Doctrine Study - Justification and Adoption
Notes
Transcript
Justification: an instantaneous legal act of God in which he (1) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us, and (2) declares us to be righteous in his sight.
Instantaneous - why is this important?
Legal act - what does this mean?
Justification includes a legal declaration by God:
And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
Rom. 4
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
(Remember )
He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
prov
(Justification in the OT - here it certainly does not mean, “to make righteous, but, “to declare righteous” - see also next verse)
who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!
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What is the difference between regeneration and justification?
Regeneration is an act of God in us; Justification is a judgement of God with respect to us.
1. God Declares Us to Be Just in His Sight:
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;
blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
(Both verses above - removal of guilt; verses below, giving of righteousness)
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
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For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
But how does God declare us to be Just?
Imputation!
For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Justification is by grace, not merit:
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Justification is through faith:
And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Does faith earn us God’s favor?
Does our faith earn favor with God for us?
No. Salvation is by grace and through faith.
Why faith?
Because faith in Christ is the exact opposite of trusting in ourselves.
That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
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For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
How about James?
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Different use of the word, “justification” - to demonstrate as righteous rather than to declare as righteous
In James, Abraham is said to be righteous based on his actions in , when he was declared righteous in !
Helpful to remember: justification is by faith alone, but never by a faith that is alone!
Adoption: An act of God whereby he makes us members of his family
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.
Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
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Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.
So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,
for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
gal
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(So, was God Father in the OT? Yes; but it seems that the full benefits and privileges of membership in God’s family did not come until Christ came and the Spirit of the Son of God was poured into our hearts… pg. 737)
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
We are God’s sons now, but also not yet:
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Is adoption the same as being born again (regeneration)? Are they just two different metaphors for the same thing?
Grudem says, the two ideas are never connected in the NT; might be better to say that Paul is the only one who speaks about adoption, and he doesn’t tie it to regeneration. John seems to relate the two with each other, though he doesn’t specify causation.
Rather, adoption is connected with faith:
for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.
So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,
for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
Remember, new birth = new creation; adoption = being brought into God’s family. They are similar metaphors since they deal with entrance into a family, but they are ultimately pointing toward different aspects of salvation.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Is adoption the same as justification?
Both result from faith; however, justification is about being declared righteous, whereas adoption is about being brought into relationship with God.
Privileges of Adoption:
Being able to speak with God:
matt
Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Having a family status with God:
So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
The comfort of the Spirit:
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Rom
The assurance of God’s care:
For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
A future inheritance:
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Note: this means that -
and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
is not a prayer for re-justification, but for restoration of a disrupted family relationship.
Being led by the Spirit:
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Discipline:
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
Participating in Christ’s sufferings and glory:
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Imitating God as our Father:
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
Break
Break
Prayer
Prayer
Justification: Imputed vs. Infused
Justification: Imputed vs. Infused
Infused: God justifies us by changing our moral character. Results:
You cannot know on earth whether you have full acceptance by God
Purgatory takes care of what justification was left unaccomplished
Justification becomes mingled with sanctification
Imputed: God justifies us by a legal declaration. Results:
A person can be fully at peace with God now.
Justification precedes sanctification.