Carbon
Admin
- Joined
- May 19, 2023
- Messages
- 6,256
- Reaction score
- 5,941
- Points
- 138
- Location
- New England
- Faith
- Reformed
- Country
- USA
- Marital status
- Married
- Politics
- Conservative
The doctrine of justification by faith alone is the article of faith by which the church stands or falls. Justification is the pivotal point around which everything moves.
Though the doctrine of justification by faith alone was proclaimed by Luther, it is by no means specifically a Lutheran doctrine. All the great reformed of the sixteenth century subscribed to this doctrine with heart and soul.
The justified have been adopted into the household of God and are treated as God's beloved children.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Romans 8:14-17.
But the unjustified are said to be children of wrath - Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Eph 2:3.
This doctrine of justification by faith alone becomes even more significant if we consider what this doctrine presupposes which is the doctrine of the imputation of the guilt of Adam's first sin to all his posterity, as he was the representative in the covenant of works; the doctrine of the total depravity of the natural man. The doctrine concerning Christ, such as his absolute deity, his true manhood, the substitutionary character of the work which he performed to earn salvation for sinners, and the infinite power of his blood to cover sin in the sight of heaven.
It also presupposes the doctrine of the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit to make spiritually dead sinners capable of saving faith.
This doctrine of justification by faith is of such paramount importance, that to remove it would at once invalidate the bible doctrines of sanctification, of preservation of the saints, and glorification.
Man is actually made just by the grace of the Holy Spirit after he has been declared just and restored to the favor of God in justification. It is the judicial verdict of God, expressed in the act of justification, which guarantees the elect sinner will not fall away from grace, but will continue to walk with the Lord until he is finally glorified.
Though the doctrine of justification by faith alone was proclaimed by Luther, it is by no means specifically a Lutheran doctrine. All the great reformed of the sixteenth century subscribed to this doctrine with heart and soul.
The justified have been adopted into the household of God and are treated as God's beloved children.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Romans 8:14-17.
But the unjustified are said to be children of wrath - Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Eph 2:3.
This doctrine of justification by faith alone becomes even more significant if we consider what this doctrine presupposes which is the doctrine of the imputation of the guilt of Adam's first sin to all his posterity, as he was the representative in the covenant of works; the doctrine of the total depravity of the natural man. The doctrine concerning Christ, such as his absolute deity, his true manhood, the substitutionary character of the work which he performed to earn salvation for sinners, and the infinite power of his blood to cover sin in the sight of heaven.
It also presupposes the doctrine of the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit to make spiritually dead sinners capable of saving faith.
This doctrine of justification by faith is of such paramount importance, that to remove it would at once invalidate the bible doctrines of sanctification, of preservation of the saints, and glorification.
Man is actually made just by the grace of the Holy Spirit after he has been declared just and restored to the favor of God in justification. It is the judicial verdict of God, expressed in the act of justification, which guarantees the elect sinner will not fall away from grace, but will continue to walk with the Lord until he is finally glorified.