October 13, 2011
Teacher:
'We know nothing about a "legal justification" that was in the mind of God before we were born until we are actually called by God's sovereign grace in time and are eternally saved. As Spurgeon observed, show me the elect and I shall preach only to them.'
Student suggested:
You know nothing, Teacher?
Doesn't the Scriptures declare so clearly that it was all purposed in the mind of God? How come the Framers of the Confession knew it so well?
They distinguish the justification DECREED in eternity, the justification LEGALLY transacted on the cross, and the justification applied to each elect PERSONALLY at effectual calling out of their native state of sin, condemnation, and death!
When was Adam's sin imputed to you?
- At the fall
When was your sin imputed to Christ?
- At the cross; if your sins were not imputed to Christ at the cross, then your sins have not been suffered and atoned for. Period.
When was Christ's righteousness imputed to you?
- At the cross; the double imputation took place at the cross.
When was Adam's sin applied to you?
- At your conception in your mother's womb.
When was Christ's righteousness applied to you?
- At your effectual calling out of your native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation in Jesus Christ, by God's free and sovereign grace.
When is Adam's sin experienced in you?
- In your acts of sins, you experience condemnation of guilt
When is Christ's righteousness experienced in you?
- in your acts of faith in and obedience to Christ.
HAVE YOU NOT READ THIS... teacher?
"God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect, (11) and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their justification;(12) nevertheless, they are not justified personally, until the Holy Spirit doth in time due actually apply Christ unto them.(13)" 1689.11.4
Notice THREE DISTINCT aspects of justification spoken of in the above:
1st. God DID from all eternity decree to justify all the elect...
2nd. Christ DID in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their justification...
3rd. Nevertheless, they are not justified PERSONALLY, until the Holy Spirit doth in time due actually apply Christ unto them.
No 1 speaks of the justification DECREED by God Himself from all eternity!
No 2 speaks of the justification LEGALLY accomplished by Christ for all the elect!
No 3 speaks of the justification PERSONALLY applied when what is legal is APPLIED to each elect personally.
'Not justified personally' presupposes 'already legally justified but not personally'! What was made legal on the cross is made personal at effectual calling to grace and eternal life... which then makes believing possible! Life MUST PRECEDE the activity of life.
What was IMPUTED LEGALLY at the cross, is APPLIED PERSONALLY to an elect of God at his effectual calling out of his native state of sin, condemnation, and death to that of righteousness, justification, and life (regeneration).
Teacher, do you understand yet?
