Understanding Justification and Its Importance

Justification is a key theological concept that speaks to humanity's need for union with God despite inherent sinfulness. This concept emphasizes that all human beings are flawed and separate from divine perfection, necessitating a means of reconciliation and forgiveness from God. For both Luther and Aquinas, the question of how individuals can be made righteous before a just and good God is central to understanding salvation. Their responses to this question highlight fundamental differences in their theological frameworks, which play a significant role in the historical divide between Protestantism and Catholicism.