Systematic Theology III The Doctrine of Salvation Justification

Systematic Theology III The Doctrine of Salvation Justification and Adoption

Introduction to Justification The first impression one receives on turning to the subject of justification after dealing with the concepts examined in the earlier chapters of this book is that the material to be considered is very abundant. We have noted that propitiation, although an important conception, is used with reference to the atonement only four times in all in the New Testament. Similarly reconciliation … occurs in only five passages. .

Introduction to Justification … By contrast, he who would expound justification is confronted with eighty-one occurrences of the adjective (just), ninetytwo of the noun (justice), two of the noun (justification), thirty-nine of the verb (justify), ten of the noun (just deed), and five of the adverb (justly). . The tendency in some quarters to disparage the importance of justification in comparison with one or other of the alternative ways of looking…

Introduction to Justification … at God’s great work for men is not one which is reflected in our sources. Particularly is this true of St. Paul who uses the conception so frequently that we are compelled to think that for him it was a dominant idea. Leon Morris The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross, p. 251

The Definition of Justification n Dictionary. com n n The action of showing something to be right or reasonable. E. g. , “There is no justification for an increase in charges. ” Or, “All these incidents were used again as a justification for my dismissal. ” Mc. Cune, 93 n “An act of God by which He judicially constitutes and declares a sinner to be perfectly righteous and forever treats him as such. ”

Righteous n What is it? n n n An act of God by which He judicially constitutes and declares a sinner to be perfectly righteous and forever treats him as such. ” Conformity to a standard (e. g. , the Law) “The LORD is righteous in all His ways” (Ps 145: 17). Is God righteous in that same way? Why does it matter? n n n Righteousness alone delivers from death (Prov 10: 2, 25; cf. 11: 4; Ps 15: 1 -2) The wrath of God is poured out against unrighteousness, but the gospel brings righteousness near (Rom 1: 16 -18; cf. Titus 3: 5) Gospel righteousness in the OT: Jer 23: 6, cf. 33: 16

Judicially n n An act of God by which He judicially constitutes and declares a sinner to be perfectly righteous and forever treats him as such. ” Justification is a “courtroom” term. It is opposed to “condemnation” So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men (Rom 5: 18) n If there is a dispute between men and they go to court, and the judges decide their case, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked (Deut 25: 1) n

Declares n “ow” words are normally causative, but not with moral qualities (Morris, 252) n n n “Declare worthy” not “make worthy” (1 Tim 5: 17) “Declare alike” not “make alike” (Matt 11: 16) Regardless, usage matters most, and usage clearly manifests “declares just”, not “makes just” n n An act of God by which He judicially constitutes and declares a sinner to be perfectly righteous and forever treats him as such. ” Job 32: 2; Prov 17: 15; Luke 7: 29; Isa 5: 23, 43: 9 Catholic view combines justification and sanctification n “Justification and Sanctification are thus inseparable in the Catholic account of the affair. ” (http: //webspace. webring. com/people/up/pharsea/Ju stice. For. All. html) Council of Trent, Canon 24 Trent Session VI, Chapter

Constitutes n n n An act of God by which He judicially constitutes and declares a sinner to be perfectly righteous and forever treats him as such. ” “Objections have been raised to the view that justification is forensic in nature…. William Sandy and Arthur Headlam raised the question of how God could justify the ungodly (i. e. , declare them righteous). Is this not something of a fiction in which God treats sinners as if they had not sinned or, in other words, pretends that sinners are something other than what they really are? This interpretation of justification seems to make God guilty of deception, even if it is only self-deception…. We respond that the act of justification is not a matter of God’s announcing that sinners are something they are not. There is a constitutive aspect to justification as well. For what God does is actually to constitute us righteous by imputing (not imparting) the righteousness of Christ to us” (Erickson, 970 -1) Synonyms for “impute”: credit, attribute, ascribe, assign Synonyms for “impart”: bestow, confer, grant, give, supply Synonyms for “constitute”: Establish, inaugurate, start, found “This situation is somewhat analogous to what takes place when people marry or two corporations merge. Their separate assets are brought into the union and are thereafter treated as mutual possessions. ” (Erickson, 971) [cf. also adoption]

Forever n n n An act of God by which He judicially constitutes and declares a sinner to be perfectly righteous and forever treats him as such. ” Council of Trent, Canon 23: “lf any one saith, that a man once justified can sin no more, nor lose grace, and that therefore he that falls and sins was never truly justified…let him be anathema. ” Romans 5: 9 – Having been justified, we shall be saved. Romans 8: 30 -31 – For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Treats n Romans 5 n n An act of God by which He judicially constitutes and declares a sinner to be perfectly righteous and forever treats him as such. ” Peace (5: 1) Romans 8 Pardon and forgiveness (8: 1) n Treatment as if we had never sinned (8: 4) n Children and heirs (8: 16 -17) n

Act of God n Justification is always “before God” n n n An act of God by which He judicially constitutes and declares a sinner to be perfectly righteous and forever treats him as such. ” Job 4: 17 - Can mankind be just before God? Job 32: 2 – Against Job his anger burned, because he justified himself before God. Rom 2: 13 – It is not the hearers of the law who are just before God Rom 4: 2 – If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God. Gal 3: 11 - No one is justified by the Law before God justifies the ungodly while remaining just Himself n n n Mankind is not righteous (Job 9: 2; 25: 4; Ps 130: 3; 143: 2; cf. 1 Kings 8: 46; Eccl 7: 20; cf. Rom 3: 1 ff) Unrighteousness must be punished, and God’s character won’t allow an exception to this (Hab 1: 13; Prov 17: 15) Justification by faith/adoption is the answer (Rom 3: 26)

Adoption – Separate from Justification n Adoption is often treated as part of justification – the positive part (as opposed to forgiveness of sins) “However, … adoption has to do with the believer’s relationship to God as Father whereas justification has to do with the believer’s standing before God’s law…. Justification secures righteousness; adoption secures sonship/heirship” (Mc. Cune, 113) “In regeneration God gives us new spiritual life within. In justification God gives us right legal standing before Him. But in adoption God makes us members of his family. ” (Grudem, 736).

Adoption in the Old Testament n n n The concept of adoption is not found often in the OT, though Romans 9: 4 says Israel had the “adoption as sons. ” “Adoption may be one of the very few instances in the New Testament where the flavor of the word is more Greco-Roman than Hebrew custom seems not to have included adoption of children as a recourse open to infertile couples. The law of the levirate marriage (or even polygamy) seems to have been practiced instead, although levirate marriage was not designed especially for infertility as such but for inheritance purposes” (Mc. Cune, 114). Can you think of any OT examples?

Adoption in the New Testament n n n Key Passage: Romans 8 Galatians 4: 4 -5 4 But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Ephesians 1: 5 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

The Nature of Our Adoption n Two Concepts Placement into God’s family n Given the rights and privileges of a son n n Stages Initial, legal n Becoming what we are (1 John 3: 2) n Our glorification as children of God (Rom 8: 23; cf. 1 Cor 15; 2 Peter 1: 4!) n

The Benefits of Our Adoption n n n n Freedom from bondage of law keeping (Rom 8: 15) Enabling power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8: 15) Heirship (Rom 8: 17; Gal 4: 7) Jesus as a brother (Heb 2: 12, 14; Rom 8: 29) God as a father (John 1: 12; 1 John 3: 2; Matthew 6: 9) Others as siblings (see Grudem, 741) “Deification” (2 Peter 1: 4; 1 Cor 15) – Always worshipping with the angels, yet nevertheless somehow like our Father and Brother. Sharing in His suffering (Rom 8: 17)

The Evidences of Our Adoption n n Led by the Spirit (Rom 8: 14) Separation from sin and unbelievers (2 Cor 6: 14 -18) Victory over the world (Rev 21: 7) Discipline! (Heb 12: 6 -8) [Bonus? ] Hope of inheritance (cf. 1 Cor 3: 21 -23)

Next Time: The Doctrine of Salvation Sanctification? Preservation/Eternal Security? The Perseverance of the Saints?