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| "... faith is a poor, imperfect act of man." (meme copied from Protestant Reformation page.) |
https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/10212820287357480
"... faith is a poor, imperfect act of man."
That is a truthful statement by Mr. Bonar.
And yet multitudes are intoxicated to the fable "justification by faith alone"!
Justification by faith alone is really just "justification by a poor, imperfect act of man alone."
Confusion reigns among the reformed as well as the deformed!
(meme copied from Protestant Reformation page.)
There are several distinct aspects of justification:
1. The ground and basis of justification: the righteousness of Christ, the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 5:9 KJV — Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
2. The manner justification is applied:
- Romans 3:24 KJV — Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
3. The means justification is evidenced:
Romans 1:17 KJV — For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
The first speaks of the legal imputation of the righteousness Christ to all the elect at the death and resurrection of Christ.
The second speaks of the application of the righteousness of Christ to each elect personally when in the spiritual state of condemnation and death.
The third speaks of the practical manifestation of the justified state through the poor, imperfect act of man (already freely justified by God.) Faith evidences the justified state by the free grace of God.
The three are distinct. Don't confuse them.
