excellent post and well argued from scripture. this is one area where i think some of us “free-will” charismatics and catholics may have common ground. of course we also have a bunch of places where we differ (sinless mary, no brothers by mary for Jesus, transubstantiation, infant baptism, saint praying, ...).
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And web boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
13To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
18Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
20The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Confusion about Justification is from Satan, and his prints are all over any suggestion that Jesus once-for-all sacrifice is not REALLY once-for-all. Dead religion, energized by the prince of the power of the air, always ends up nullifying the grace of God and preaching this slander: “Christ died for no purpose.” (see Galatians 2:21)
If there was ONE thing we could do to finally merit salvation, He died needlessly. Our enemy is beyond subtle. The actual reality is that we necessarily would stumble at that ONE point, thus breaking the WHOLE law. “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise, by the faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to them that believe”. (Gal. 3:22)
I’m convinced God left plenty of rope in Scripture for the religious heirs of Cain to hang themselves with. “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM” is a way that seems right to them, but ends in death.
Why? Because “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH”.
If you truly believe and FOLLOW HIM, you will come to this point REPEATEDLY!
Your once and done is once and done! What about the REST?
Do you still believe and follow, or disbelieve and follow yourself?
Do you seek conviction and repentance from the Holy Ghost, or yourself, or some one claiming they represent him?
http://biblehub.com/jeremiah/17-9.htm
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Turn to him, seek his face, abandon the wicked ways, and he will heal our land.
Of course, God could have lied to us here: Jeremiah 31:34New International Version (NIV)
34 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”
God told us that the New Covenant would change things. The Old Covenant and the rendering of the Commandments/Law was specifically to prove to the stiff-necked lot, who challenged God to give them the rule book, that they could not become worthy of their own efforts - it was designed to increase sin via the breaking of all the commandments that were insisted upon. Did God mean it when he spoke through Jeremiah that he would forgive our wickedness and recognize our sins no more? Was it a trick statement? Did Jesus have to die for something that mortals could accomplish?
One time event. Justification is never a process. You are either declared justified or you are not.
Excellent article! Thank-you and God Bless!
A reminder that conversion is an ongoing process.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Those verses are so simply written and simple to understand there should be no need that they be explained to anyone...The tough part is believing them...
And this is not at the end of a person's life...This is the message that applies as quickly as one has trusted Jesus as his/her Savior...
We as Christians are indwelt with the Holy Ghost and nothing can break that seal...
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
This is a spiritual operation which may be a little harder to grasp but once you do, you'll know you are home free...You are spiritually connected to Jesus...
Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
We are not talking about people who are 'hoping' they will be saved...Theses are people who ARE saved...They are sealed with the Holy Ghost...They are spiritually seated with Jesus at the right hand of God...Right from the start...
The author of this piece likes to play on the word hope...Here's what hope means in the scriptures...
Col_1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Do we 'hope' the gospel is true??? Of course not...We KNOW it is true...
ἐλπίς
elpis
el-pece'
Fromἔλπω elpō which is a primary word (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstract or concrete) or confidence: - faith, hope.
Hope in the scriptures is not a 'wish'...Hope is anticipation...Hope is expectation...Hope is confidence...
You might want to note that your religion always avoids these scriptures and those like them...
Could you define “justification” for me?