Dynamic Doctrines of the Faith

Topic #7: Justification (Part 2)

Reminder: The Ordo Salutis:

1. The free offer of salvation in the gospel.

2. Regeneration.

3. Conversion.

4. Justification.

5. Adoption.

6. Sanctification.

7. Glorification

Q: Why does justification logically come where it does?

DEU 25:1.”If there is a dispute between men, and they come to court, that the judges may judge them, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, [All Scripture quotes from The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.]

Q: How long does justification take?

Q: Does it make a man holy or change his heart?

 

PRO 17:15. He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

Q: Is God doing what He condemns?

PHI 3:8–9. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Q: Jesus’ death was propitiation, an atoning sacrifice that paid the ________________ for our sin, and turned away God’s _____________. This is called Jesus’ _____________________ obedience.

Q: Jesus lived a perfectly righteous life. He obeyed the whole Law perfectly. This is called His ________________________ obedience.

Q: Is God perfectly just?

Q: How was it just of God the Father to punish the God the Son?

Q: ________________ SIN è ____________________

Q: ________________ RIGHTEOUSNESS è ________________

Q: This is called “DOUBLE _________________________.”

ROM 8:30. … whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Q: Were you always elect?

Q: Were you always justified?

ROM 8:1–4. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Not “no sin,” but “no condemnation.”

Q: What’s the difference?

Q: How should we then live?

Westminster Confession of Faith XI. Of Justification

  1. Those whom God effectually calls, He also freely justifies; not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ’s sake alone; nor by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God.
  2. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification: yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but works by love.
  3. Christ, by His obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are thus justified, and did make a proper, real and full satisfaction to His Father’s justice in their behalf. Yet, in as much as He was given by the Father for them;[240] and His obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead; and both, freely, not for any thing in them; their justification is only of free grace; that both the exact justice, and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.
  4. God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect, and Christ did, in the fullness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their justification: nevertheless, they are not justified, until the Holy Spirit does, in due time, actually apply Christ unto them.
  5. God does continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified; and although they can never fall from the sate of justification, yet they may, by their sins, fall under God’s fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of His countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.
  6. The justification of believers under the Old Testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the New Testament.