justitia civilis

Latin for "civil justice." The term, however, is used in a specialized sense by theologians. It is a central assertion of evangelical theology that humans are fallen, and are unable on his own to do anything that will save him in the eyes of God. This, however, does not mean that humans are incapable of doing good or right. Humans do obey laws, and care for the poor, for example. Theologian use the Latin expression justitia civilis to refer to that category of acts in which humans retain the ability to act as such. They, however, accrue no favour in the eyes of God.

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