The Manner of Faith-There are two sides.
1. The Divine Side- Originates with the Triune God. God the Father – Originating Source (Rom 12:3), God the Son – Mediating Source (Heb 12:2), God the Holy Spirit – Energizing Source (1 Cor 12:4,8,9)
Faith, then, is obtained as the result of the enabling power and gracious work of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
2. The Human Side – Secured by the use of Means:
The Word of God Heard and Heeded (Rom 10:17), Yielded Will (John 5:36-40) and A Right Motive (John 5:44)
These human elements enter into the production of faith and for them men are responsible.
What are the Results of Faith
1.Salvation (Eph 2:8-10) In it you receive Forgiveness (Acts 10:43), Justification (Rom 5:1), Son-ship with God (Gal 3:26), Eternal Life (John 20:31), Partaking of the Divine Nature (2 Pet 1:4) and the Indwelling of Christ
2.A Normal Christian Experience. In it you receive Sanctification (Acts 26:18), Keeping Power of God (1 Peter 1:5), Victorious Life (1 John 5:4,5), Rest and Peace (Matt 11:28), Joy and Satisfaction (1 Peter 1:8), Persecutions and Tribulations (2 Tim 3:12; John 16:33)
3.Holy Achievements (Heb 11:1,2) these are: Answer to Prayer According to God’s Will (Matt 21:21), Wonder-working Power (Matt 2:21) and All Things Made Possible (Mark 9:23).
This basically sums up Regeneration. Wow, that was a lot. Next, we’ll look at Justification. This one is shorter. Like seven and a half posts shorter.
Justification- The act of God by which, on the account of Christ, to whom the sinner is united by faith, He declares a sinner to be no longer under condemnation, but to have a standing of righteousness before Him. It is not a change in the moral state or character of its subjects. Justification does not deal with our subjective, but rather with our objective, salvation. It has to do with our standing before God judicially rather that our state of life morally and spiritually. It means to make conformable to a true standard. It signifies, not “to make righteous”, but to “declare righteous” or “free from guilt and exposure to punishment”. So, in layman’s terms justification is the judicial act of God whereby those who put faith in Christ are declared righteous in His eyes and are free from guilt and punishment.
1. The Scope of Justification
A. Propitiation- The Atoning Sacrifice of Christ is Sufficient (Rom 3:25)
B. Restoration- We are Restored to Former Glory Because of Christ (Ps 23:1-3)
C. Forgiveness-We have been Forgiven our Sin Through Christ (1 John 1:9)
D. Reconciliation- The Our Relationship with God has been Restored Through Christ (2
Cor 5:21)
E. Redemption- The Work of Christ to Free Man From the Captivity of Sin by Payment of a Ransom (Titus 2:14)
2. The Method of Justification – It is divine, not human. Man justifies the innocent only; Go justifies the guilty. Man justifies on the ground of merit; God justifies on the ground of mercy.
A. Not by moral character (1 Cor 4:4)
B. Not by works of the law (Rom 3:20)
C. Judicially by God (Rom 8:33)
D. Cause of Grace (Rom 3:24)
E. Awarded by Christ by His Death (Rom 5:9)
F. Readily Perceived by His Resurrection (Rom 4:5)
G. Mediated by Faith (Rom 5:1)
H. Evidenced by Works (James 2:14,24)
3. The Results of Justification
A. Freedom from Incrimination (Rom 8:1, 33,34)
B. Peace with God (Rom 5:1)
C. Assurance and Realization of Future Glorification (Titus 3:7)
That’s it for Justification. Next is Sanctification. Before we look at it, I am going to break down what each side agrees on and doesn’t agree on.
To be continued…
