- God justifies, the PERSON who justifies.
- God justifies the UNGODLY; those in need
of justification before God, and by God, EVEN those in the state of
condemnation and death!
- God freely justifies the ungodly by grace; this
is the MANNER God justifies those dead in trespasses and sins. This is the ONLY
manner those in their native state of condemnation and death can ever be
justified.
Therefore justification is by grace alone; it
is NOT through ANYTHING found in man - not EVEN through man's faith... for
there isn't one iota of faith found in the condemned dead man that needed
justification before God. He is in an active enmity and rebellion again God in
his native state of condemnation and death.
- God freely justifies the condemned and dead by
grace, based wholly and solely upon the redemption accomplished by Jesus
Christ. That is the BASIS or GROUND of justification.
The Holy Spirit regenerates the justified.
Justification, the application of the righteousness of Christ to an elect
personally is the BASIS and GROUND of his regeneration by the Spirit of God.
Not one iota of man's effort or cooperation is involved in his justification or
regeneration! It is by grace ALONE. Do you not understand, or are you just willfully unbelieving?
That blessed state of justification by God's
free grace is EXPERIENCED (with regard to self) by faith in Jesus Christ; that
state of justification is EVIDENCED (with regard to others) by BOTH works of
righteousness and faith in Jesus Christ!
And oh, please don't quote Eph 2:8 and say,
'There I told you it is "through faith," it is through man's act of
believing. Therefore man's faith is involved!'
You are misguided and deceived if you read
Eph 2:8 like that! You are ignorant of the faith OF Christ!
Just compare Eph 2:5 and 2:8:
Eph 2:5 "Even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved."
Eph 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."
It's really very simple; by grace, we were
saved when we were still dead in trespasses and sins; therefore our faith plays
NO role in your being saved by grace; we were INCAPABLE of faith, being still
in the native state of death in trespasses and sins. Isn't this so plain and
simple? So, "through faith" in v8 cannot possibly refer to our act of
believing. It is something FAR MORE IMPORTANT, the heart of the gospel.
Also, read Rom 3 to find out whose faith (i.e
faithfulness or fidelity) is spoken of!
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by
faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no
difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Please note carefully the phrases "by
faith of Jesus Christ" and "through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus." This passage explains Eph 2:8 correctly.
The righteousness of God's own provision
needed for the justification of God's elect is by the faith (i.e.
faithfulness/fidelity) of Jesus Christ, even through the redemption that is
Christ Jesus! Please let this precious gem lodge in the inner recesses of your
tender heart, and glory in God alone.
May our Lord grant you understanding. Amen.
May our Lord grant you understanding. Amen.
