An illustration of justification.
Paul employs the example of Abraham for additional clarification of justification. “What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, has discovered regarding this matter? For if Abraham was declared righteous by works of the law, he has something to boast about – but not before God. For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’” Romans 4:1 – 3, NET. The scripture says that Abraham believed God. It does not say that Abraham believed in God. When God called Abraham, he was worshiping and manufacturing idols. Abrahams’s family lived on the trade route along the Euphrates River. Merchants traveling to Assyria would purchase idols from Abraham’s family to protect them along treacherous routes. It was business that made Abraham wealthy. However, when God called him, he responded even though he did not know God, who was asking him to go to the unknown land.
We should never emphasize our faith in God concerning our justification. God promised to restore humanity to himself. We are justified if we believe that God did accomplish what he promised. Our faith in God is something we do; therefore, it cannot justify us. If it did, it would be by works of the law. Our faith in God and Jesus Christ makes our justification by the faithfulness of Jesus our daily experience. However, our daily experience of justification does not contribute to our salvation; it testifies to it.
God, without our contribution, justified us and made us righteous in his eyes. Our justification is by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ only. God removed from us our sin committed in the garden of Eden and, therefore, all our sins against the law and made us righteous in his eyes. He accomplished it through the body of Jesus on the cross at Golgotha. “In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s transgressions against them, and has given us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19, NET. We must believe, or trust God, that he has accomplished what he promised. It is God who justified us through the body of Jesus.
To be continued in the next blog.
Justification = Set right
Sanctification = Keep right
What do you think?
Greetings.
It is as: “Justified = Made right, or better, Righteous. God removed the sin and, thus, freed us from the law’s condemnation; therefore, he made us righteous.
When we deny ourselves and accept the life of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes into us; therefore, we are sanctified. The Holy Spirit does not dwell in a person who is not sanctified.
Both justification and salvation are one-time acts. These cannot be achieved over a period of time, no matter how well we live.
Thank you…