Who Justifieth the Ungodly

[beloved57]

Four Aspects of Justification by Don Fortner​

“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.”

(Romans 5:18)​

The Lord Jesus Christ took upon himself our nature. As a man, the Son of God rendered unto God the perfection and righteousness which he required of us. He made an infinite satisfaction for sin, by pouring out his life’s blood unto death at Calvary. He did these things as the Representative and Substitute of God’s elect; and all that he did for us we did in him.


Every true believer has both rendered perfect righteousness to God and made an infinite satisfaction for his sin in the Person of our all glorious Christ.


As the result of Christ’s finished work as our Representative, it is a perfectly just thing for God to justify all who believe on his Son. In saving our souls and bringing us to heaven the Lord God deals with us in exact accordance with justice. He gives us that which in Christ we deserve. Here are four things which are plainly revealed in the Word of God about our justification in Christ. God’s elect are justified by…


Divine Decree


First, God’s elect were justified by the decree of God the Father in eternity. In the mind and purpose of God all his elect were justified from eternity. Our justification was actually accomplished by God’s sovereign purpose of grace in eternal predestination before the worlds were made. This is not a matter of speculation or a hair-splitting theological precision. It is a matter of unmistakable revelation. Read it for yourself in the Book of God. Romans 8:30 declares that God justified his elect when he chose them and predestinated them to be conformed to the image of his dear Son before the worlds were made.


Our justification did not commence in time, but in eternity. Paul, speaking of God’s eternal decree of predestination, declares that all of God’s elect were justified in his eternal purpose of grace. — “The works were finished from the foundation of the world” (Hebrews 4:3).


“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.” (Romans 8:29-30)

Christ’s Death

Second, God’s elect were justified by the death of God the Son, our Divine Substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ, at Calvary. Though Christ is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, he was also slain in time for the redemption of our souls. And though God’s elect were justified by his sovereign decree in eternal predestination, we were also justified by the precious shed blood of God’s dear Son at Calvary.

The Bible does not teach that justification was provided, or made possible by the death of Christ. The Bible declares that justification was accomplished at Calvary. If it was merely provided or made possible for us, but is not accomplished until we believe, then our faith would be as much the cause of justification as the purpose of God and the sacrifice of Christ. But that is not the case. The Holy Spirit tells us plainly that when Christ died, those for whom he died were justified (Romans 3:24-26).

By Faith

Third, God’s elect are justified by faith in Christ in the sweet and blessed experience of grace, by the declaration of God the Holy Spirit in conversion. When God the Holy Spirit regenerates the chosen, ransomed sinner, giving him faith in Christ, as that sinner looks to Christ alone as his Savior, the blessed Spirit of God sprinkles the blood of Christ upon the conscience and speaks like a bailiff reading the verdict in court — “JUSTIFIED!” Thus every believing sinner receives justification by faith in Christ (Romans 4:25-5:1).

Faith does not cause God to justify us. The obedience of Christ has done that. But faith, resting upon Christ alone as Savior, obtains peace with God, even the peace of perfect, complete justification.

By Works

Fourth, God’s elect are justified by the display of good works before men. Yes, there is a sense in which we are justified by works, not before God, but before men. We justify our professed faith in Christ by our works. Believers do not show their faith by creeds, confessions, and catechisms, but by their conduct (James 2:14-26). Just as Abraham and Rahab justified their professed faith by their works, so today all true believers justify their claim of faith in Christ by their obedience to Christ.

May God grant you this blessed gift of free justification in Christ. May he now grant you faith in his dear Son by the power and grace of his Holy Spirit, for Christ’s sake.

http://www.donfortner.com/bulletin_articles/45_romans/rom%2005v18%20Four%20Aspects%20of%20Justification.htm

 

[beloved57]

Justification

Justification by faith is one of the greatest blessings of salvation which the believer enjoys. To be justified means that one is declared to be righteous before the judgment seat of God. Even though he is a sinner who daily breaks God’s holy law, his legal state is one of perfect righteousness. In justification a man is reckoned to be free from all guilt and condemnation. In fact, God considers him to be as righteous as if he had never sinned and as if he has always kept His commandments perfectly.

It ought to be evident that this blessing of salvation has absolutely nothing to do with man’s will and works. The Scriptures teach us that it is God who justifies, and who does so by His sovereign grace. The prophet Isaiah writes, “Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength … In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory” (Isa. 45:24-25). All of our righteousness is “in the LORD.” We do not justify ourselves. This is what the apostle Paul taught the Christians of Galatia when he said, “… a man is not justified by the works of the law … for by the works of law shall no flesh be justified” (Gal. 2:16). Justification is totally the work of Almighty God. If God does not justify us then nothing we think, say, or do can possibly make us righteous before the perfection of His righteousness.

The very nature of justification itself teaches us that it is utterly impossible for this blessing to be the work of man. For justification means that the sinner is declared to be righteous. When God justifies us, He justifies a people who are in themselves a wicked people. Thus the apostle Paul tells us that God “justifieth the ungodly” (Rom. 4:5). When God justifies the sinner He forgives his sin-sin which makes him worthy of condemnation. Man is unrighteous, not righteous; but God does not count his sin against him. This is the wonder of justification. David put it this way, “Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile” (Ps. 32:1-2). In justification God can say to His people, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:18).

Moreover, it is not the case that God simply overlooks sin. Oh no! The divine cause of justification is nowhere seen so clearly as in the fact that God sent His own Son to justify His people through His death on the cross. Someone must pay for the sin of the elect. That Someone is God Himself through Jesus Christ our Lord. The ground and basis of justification is the blood of Christ. The sins of God’s people are blotted out in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore God could say concerning Christ, “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities” (Isa. 53:11). Indeed, man is “justified by his blood” (Rom. 5:9). Even though the believer deserves to be condemned forever, Christ bore that condemnation in order that he might be free from all condemnation. He took away the sins of His people and gave them His own righteousness instead. At that moment when Christ died on the cross, His people were objectively justified.

Because the sole basis of justification is the death of Christ, we may not even attribute it to faith. Indeed, we are justified by faith. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Rom. 4:3). But that does not mean that our faith is our righteousness. That can not be, for our faith is weak and imperfect. Our righteousness is Jesus Christ. The apostle says, “Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness …” (I Cor. 1:30). Faith is the God-ordained and God-given means of justification, but not its basis. By faith we are united to Christ and partake of His death and resurrection, His righteousness and life. By faith we subjectively experience the blessedness of justification. But that faith can not be the ground of justification.

So far is justification removed from our wills and our works that it is accomplished already in the eternal counsel of God. Just as Christ was “slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8), so too God’s elect people have been eternally justified in the decree and will of God. He has always beheld the elect in Christ Jesus as righteous. Thus Balaam was made to declare, “He [i.e., God] hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel …” (Num. 23:21). Even though God’s people are great sinners, He has always seen them as those washed in the blood. It is not strange therefore that the apostle can ask, “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again …” (Rom. 8:33-34). The justification of God’s people is sure because it is the sovereign work of God alone. He imputes to His people the righteousness of Jesus Christ the Lord. Nothing can be added to that righteousness.

God's Sovereignty In Salvation

 

[beloved57]

Justification by Christ Alone​

But, you will say; the apostle Paul saith (Romans 5:1,) “That being justified by faith, we have peace with God;” and since the Holy Ghost saith, “we are justified by faith,” we must not dispute against it. I will answer in brief, and desire one thing of you, and that is to consult Beza upon this place; he renders the words out of the original, “Being justified by faith we have, peace with God,” without any stop from the first to the last. Our translators render the words thus, “Being justified by faith,” and then put a comma; but as Beza renders them (who is accounted a most sincere renderer of the original) he makes no stop: and, if that be true, why may not they be as well rendered thus; “Being justified, by faith we have peace with God?” And so ascribe justification to Christ, as a thing done before, let faith have reference to our peace; being justified by Christ, by faith we come to have peace with God, which stands current with the analogy of faith, and truth of the gospel: “For it is God that justifieth,” Romans 8:34. Justification is truly and properly the work of God himself, and cannot be the work of faith. But, Secondly, suppose the words to run as they are commonly rendered; I answer, then are we to distinguish in faith two things; there is the act of believing, and the object on which we believe; and so the words may be understood thus, “Being justified” by the righteousness of faith, or by the righteousness of Christ which we believe, “we have peace with God;” and so ascribe our justification to the object of our believing, the righteousness of Christ, and not to the act of believing. The truth is, beloved, the act of believing is a work, and as much ours, as our fear, prayer, and love are; and the apostle should contradict himself when he saith, “We are saved by grace, through faith, not of works,” if he mean the act of faith; he might as well have said, we are not justified by works, but we are justified by them. Tobias Crisp {Christ Alone Exalted}

 

[beloved57]

We are justified by the obedience and sufferings of Christ, and consequently not by faith. The Apostle expressly asserts that we are justified by His blood; "Much more then being justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him" (Rom. 5:9): and also, that we are made righteous by His obedience; "As by the offense of one many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" (Rom. 5:19): therefore not by faith. John Gill

When he says " not by faith" he means faith is never the cause of ones justification before God.

 

[JudgeRightly]

Which is exactly what John Piper said.

Faith in and of itself has no merit. It is not meritorious.

Yet it is STILL REQUIRED BY GOD of a person in order for Him to grace that person out.

 

[marke]

We are justified by the obedience and sufferings of Christ, and consequently not by faith. The Apostle expressly asserts that we are justified by His blood; "Much more then being justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him" (Rom. 5:9): and also, that we are made righteous by His obedience; "As by the offense of one many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" (Rom. 5:19): therefore not by faith. John Gill

When he says " not by faith" he means faith is never the cause of ones justification before God.

Jesus is the light that enlightens every sinner born into the world (John 1:9.) Those who receive the light will be saved (John 1:12.) Those who reject the light after being clearly shown the light will be damned without excuse (Romans 1:18-21.)

 

[beloved57]

Another reason for Justification before God prior to faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit of New Birth, its because the elect are Justified while being ungodly according to Rom 4:5

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

And the elect are ungodly prior to regeneration, for no regenerate person is an ungodly person.

 

[marke]

Another reason for Justification before God prior to faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit of New Birth, its because the elect are Justified while being ungodly according to Rom 4:5

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

And the elect are ungodly prior to regeneration, for no regenerate person is an ungodly person.

Saying God justifies the ungodly for no reason He shares with man is not true. God shares with men that He as a rule He does not clear the guilty and He also shares with men why He makes exceptions to that rule.

Numbers 14:18
The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

Psalm 86:5
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

 

[beloved57]

What is Justification by Faith ?

Its being by the Holy Ghost and the Gospel given a conscience spiritual knowing or knowledge of the Justification we have before God due to the imputed righteousness of Christ our Surety through His Blood !

 

[marke]

What is Justification by Faith ?

Its being by the Holy Ghost and the Gospel given a conscience spiritual knowing or knowledge of the Justification we have before God due to the imputed righteousness of Christ our Surety through His Blood !

What is Justification by Faith ?

Its being by the Holy Ghost and the Gospel given a conscience spiritual knowing or knowledge of the Justification we have before God due to the imputed righteousness of Christ our Surety through His Blood !

God shows mercy to those who humbly seek and obey Him. Nobody is ever justified who refuses to humble themselves before Him and seek to obey His commandments.

Deuteronomy 5:10
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

 

[beloved57]

Rom 8:32

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Christ freely justified his people by his precious blood. He paid all the debt his people owed to divine justice by laying down his life in our place. The Son of God came in human flesh and fulfilled his own law, satisfied his own justice, and provided his own righteousness for his people freely

Rom 3:24

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

 

[marke]

Rom 8:32

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Christ freely justified his people by his precious blood. He paid all the debt his people owed to divine justice by laying down his life in our place. The Son of God came in human flesh and fulfilled his own law, satisfied his own justice, and provided his own righteousness for his people freely

Rom 3:24

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Many Calvinists mistakenly believe God can save anyone He wants to save for any reason He chooses or for no reason at all, and that He only saves a small percentage of sinners in order to reserve the rest for burning in hell to magnify His glory and love.

Good Bible teachers know that God could not possibly have saved anyone had He not offered Jesus as a sacrifice for the sins of everyone.

 

[beloved57]

The Elect are Justified before God prior to their believing in Him simply because, before believing in Him, God had already made Christ unto them these 4 things 1 Cor 1:30

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Notice made unto us redemption !

Now hear what Gods word says here about redemption Rom 3:24

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

The very fact that Christ died for the elect is their redemption. The word means:

1. a releasing effected by payment of ransom
   1. redemption, deliverance
   2. liberation procured by the payment of a ransom

See that, redemption is effected by the payment of the ransom, which is Christs Blood, and thats Justification according to Rom 3:24

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

 

[marke]

The Elect are Justified before God prior to their believing in Him simply because, before believing in Him, God had already made Christ unto them these 4 things 1 Cor 1:30

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Notice made unto us redemption !

Now hear what Gods word says here about redemption Rom 3:24

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

The very fact that Christ died for the elect is their redemption. The word means:

1. a releasing effected by payment of ransom
   1. redemption, deliverance
   2. liberation procured by the payment of a ransom

See that, redemption is effected by the payment of the ransom, which is Christs Blood, and thats Justification according to Rom 3:24

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Unlearned Calvinists continue to promote their version of election while refusing to deal with the fact that their version makes God a monster who hated billions of sinners before they were born for their refusal to turn from sin which was how God supposedly made them. Misguided Calvinists mistakenly suggest that God is hate, not love, and that He gets pleasure in the death of the wicked.

1 John 4:8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Ezekiel 18:32
For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

 

[beloved57]

The elect are Justified when Christ died for them Rom 5:6,8

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Rom 8:33-34

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Yet as unregenerate sinners the elect are ignorant of their Justification, until God quickens them to Spiritual life and providetially brings them under the preaching of the Gospel and giving them the Gift of Faith in Christ Phil 1:29

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

 

[marke]

The elect are Justified when Christ died for them Rom 5:6,8

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Yes, Christ died for the sins of the whole world so that those who came to Him for forgiveness might be saved.

John 3:17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Rom 8:33-34

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Yet as unregenerate sinners the elect are ignorant of their Justification, until God quickens them to Spiritual life and providetially brings them under the preaching of the Gospel and giving them the Gift of Faith in Christ Phil 1:29

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

It is a privilege from God that we are allowed to grow in faith after we believe.

1 John 5:13
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of Go

 

[beloved57]

Now even though the elect are Justified before God while they are ungodly, yet He justifies them not because of that, but because while ungodly, He hath imputed to them Christs righteousness, for its written 1 Cor 1:30

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

For Christ to have died for one, He was made sin for them, and that brought about an gracious exchange, God because of that,made them the righteousness of God in Him 2 Cor 5:21

1 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.

 

[beloved57]

The elect are Justified before they believe because an aspect of justification is their completeness in and through Christ Col 2:10

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

This is foundationed on the fact that Christ has died for them, which death constituted them perfected forever Heb 10:14

14 For by one offering[His Death he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

This is before they believe.

 

[marke]

Now even though the elect are Justified before God while they are ungodly, yet He justifies them not because of that, but because while ungodly, He hath imputed to them Christs righteousness, for its written 1 Cor 1:30

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

For Christ to have died for one, He was made sin for them, and that brought about an gracious exchange, God because of that,made them the righteousness of God in Him 2 Cor 5:21

1 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.

Jesus offered Himself a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world so that He could save whosoever would come to Him for forgiveness of sins and salvation from the curse of death.

 

[marke]

The elect are Justified before they believe because an aspect of justification is their completeness in and through Christ Col 2:10

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

This is foundationed on the fact that Christ has died for them, which death constituted them perfected forever Heb 10:14

14 For by one offering[His Death he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

This is before they believe.

No sinner who rejects the word of God preached to him by the Holy Spirit will ever be saved and made perfect.