Justified by the faith, and blood of Christ

'Justified by the faith OF Jesus Christ' Gal 2:16
'The faith of Jesus Christ' speaks of His faithfulness
in securing the righteousness needful for the legal justification.

October 17, 2011
https://web.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/pfbid026sKQvx1UQApvVrAaUXCcRC95oK2YFsEvM9EXp4XN2o9WiY9JfX19xArEaYRFGfyal

'Justified by the faith OF Jesus Christ... Gal 2:16
'Justified by His blood...' Rom 5:9
'Justified freely by his grace...' Rom 3:24.
'That being justified by his grace...' Tit 3:7
'Justified by faith (in Christ) ...' Rom 5:1

These speak of THREE DISTINCT aspects/phases of justification. So many are oblivious of this basic and fundamental truth. They confuse all three into one, making them to same the same thing.

'Justified by His blood' and 'justified by the faith of Jesus Christ' speak of the LEGAL justification, the ground of the imputation of righteousness. 'His blood' speaks of His substitutionary death in the stead of His people. The 'faith of Jesus Christ' speaks of His faithfulness in securing the righteousness needful for the legal justification. Together, they speak of the righteousness and blood of Christ; Christ in His work of redemption. 

'Justified freely by his grace' and 'that being justified by his grace' speak of the VITAL justification, what is LEGAL is now applied to an elect personally. What was IMPUTED legally is now APPLIED personally. It is applied by God's free grace... not conditioned upon any believing act on the part of the un-justified (i.e. in the state of condemnation and death). 

'Justified by faith in Jesus...' speaks of the EXPERIENTIAL justification by believing in Christ. This is what we read in Gen 15:1-6.  Abraham was ALREADY a justified man by God's free grace since God called him out of Ur of the Chaldeans in Genesis 11. Abraham experienced the blessedness of his justified state by believing in the promised seed. 

Salvation is the gift of God; faith is evidence of that salvation by God's free grace.  Faith is a fruit of salvation. Faith is not to instrument to obtain salvation. A fruit of salvation can't possibly be the means to obtain that salvation.

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Joseph Theodore Nettles
I believe that the Galatians 2:16 passage is teaching the same as the Romans 5:1 passage. IMHO, I believe both are referring to being justified by our faith in Christ. I don't deny that there are passages that teach the faith of God in the blood of his Son, I just don't believe Galatians 2:16 is one of them.

Charles Page
Joseph, that interpretation is essential for decisional regeneration.
Convenient!

Joseph Theodore Nettles
No, I don't find it to be so. I certainly abhor "decisional regeneration", unless it's the Lord making the decision. 😉 Why so?

Sing
CONTEXT determines which aspect of justification is spoken of.

Rom 5:1 is clearly experiential... 'Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.'

'we have peace... and rejoice in hope of the glory of God' - this is clearly experiential. 

Gal 2:16 is parallel to Rom 3:22, dealing with the ground of justification, even the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

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:

By faith OF Jesus Christ - it is the faithfulness of Jesus Christ that secured the righteousness for the justification of His people. By faith of Jesus Christ in v22 is the equivalent of 'through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus' in v24.

Take a look here, at the three distinct sets of contrasts in the biblical doctrine of justification.

https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2011/05/three-distinct-sets-of-contrast-in.html

Charles Page
Justification by faith is the decisional regenerationist cliche!

Joseph Theodore Nettles
I believe that the "of Jesus Christ" in Gal 2:22 is teaching an experience synonymous with the expression in the passage above from Romans 5. I interpret them both as teaching that the experience of the righteousness of Jesus Christ which covers your sins comes through gospel belief.

Sing
The JUST (those already justified by the free grace of God based on the righteousness of Jesus Christ) shall live by faith.

This statement - the just shall live by faith - is plain and bright as the noonday sun that living by faith is an effect of the PRIOR justified state... and Abraham was the paramount example. It's the justified ones who shall live by faith

His act of believing in Gen 15;1-6 is proof of his justified state prior to that occasion.

Apostle Paul marshalled Abraham as the example to demonstrate to the regenerate Jews that the way to EXPERIENCE the blessedness of one's justified state is NOT NOT NOT by observing the ceremonial laws like circumcision (as insisted upon by the Judaizers!), but simply by believing in Jesus Christ, just as Abraham believed in the promised seed.

Joseph Theodore Nettles
The reason any can experience what is in v. 22, they must already be in the standing of v. 24: "BEING justified freely...."

Sing
V22 gives the ground of legal justification - righteousness of Jesus Christ, versus man's own righteousness.

v24 states the manner righteousness is applied to the elect personally - free grace versus man's own good work.

The means to experience the blessedness of the justified state is NOT dealt with until Romans 4. Go read it again!

Joseph Theodore Nettles
I'm afraid we'll have to amiably agree to disagree, brother. We agree on the same truths, we just have to disagree on what the passage in Galatians 2 is actually teaching. Lord bless

Sing
No problem whatsoever. I am only stating what I understand the Bible to teach. And so are you.

Hell and the Lake of Fire; Intermediate and Eternal

These words were spoken to the DISCIPLES
Mat 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out,
and cast it from thee:
for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish,
 and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

A dear soul sent me this link to a lengthy article here:
https://www.../essay/hell-as-endless-punishment/
and asked, what I think of it.

The opening paragraph of the article reads:

DEFINITION
Hell is a place of eternal, conscious torment for everyone who does not trust in Jesus Christ. Hell involves final separation from God’s mercy and from God’s people, unending experience of divine judgment, and just retribution for sin.

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My response in a few words:

There are several errors in the introductory paragraph.

1. This is a basic failure to make the biblical distinction between hell and the lake of fire.
- Revelation 20:14 KJT “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
- If hell is emptied and cast into the lake of fire, it is just stupid (i.e. lacking common sense) to equate the two!
- With this foundational failure, the whole essay built upon it is flawed.

2. Hell is everlasting but not eternal
a. Hell is not eternal but temporal; that which is everlasting lasts as long as time lasts; at the end of time, hell shall deliver/surrender up all its captives to Him who holds the keys of death and of hell.
- Hell shall be EMPTY then, with NO ONE in it; it is game over for hell; that shall be the end of hell.
- Revelation 20:13 KJT “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.”
- Death and hell were cast into the lake of fire ONLY AFTER they had delivered/surrendered up their captives to Him that holds the keys over them. Why?
- Why weren't death and hell cast into the lake of fire together with all their captives? There are Christ's redeemed in BOTH of them.

b. Revelation 1:18 KJT “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” 
- This is great news for the redeemed, especially those who by their own foolishness, negligence and disobedience, ended up in hell during their intermediate state (between their death and their resurrection to glory.) Death and hell shall be eternally removed from the redeemed – both were cast into the lake of fire.
- Do remember all the solemn warnings addressed to the disciples calling them to take drastic measures to deal with personal sins, to avoid hell. Many warnings of hell by the Lord Jesus were directed at His own disciples. (Mt 5:22, 29,30; 10:28; 18:9; Mk 9:43-48; Lk 12:4-5.) Why address these solemn warnings to His own disciples if there was no possibility of them ending up in hell?
- However, there isn’t a single warning to the disciples against the lake of fire. Why?
- The emptied hell, with NO ONE in it anymore, shall be cast into the lake of fire. Rev 20:14. This is game over for hell; it is game over for death too – all its captives are surrendered up to be resurrected too, some to eternal glory in heaven, the rest to eternal dishonour in the lake of fire.

3. "Hell is a place of eternal, conscious torment for everyone who does not trust in Jesus Christ..."
- This statement assumes that every single elect will be able to hear the gospel and be brought to trust in Jesus Christ; that people go to hell (i.e. lake of fire) because they do not trust in Jesus Christ.

BUT the Scriptures express what the author wants to say in these words, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev 20:15. The ONE reason why people end up in the Lake of Fire is because they have NOT BEEN redeemed by Christ; their names are not in the Lamb's Book of Life. 

There are those whom Christ has redeemed who are incapable of being outwardly called by the gospel to faith in Jesus Christ (1689.10.3) - "so also are all elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word."

BUT many Reformed folks deny that there are such persons; they are convinced that every elect will hear the gospel and be brought to faith in Jesus Christ. But they have just contradicted their Confession of Faith! According to the author, those whom Christ has redeemed and the Father effectually called to grace and salvation in Jesus Christ but are incapable of being outwardly called to faith ARE ALSO DAMNED to the author’s eternal hell (lake of fire).

That is, their entrance into heaven is conditioned upon the human works of preaching, and hearing, and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. And they still insist their salvation is by grace ALONE! Sigh. 

Many. How many? As many as. How many is 'as many as'?

Many. How many?
As many as. How many is 'as many as'?

John 17:2 KJV — As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him."

i. Jesus has been exalted as the King over all flesh.
- Matthew 28:18 KJT — And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
- Romans 14:11 KJT— For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

ii. Jesus is the giver of eternal life, to those dead in trespasses and sins.
- those dead in trespasses and sins are in enmity against God; they are incapable of anything to get eternal life; it is FREELY given to the spiritually dead.
- Ephesians 2:1 KJV — And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 5 even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
- John 10:28 KJT — And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
- Romans 6:23 KJT — For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

iii. "... as many as..." i.e. an exact number, not one more and not one less.
- the exact number God had elected and predestinated unto eternal glory, and given to Christ to secure their eternal redemption
- John 6 38-9 KJT "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."
- as many as God has given to Jesus to redeem shall be resurrected for glorification on the last day.
- No other considerations come between the two, zilch, none whatsoever. These passages speak of the eternal salvation by the sovereign and gracious activities of the Triune God.

Romans 8:29 KJT "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. 30 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.
- There are absolutely no human activities anywhere in the chain of divine activities. That is what it means to be saved by free grace. It's the eternal salvation spoken of.
- The number acted upon by all the divine activities stated is EXACTLY THE SAME, not one more and not one less.

Here are some related articles on Romans 8:29.
https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2008/01/some-observations-on-romans-829-30.html

https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2012/09/some-plain-observations-from-romans-829.html

https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2013/03/twisting-and-perverting-by-adding.html

May the Lord bless you to know these gospel truths. Amen.

What is accounted to you for your justification: your faith or Christ's righteousness?

Genesis 15:6
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Galatians 3:14
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Romans 4:9
Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

The blessing of Abraham (Gal 3:14) is the blessedness (Rom 4:9) experienced by Abraham through his act of believing the promise of God described in Gen 15:1-6. With this evidence, Apostle Paul repudiated the Judaizers' insistence upon the necessity of observing the ceremonial law.

In Gen 15:1-6, Abraham's faith was reckoned to him for righteousness; it was NOT, NOT and NOT the righteousness of Christ was reckoned to Abraham for his justification before God. The two are worlds apart.

The former is the truth; the latter is a popular fable - but that's what so many imagine and believe.

Not knowing the difference leads to the popular error of justification by faith alone. They will go on repeating the shibboleth.

A biblical distinction is the essence of sound theology, of rightly dividing the word of truth.
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Read this article here for more light:
https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2023/10/both-wcof-and-1689-bcof-repudiate.html

Is complaining against a preacher's preaching a sin?

 

A tender soul inquired:
"Is complaining against a preacher's preaching a sin?"

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Thanks for your question. Let me give you my thoughts.

The Scriptures give these warnings:
- Psalm 105:15 KJV — "Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm."
- 1 Timothy 5:19 KJV — "Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses."

So, be careful. However, complaints against  a preacher's preaching (i.e. contents, the complainer has issue with what is preached) is vastly different from accusing or harming his person. Make sure the "complaints" are made orderly; otherwise the complainer himself may be censured. Right things must be done the right way.

1 Corinthians 4:2 KJV — Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

The Scriptures do require a preacher to be faithful; otherwise he deserves to be censured. An unfaithful preacher ought to be ashamed - his faults of not rightly dividing the word of truth deserves to be made known to him. He needed to be ashamed of himself. So, he needs to be made aware that something is wrong in what he has preached. Even mighty Apollos could use some help from Priscilla and Aquila, privately.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJT
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that *needeth not to be ashamed,* rightly dividing the word of truth.

Acts 18:26 KJT
And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

"Complain" to the preacher personally about the issue; no talebearing, neither gossip behind his back. If he listens and receive your complaints, then you have saved him from his error. (But be ready to be shown your own error too!) If he does not listen, bring a witness and repeat the issue. If he still doesn't listen, bring the matter to the church. See Mt 18:15ff.

James 5
19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

This includes a preacher, and a complainer of his preaching too; neither is exempted from erring from the truth.

With these said, happy "complaining" to save a preacher from his errors.