2 replies to this topic

[Thinker]

In an article by Dr. A. W. Tozer that I read recently, he shared some thoughts that led to this article. The idea seems to be that we express our acceptance of justification, take our copy of the contract and resume living our lives as before, free from any further obligations on our part. In other words, it's like any other business transaction. The condition is that we accept; we sign on the dotted line and walk off with the guarantee. (Actually, it's not a matter of our acceptance but rather it is His acceptance of us). Let me share some thoughts on how this really is to be understood. We are born in this life estranged from God. In fact, we are in very deep trouble with Him. We have ignored Him, offended Him, grieved Him and sinned against Him. We've put our wants and plans ahead of His. Something gets through to us, impressing us with our need of forgiveness. Without this forgiveness, we face some serious punishment. Someone shares a few facts and informs us that if we accept Jesus' offer of forgiveness, all will be wonderful. What rational person wouldn't respond to that kind of offer? Having agreed to accept forgiveness, we walk off into the sunset to live happily ever after. No wonder many of our church people are "ho, hum" about Jesus, the Bible, holiness and faithfulness. Shells without content may look nice and may make good knickknacks but they lack substance. No, there is much more to justification than that! Think much on Romans 10:10 which tells us that, "....with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Selah! Has faulty thinking on critical subjects like this one moved us into Laodicean tranquility? Thinker  (Ron)

[Kenny]

After having spent quite a bit of time studying how justification comes about in the life of the individual, it has become my understanding from both the objective word of God combined along with my subjective salvation experience that in the order of events leading up to justification, the first event that takes place is regeneration which is something which God does to us in order that He might draw us to Himself.

 

In John 6:44 Jesus says;

No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him

 

In other words, before a person can come to Jesus the Father must first draw the person. No one comes without first being drawn.

 

The second event that begins once regeneration has taken place is that a person begins to feel the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, convincing the person of their sin (see John 16:8) and their lost condition as well as their need of a Savior to forgive them.

 

After those first two events have fulfilled their purpose then the person confesses and believes in Jesus (see Rom 10:9-10) and begs for forgiveness. This is an exercise of faith, and it is by this faith which a person becomes justified just as Galatians 2:16 states;  a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law:

 

Once a person is justified he then receives power to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. He begins to be transformed (which is an on-going process) and continues to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has become a new creature in Christ, even if at the onset He is a babe in Christ. The babe in Christ will feed upon the milk of the word until he begins to mature and is able to take solid food from the word of God to chew on. The Christian will continue to be sanctified which is an on-going process. Either way, babe or mature in Christ, the Christian will have an appetite for the word of God and in time as he continues in the faith will bear fruit.

[chipped china]

I agree with both of your thoughts. There are many people who haven't made it out of justification and into sanctification. That's where the true life of Christ lives His life out in us.

And the Word of the Lord brings us the greatest delight. We begin to crave our Savior above all things, and know we are just pilgrims passing through. Praise God!!!