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Charles Hodge's Doctrine of Justification

This paper is to analyze Charles Hodge's (1797-1878) doctrine of justification. The paper concludes that Hodge's justification concept needs to be understood in the context of covenant theology. For Hodge, a believer's justification (ordo salutis) is realized through Christ's fulfillment of the law (historia salutis). Hodge's strength in his treatment of justification is that the work of Christ is understood with reference to the law for the effect of justification. In other words, for Hodge, covenant theology serves as a framework to understand the function of the law, and Christ's death and resurrection answers the law in the framework of covenant theology. In that regard, we conclude that Hodge's soteriology is closely connected with christology. Hodge achieves that effect through the union with Christ concept. From the methodological point of view, we can say that Hodge is in line with the tradition of John Calvin, Francis Turretin and Jonathan Edwards. Hodge makes it ever clear that the justification concept appearing in the Bible is all forensic concept. It is not a process but an act of declaration. Also, for Hodge, it is important to maintain that justification is not just about a forgiveness of sins but there has to be reconciliation between God and the sinners. Not only the negative aspect but also the positive aspect of the righteousness of Christ should be taken into consideration when it comes to the imputation of Christ's righteousness. That is, through imputation Christ's satisfaction becomes the ground for the absolution of our sins, and Christ's obedience becomes the ground for the reward of a righteous status in justification. As Hodge understands justification through union with Christ, he denies all antinomian tendencies that are often the case in church life. Hodge's understanding of faith is that faith is only to hold on to Christ's righteousness and nothing else. Therefore, for him, that the ungodly is justified by faith alone is to protect and preach the gospel. For him, the greatness of the gospel is the fact that a sinner is saved by faith not by observing the Jewish law, and that should be a ever compelling motivation for us to witness the name of Christ.