Christian Cyclopedia

Begun 1549 by A. Osiander* the Elder. Reacting against what he regarded as overemphasis on forensic justification, he taught that God does not declare the sinner just, but makes him just; does not impute Christ's obedience and righteousness to the sinner, but has Christ Himself dwell in the sinner for his justification; does not act as a judge but as a physician. N. v. Amsdorf,* M. Chemnitz,* M. Flacius* Illyricus, P. Melanchthon,* J. Mörlin,* et al. opposed him. Osiander also held that Christ is our righteousness only acc. to His divine nature (see also Stancarus, Franciscus). FC SD III 4: “Christ is our righteousness, not according to the divine nature alone or according to the human nature alone but according to both natures.”