Things New and Old: Legal, Vital, Practical Aspects of Justification

Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Thursday, October 13, 2022

Legal, Vital, Practical Aspects of Justification

The doctrine of Justification
is like this multifaceted diamond.

October 13, 2011

"Beware of preaching that acknowledges that we are justified by the righteousness of Christ but then seems to think that we are then sanctified by a holiness we ourselves have acquired.” - Herman Bavinck

There is a far more common and subtle and devious heresy: "Beware of preaching that acknowledges that you are justified before God by YOUR FAITH IN Christ."

The righteousness of Christ and your faith in Christ are two completely different things. The truth Herman affirmed has been perverted by so many.

The former declares the ground and basis of one's LEGAL justification which took place at the cross. The latter speaks of the means to experience your justified state through believing in the gospel of Jesus Christ, PRACTICAL justification.

Between the two stands the PERSONAL/VITAL justification, when God applies what was LEGAL to an elect personally at effectual calling, calling an elect out of his native state of sin and death to that of righteousness and eternal life.

What was DECREED in eternity was ACCOMPLISHED by Christ on the cross.

What was accomplished on the cross is APPLIED to each elect personally by God's free and sovereign grace when an elect was still dead in trespasses and sins.

What was APPLIED by God's free and sovereign grace to an elect personally is then EXPERIENCED through faith in Jesus Christ. 'Faith cometh by hearing...' - hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And there will be a FINAL justification when it is declared, "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:"

There are 5 distinct aspects of the doctrine of justification:

Justification DECREED for all the elect in eternity,
Justification ACCOMPLISHED for all the elect at the cross,
Justification APPLIED to each elect personally at effectual calling,
Justification EXPERIENCED through believing in Jesus Christ, and Justification VINDICATED on the great judgment day.