DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION

Delta Report ^ | 6/27/77 | R. B. Thieme, Jr.

[Forest Keeper]

The works we perform after being justified do not save us. Our justification is a one time event.

Yes, and I think the language can sometimes get confusing as to what the driving force actually is. We hear the quote so often that "we are justified by faith". I'm sure that many have the idea that we choose faith and that in turn is what justifies us. I would disagree since justification as a forensic declaration had nothing to do with our faith as a cause, but rather preceded our faith entirely. Here is an excerpt from Justification as an Eternal and Immanent Act of God (by John Gill) which makes the distinction:

Justification is an act of God's grace, flowing from his sovereign good will and pleasure; the elect of God are said to be "justified by his grace"; and as if that expression was not strong enough to set forth the freeness of it, the word "freely" is added elsewhere; "Being justified freely by his grace", #Tit 3:7 Ro 3:24. Justification is by many divines distinguished into active and passive. Active justification is the act of God; it is God that justifies. Passive justification is the act of God, terminating on the conscience of a believer, commonly called a transient act, passing upon an external object.

...... Now, as before observed, as God's will to elect, is the election of his people, so his will to justify them, is the justification of them; as it is an immanent act in God, it is an act of his grace towards them, is wholly without them, entirely resides in the divine mind, and lies in his estimating, accounting, and constituting them righteous, through the righteousness of his Son; and, as such, did not first commence in time, but from eternity.

First, It does not begin to take place in time, or at believing, but is antecedent to any act of faith. 1. Faith is not the cause, but an effect of justification; it is not the cause of it in any sense; it is not the moving cause, that is the free grace of God; "Being justified freely by his grace", #Ro 3:24 nor the efficient cause of it; "It is God that justifies", #Ro 8:33 nor the meritorious cause, as some express it; or the matter of it, that is the obedience and blood of Christ, #Ro 5:9,19 or the righteousness of Christ, consisting of his active and passive obedience; nor even the instrumental cause; for, as Mr. Baxter {5} himself argues, "If faith is the instrument of our justification, it is the instrument either of God or man; not of man, for justification is God's act; he is the sole Justifier, #Ro 3:26 man doth not justify himself: nor of God, for it is not God that believes": nor is it a "causa sine qua non", as the case of elect infants shows; it is not in any class of causes whatever; but it is the effect of justification: all men have not faith, and the reason why some do not believe is, because they are none of Christ's sheep; they were not chosen in him, nor justified through him; but justly left in their sins, and so to condemnation; the reason why others believe is, because they are ordained to eternal life, have a justifying righteousness provided for them, and are justified by it, and shall never enter into condemnation: the reason why any are justified, is not because they have faith; but the reason why they have faith, is because they are justified; was there no such blessing of grace as justification of life in Christ, for the sons of men, there would be no such thing as faith in Christ bestowed on them; precious faith is obtained through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ, #2Pe 1:1 nor, indeed, would there be any room for it, nor any use of it, if a justifying righteousness was not previously provided. Agreeable to this are the reasonings and assertions of Twisse {6}, Maccovius {7}, and others. Now if faith is not the cause, but the effect of justification; then as every cause is before its effect, and every effect follows its cause, justification must be before faith, and faith must follow justification.

[Cvengr]

Revisiting an older note study.

Doctrine of the Body of Christ helps clarify the actions in sanctification, justification, and salvation. It is very easy to confuse the act of salvation as only effecting the individual believer, but once we are saved, in this dispensation we become part of the Body of Christ.

Think of the Body of Christ as that over which He is given control from His Volition, such that as the new man, we are members of His Body and by His Plan(Father) through faith in Christ(Son), He is able to perform by His volition maneuvering us where He wants us.

The Work of God the Holy Spirit glorifies the Son by continuing to sanctify the Body, while Christ also sanctifies the Body per Heb 13:11-13

[Cvengr]

bttt