Grace Bible Church

The question has been raised and presented to me many times "How can God justify his people in eternity?" Most of the people who pose this question were subjects of a doctrine called justifying faith. That is the act of believing the promises of God in Christ, and thereby receiving that legal forensic justification of their souls.

This would make faith, the cause or creative force of justification, and this cannot be. This would make faith our Savior and the scriptures will not allow that. Rom 5vs1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:".

Faith is important, but it is not that important; not in that way. There are many ways to address the how of our question. When ever you say "how can God" you set yourself up for rebuke, especially if the question is presented with a spirit of unbelief.

For the sake of this brief article as a means of edification in the truth of this blessed doctrine let us once again draw our attention to the word of God for the facts of both faith and justification.

The essence of Justification: The scripture plainly declares that the righteousness of every believer is founded in the person of God. "In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Jer 23vs6. The new testament also says as much! 1Co 1:30 "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:".

The means of justification: The death of our blessed substitute and Redeemer Jesus Christ. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." Isa 56vs11.

The time of our justification: Really and truly, we were justified (that is declared just) in the good pleasure and purpose of God's eternal decree in Christ before the world was. Justification being the chief of all spiritual blessings to the elect, and the foundation from which the rest of their inheritance springs. "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" Eph 1vs4

Our union with Christ is said to be from eternity, wherein we also were justified, since Christ was our crucified lamb at that time also. "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Rev 13vs8. And again "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." Ro 8:30. Taking nothing away from the appearing of our Savior in time. Even in the fullness of time, to actually obtain eternal redemption for us. And never will we deny the necessity of the incarnation and crucifixion and all of the manifestation of the fulfilling of the truth in it.

But what was done in time and seen with the eyes and heard with the ears, was already a reality in eternity. "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:" 2Tim 1vs9.

Which is evidenced by many just persons walking the earth thousands of years before the appearing of our great God and Savior.

These men and women were declared just , they lived just lives, and manifested the same evidence of their justification as we do two thousand years after the cross of Christ.

What was the evidence of their justification? FAITH. That is faith in Christ. The thing not seen by them nor us. "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:" 1Peter 1vs8 That men and women from the foundation of the world have trusted in Christ, is the evidence of his justifying work for them.