JUSTIFICATION – UNTO LIFE!

“Therefore as by the offence of one [judgment came] upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [the free gift came] upon all men unto justification of life” (Rom 5:18)

A man taken in works religion once told me he had a problem with men being justified BEFORE believing. Based on the Scripture above and many others, I have a problem with life before justification.

He that believeth HAS (already possesses) life eternal (John 5:24). In his natural state, every man is dead in trespasses and in sins, then he is quickened to life (Eph 2:1,5). Sanctification of the spirit precedes belief of the truth (2 Ths 2:13). Unless a man is first born again, he cannot see (perceive) the kingdom of God (John 3:3). The natural man CANNOT (has no desire to) receive the things of the Spirit of God, for these things are foolishness unto him. Neither CAN he (has no ability to) know them, for these things are spiritually discerned (1 Cor 2:14). Every elect child of God believes BECAUSE he has been given eternal life as a sovereign, free gift of God. The Scriptures clearly teach that the giving of eternal life precedes believing.

And let it also be established on the authority of Scripture that JUSTIFICATION IS UNTO THIS ETERNAL LIFE! Justification occurred and was declared WHEN the obedience of Christ was imputed to the legal accounts of all the elect. The very instant the first Adam’s disobedience was finished, it was imputed to all his humanity. In the very same manner the very instant the Last Adam’s obedience was finished, it was imputed to all His humanity (Rom 5:12,18,19). When Adam sinned and it was charged, all fell under condemnation and the sentencing of death. When Christ finished the work of righteousness and it was charged, all of His men fell under justification and the sentencing of eternal life. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Cor 15:22).

Therefore, faith cannot be the cause of justification, the obedience of Christ imputed upon His finishing it was justification. In God’s order of salvation, justification precedes regeneration AND the act of believing.