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| The doctrine of justification is like a dazzling multi-faceted diamond! |
12. Justification is a Dazzling Multi-faceted Jewel!
Have you ever considered this question – how many aspects or phases are there in justification? To begin considering this question, let us take note of 1689.11.4 “God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect, (11) and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their justification;(12) nevertheless, they are not justified personally, until the Holy Spirit doth in time due actually apply Christ unto them.”(13) 11. Gal 3:8; 1Pe 1:2; 1Ti 2:6. (12) Ro 4:25. (13) Col 1:21-22; Tit 3:4-7.
There are three aspects of justification summarized in the above statement. First, there is the justification decreed by God for all the elect from all eternity, Second, there is the justification by blood secured by Christ in time at the cross for all the elect, Third, there is the justification by free grace applied by the Holy Spirit to each individual elect at God’s appointed and accepted time at effectual calling unto life. When justification is applied at effectual call to life, then there will be faith at the hearing of the word, which brings us to the fourth aspect of justification. Fourth, there is the justification by faith, i.e. evidenced and experienced by faith at initial conversion at the gospel call, and thereafter, throughout life. Fifthly, there is the justification vindicated publicly at the resurrection and glorification of God’s elect, just as Christ Jesus was declared, vindicated to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
These five aspects of justification are like the five fingers of a well-formed hand. Each one is distinct, yet united together in a wholesome hand. A five-fingered hand is a beautiful hand. Any less is a deformed hand, producing a ‘deformed’ understanding of the doctrine. When justification applied by free grace is fused with the justification by faith then we also have a deformed four-fingered hand. With the five fingers we are able to rightly grasp the word of truth concerning the doctrine of justification. It is necessary for us to note that there are these various aspects of justification spoken of in the Scriptures so that we may rightly divide the word of truth. Taking note of these distinct aspects will help us to avoid inconsistencies and adequately express the whole counsel of God on justification. If you have a contradiction, then you have a misinterpretation!
This five-aspect model is also true of the other aspects of our salvation. See the two charts displaying the multifaceted jewel of salvation. The same is true with our son-ship with God. There are also five distinct facets:
a. Sons by decree for all elect before time: Eph 1:4-5 “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love, Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”
b. Sons by legal purchase for all the elect at the cross: “Gal 4:4-5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”
c. Sons by birth at effectual call of each elect at God's appointed and accepted time: John 3:3-6 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 1:13 "sons of God... which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." 1Pet 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
d. Sons by experience through faith in Christ: John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” Rom 8:13-14 “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
e. Sons by the resurrection & glory: Rom 8:23-24 “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?”
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| This is what SO MANY think of the doctrine of justification - experiential justification by their faith as the sum-total of Bible's teaching on justification! |
Ro 8:29-30 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Here is a grand passage describing the first aspect of justification, the justification decreed by God in eternity for His elect people as a corporate entity. It declares the eternal purpose of God to justify all those whom He foreknew. All the acts of God here are in the simple past tense. They are as good as accomplished because what God has decreed has absolute certainty of fulfillment.
There are passages that declare the same justification decreed by God. A few examples follow:
Eph 1:4 “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” To be holy and without blame requires justification based on the finished work of Christ. Therefore, if God has chosen us to be holy and blameless in Christ before the foundation of the world, the means necessary for that end would have been decreed in the decree of election.
1Pet 1:18-21 “…Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” Christ was foreordained before the foundation of the world for the justification of God’s elect.
To recognize that God has decreed justification before the foundation of the world is not the same as believing that God has justified His elect in eternity. I do believe that God had an eternal purpose to justify the elect, but I do not hold that the personal or vital justification has occurred in eternity.
b. Justification secured by Christ
There are passages that speak of the justification secured by Christ at the cross for all His saints.
Romans 5:17-19 “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
Please note the strict parallel between Adam and Christ indicated by the words ‘even so.’ The imputation of sin to all men represented in Adam by the offence of Adam is paralleled by the imputation of righteousness to all men represented in Christ by the obedience of Christ. The imputation of sin that led to the condemnation of all in Adam is strictly parallel to the imputation of righteousness that led to justification of life of all in Christ.
JUSTIFICATION IS ENTIRELY BY IMPUTATION IN PRECISELY THE SAME WAY ADAM’S ONE SIN WAS IMPUTED TO ALL MANKIND. No man must believe or accept Adam’s sin to be guilty for it. It is imputed to him by the judicial counsel of God. His conception in sin and growing up in sin merely manifests and proves that sinful state. The actual acts of sinning bring the conscious experience of condemnation. They do not secure that condemnation. In the very same way the elect of God are justified by Christ, His singular obedience is imputed to the accounts of the elect, before and without any knowledge or approval by them. When God effectually calls each elect at His appointed and accepted time, the justification that was secured by Christ at the cross is applied personally. When such person believes at the sound of the gospel call, he is giving evidence of the justification already applied. He did not secure that justification. A member of Adam’s fallen race does not sin to be condemned; he sins because of his state of condemnation. EVEN SO, an elect of God does not believe to be justified, he believes because he is justified at birth, i.e., spiritual birth at effectual calling.
A man sins because of his sinful nature.
A man believes because of his justified nature.
The ungodly shall live by unbelief.
The just shall live by faith.
By the one man’s offence death reigned through the one. The sin of Adam was imputed to the whole race, and judgment came upon all represented by Adam, resulting in condemnation. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Upon the conception of a man in Adam, the condemnation that was imputed is applied and begins to operate; the reign of sin begins to be manifested through unbelief and rebellion against God. EVEN SO, by the One Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men represented by Christ, resulting in justification of life. The righteousness of Christ was imputed to all the elect. By His death at the cross, Christ did actually secure the justification of life for all His people. Christ did actually suffer and bear away all the sins of His people. All the sins of all His people were imputed to Him, and His righteousness is imputed to them, resulting in the justification of life for all His people. “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.” Should Paul have rather said ‘It is God cooperating with the sinner exercising his faith that justifieth’? The free gift that had been imputed and resulted in the justification of life is applied upon the spiritual birth of each elect at effectual calling. This is made manifest through ‘the fear of God’ and ‘works of righteousness,’ and belief in the truth at the gospel call.
Please note that it is “by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” Rom 5:19. Let me quote from a commentary on this: “If believing in Jesus is a necessary condition for justification or the “alone instrument of” justification, then there is a problem. Rom. 5.19 plainly states, “by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” The context of this verse shows that the one is the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Now it is clear that trusting Christ is an act of obedience. Hence, if trusting in Christ is essential to be justified, conditionally or instrumentally, then it is by the obedience of MORE THAN ONE that many are made righteous. In such a case it would be Christ’s obedience in providing the righteousness and the sinner’s obedience in trusting Christ that would make one righteous. That is, it would involve the obedience of two! But this can be taken a step further. The sinner must hear the gospel before he can believe (Rom 10.14). One must preach the gospel before a man can hear it. Therefore, a third party is involved in a man’s believing, namely the preacher. If justification is by the sinner’s faith in Christ, then the sinner is made righteous by the obedience of three: Jesus Christ, the preacher (obeying the call to preach), and the man (obeying the command to believe). But Romans 5.19 plainly contradicts this notion. If the expression “faith of Jesus Christ” were understood as Christ’s own personal faith, then Romans 5.19 harmonizes beautifully. Jesus Christ by His obedience of faith makes many righteous; sinners are made righteous by the obedience of one!”
Christ did not just make justification possible by His work on the cross, as one brother insisted. The justification is actually accomplished and imputed to all the elect – once for all, never to be repeated. The great exchange actually took place at the cross – once and for all. ‘It is finished.’
Romans 3:21-22 “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.” This passage speaks of the righteousness of God. The gospel is about the righteousness of God, a righteousness of God’s provision for the redemption of His people. How did God provide His righteousness for His people? It is through the ‘faith of Christ.’ The faith of Christ speaks of the faithfulness of Christ in discharging His work of redeeming His people. ‘I have glorified You on the earth. I HAVE FINISHED the work which You have given Me to do’ (Jn 17:4). ‘For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.’ It is by Christ’s perfect obedience unto God that He is found faithful in doing the will of God. It is by His obedience in executing the will of the Father, that the righteousness of God’s provision is secured. The righteousness of God is the subject under consideration in Romans 3:22. That righteousness of God comes by the faith of Christ – i.e., by Christ’s faithfulness to God’s will in His active obedience unto the whole law, and passive obedience in His death. The righteousness of God is upon all them that believe.
It is an error to translate ‘faith of Christ’ as ‘faith in Christ.’ The righteousness of God is not secured through our faith in Christ. Translating ‘faith of Jesus’ as ‘faith in Jesus’ would render the statement meaningless – it becomes ‘the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that have faith in Jesus Christ.’ By the faithfulness of Christ, the righteousness of God absolutely necessary for the justification of His elect is secured for all the elect. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war” Rev 19:11. The phrase ‘the faith of Christ’ reminds us that Christ was faithful in doing the mission that the Father sent Him to do, even to save His people. This is the essence of the gospel: Christ’s faithfulness to do what we cannot do, and suffered what we deserve to suffer. Yet this is something so many have forgotten. Their deceitful hearts are so captivated by their own faith in Christ. They don’t know the faith of Christ for them.
2Cor 5:18-21 “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
The ministry of reconciliation is making known the reconciliation that has taken place, has been secured. The preaching of the gospel is declaring what has already happened – accomplished and applied by God! The ministry of reconciliation declares the reconciliation that has been accomplished, that justification has been secured. The ministry of reconciliation is to implore those whom God has reconciled to Himself through His Son Jesus Christ to be reconciled to God, to turn from sin and unbelief, to believe what He has done to reconcile them. Who will be reconciled through this ministry of reconciliation? Who will believe the gospel truth? The biblical answer is that only those among the hearers whom God has justified through His Son Jesus, only those for whom the gospel is true to them!
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| God DIDN'T give you a one-fingered hand! But stiff-necked children of God has reduced the doctrine of justification into a monstrosity like this!!! |
1Co 6:11 “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1689.10.1 says, “God is pleased at His appointed and accepted time to effectually call by His Word and Spirit…” The Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God in this precious Scriptures is the equivalent of ‘His Word and Spirit’ – because the context is the same – effectual calling unto eternal life.
Rom 3:23-26: “…Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe… being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
Tit 3:4-7: “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
When justification is applied, the elect are bestowed with eternal life, made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. When God justifies the UNGODLY, He declares something concerning the ungodly, the children of wrath. He declares a justly condemned sinner not guilty and accepts him as righteous in His sight by pardoning all his sins, and imputes to him the righteousness of Christ. This justification is a once-for-all complete act of God at effectual calling unto life. It is unlike the on-going life-long justification that comes by faith in Christ as a justified man lives by faith.
God justifies freely by His grace. Those whom God decreed to justify, He also justifies freely by His grace (i.e., when we were not able to exercise faith or meet any other condition!), each in His appointed and accepted time. He justified us when ungodly, when we were still enemies. He justified us based solely and wholly upon the justification secured by Christ, ‘the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.’ He is the justifier of him that has faith in Jesus. He is the life-giver of them that exercise faith in Jesus Christ. A person has faith in Jesus because God has first justified him at effectual call.
This aspect of justification is also once for all, not capable of repetition or improvement. Once justified by God’s free grace, one remains justified forever. A hymn expresses this truth as ‘More happy, but not more secure.” That is if we make Gen 15:1-6 to speak of justification applied, then we must conclude that Abram in Gen 12-14 was still an un-justified man! But Gen 15:1-6 speaks of justification evidenced by faith in the promised seed.
d. Justification evidenced and experienced by faith at conversion
Ro 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
Ro 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Gal 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (KJV)
Gal 3:24 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
These passages speak of justification by faith. What does the believer’s faith in Christ justify? How does faith justify? Does personal faith secure justification? Does it secure right standing with God? When faith justifies (present tense), faith declares something concerning the believing person. Faith declares to the conscience of the believer that he is indeed justified in the sight of God by the faith of Christ (faithfulness of Christ which secured the righteousness His people need.) The Scriptures inform one who believes in Jesus that God is his justifier, i.e., God has justified him, enabling him to believe. His faith in Christ declares to his conscience that he is indeed one of God’s elect, redeemed by Christ, effectually called and justified and regenerated, just as he is informed and instructed by the glorious gospel about these redemptive truths. Faith is imputed to the believer for righteousness, so that he personally and consciously experiences the blessedness of being righteous and forgiven in Christ.
But since faith is never alone in the person justified, but is always accompanied by all other saving graces, we also read of these passages of Scriptures the justification by works of righteousness. Works of righteousness evidence a justified state. Works of righteousness are the effect of justification. Works of the law refer to men attempting to earn their own justification by their obedience to the law. A justified man does not trust in the works of the law. He trusts in Christ for his justification with God. But works that evidence a justified state are works of righteousness. Ro 2:13 “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. James 2:21-24 “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?”
Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace animated by the indwelling Holy Spirit; therefore it is a living faith that works by love, both to God and to men. Works of faith justify a man, i.e., evidences that he is a justified man. Since faith is never alone in the person justified but is always accompanied by all other saving graces, the conclusion is that faith that is not accompanied by work is a suspect and counterfeit faith. Works that accompany faith in Jesus Christ justify, vindicate, and demonstrate the genuineness of faith in Christ. Works without faith are no evidence whatsoever of the person’s justified state – no matter how religious or philanthropic he might be.
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| The multi-faceted doctrine of justification is properly represented by this five-fingered nail-pierced hand! So, away with your hideous one-fingered monstrosity! Perish your blasphemous single aspect doctrine of justification. |
Mt 25:31-33 “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.”
John 5:28-29 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
2Th 1:9-11 “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.”
2Ti 4:1,8 “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom… Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Rev 20:11-15 “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
These passages speak of the public and final justification or vindication of the redeemed. They shall be publicly declared, vindicated and owned as His redeemed people.
Conclusion
Brethren, I hope you do have some idea what I, as the pastor of SDC, do actually believe concerning the complaint you have registered with the SDC. My response to your complaint indicates my present understanding until further progress. I have made a sincere effort in answering. I hope it is reciprocated with careful reading. Please be not hasty to dismiss unless you have a better (consistent and adequate) explanation.
Thank you for your patience in reading and considering them. I hope I have given you sufficient good reasons why I as the pastor of SDC interpret the Scriptures and the 1689 CoF with a different understanding from the ‘standard reformed position’ espoused and defended by you and your churches.
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