in Romans 2:6, 16; 3:20–28; 4:4–5; 5:1; 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:10)

This short note, linked from 2:6–16, states the boundary the team holds. The fuller doctrine of justification belongs to the Romans 3–5 packages.

Says Paul teaches both judgment according to deeds and justification by faith apart from works. God "will repay each one according to his deeds" (2:6, BSB; cf. 2:16), and "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" (2 Cor 5:10, BSB). Yet "a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law" (3:28, BSB; cf. 3:20), God "justifies the ungodly" (4:5, BSB; cf. 4:4), and "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (8:1, BSB; cf. 5:1).

Implies Judgment according to deeds is real and impartial, and it is not a second way of salvation alongside faith. It is real: 2 Cor 5:10 applies it to believers. It is impartial: Jew and Greek are judged by one standard (2:9–11). It is not a second way of salvation, because 3:20–28 and 4:4–5 exclude works as the ground of acceptance.

Implies Works never form part of the ground of the verdict of justification. The verdict is given now through faith (5:1), and "no condemnation" (8:1) is a present and settled fact for those in Christ. The judgment according to deeds does not reopen it. An account in which the works of the whole life form part of the ground of the final verdict falls outside this boundary.

Uncertain Whether 2:7, 10 and 13 describe believers' deeds appearing at the judgment as the evidence of a living faith; the two readings differ here (see 2:12–13).

Says Paul also speaks of reward and loss for a believer's work at the Day, though the builder "himself will be saved" (1 Cor 3:15, BSB; see 3:12–15).

N. T. Wright speaks of a future justification on the basis of the whole life lived, anticipated by present justification by faith (src.wright-nib-romans). The Council of Trent (Session 6, 1547) taught that nothing preceding justification, whether faith or works, merits its grace (Decree, ch. 8), but that justification includes inward sanctification and renewal (ch. 7), that the justified increase in righteousness through good works (ch. 10; can. 24), and that eternal life is both grace and a reward which their good works truly merit (ch. 16; can. 32) (src.trent-session6-schaff). The Westminster Confession states that God justifies "not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone" (WCF 11.1). Good works are "the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith" (WCF 16.2), and all will appear before Christ "to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil" (WCF 33.1). The team's position agrees with these articles.

James 2:24, "a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone" (BSB), is left to the James package.