Justification from everlasting !

[beloved57]

More on Eternal Justification !

Before the world began God saved and called [named] His Elect with a calling of Grace given them in Christ from Eternity, 2 Tim 1:9-10

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Now the word called in both 2 Tim 1:9 and Rom 8:30 are speaking about a calling or a naming that took place before the world began. It is the greek word kaleō and means:


to call i.e. to name, by name

a) to give a name to

1) to receive the name of, receive as a name

2) to give some name to one, call his name

b) to be called i.e. to bear a name or title (among men)

c) to salute one by name

They were named or called the Children of God by their Union with and being Placed in the Son of God. The Children of God Heb 2:13-14

13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

They were named or called Children before partaking of flesh and blood in Adam !

Yes, before the world began, before the foundations thereof were laid, God named all His Chosen the Children of God, even at that date they were sanctified or set apart from all others who would populate the world Jude 1:1

1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

And so being called or named as Children in the Eternal decree of Election in Christ, they were Justified then in God's Eternal decree, or named in the Everlasting Covenant for their Surety of the Covenant.

 

[beloved57]

More on Eternal Justification !

Now all who were named or called, at the same time, by the same Divine Purpose and Decree, Justified by the Grace of God, given them in Christ Jesus 2 Tim 1:9, through the redemption of Christ Blood, as the Lamb slain from or before the foundation of the world.

Rom 3:24

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Rev 13:8

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The trespass they would commit in time, first in Adam their head, and their personal sins when after they are born sinners, they were never laid to their Charge legally, and because of non imputation they were already forgiven of all sin, for David writes of that Ps 32:1-2

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. See Rom 4:7-8 also !

They also were declared Righteous by Imputation of Christ Righteousness, that He would faithfully work out in Time. All this was accomplished before one speck of dust was created to this world !

 

[beloved57]

In God's Eternal Purpose, the Elect were predestinated to be conformed to the Image of His Son Rom 8:29

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

So this Fact tells us that God already reckoned them as Sons, so they were Justified in His Eternal Decree, He viewed them in Christ, His Only Begotten Son. This means consequently, all their sins were forgiven before they were committed, the curse withdrawn before it was incurred, God's Justice completely satisfied before the Law was broken, they were Justified in Christ before they sinned in Adam, accepted or Highly Favored in the Beloved before they were made sinners. The Redemption of the Elect was done, accomplished, when the Father accepted Christ as their Surety, and had respect unto His sacrifice, as the Lamb slain from the foundation ! Rev 13:8

8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

 

[beloved57]

One would have to be blind completely not to see that scriptures indicates that Justification of God's Elect by God's Grace is an Eternal Act. This Truth is plainly an Apostles Doctrine and not something just read into scripture. In Both 2 Tim 1:9 and Rom 8:30 Paul is showing the Eternal Purpose of God, by which all things work according to Eph 1:11. He[Paul] is declaring the Decree of God, and in God's decree, all of the Elect were Saved, Justified, and Glorified from Everlasting in Christ.

 

[beloved57]

Accepted in the Beloved, When ?

Paul who taught the Eternal Justification of all who are True Believers in Christ, who come to believe in Him in time, that they were accepted in the beloved before the foundation of the world, in accordance with having been Chosen in Him at that date Eph 1:3-6

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as[even as] he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The verb accepted is the greek word charitoō and means:


to make graceful

a) charming, lovely, agreeable

2) to peruse with grace, compass with favour

3) to honour with blessings

This has to do with the gracious and favorable acceptance of the Chosen Ones of their Persons in the Beloved, which is Christ. Now when was this ? Why its when He chose them in Him before the foundation of the World. Remember this acceptance is according to and to the Praise of the Glory of His Grace to them. When was this Grace given to them ? 2 Tim 1:9

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

It was given them in Christ Jesus before the world began.

As such, God considered them Righteous, if Righteous, then Justified. This is what is meant by being Justified by His Grace.

Rom 3:24

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

This Justification by Grace here had nothing to do with being done in time, yes it was through or on the grounds of the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus, meaning His Death, but, God reckoned that as a done deal in His Eternal Purpose and so He was the Lamb slain from the foundation Rev 13:8

8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

No, the cross had not occurred yet in the temporal, but it did in the Eternal, because God's realization of things are always present to Him and Eternal.

 

[beloved57]

The Book of Life !

Eternal Justification is taught in scripture by the fact that there is a book of Life with names inscribed in it from the foundation of the world Rev 13:8;17:8. These are the ones that God called or named in His Eternal Purpose Rom 8:30;2 Tim 1:9. In both of these verses the word called is the greek word kaleō and means:


to call

a) to call aloud, utter in a loud voice

b) to invite

2) to call i.e. to name, by name

a) to give a name to

to receive the name of, receive as a name

2) to give some name to one, call his name

b) to be called i.e. to bear a name or title (among men)

c) to salute one by name

Thats why its written that Jesus calls His own Sheep by Name Jn 10:3

To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

See, they were named in the Lambs Book of Life before the foundation, and they are His Own !

The Book of Life is the Book of Election, it knows and names everyone Chosen in Christ before the foundation Eph 1:4. Its the names of all for whom Christ was made a Surety for in the Everlasting Covenant Heb 7:22;13:20.

It is the book of all whom have laid to their charge the Righteousness of their Surety Jer 23:6;33:16

In this book are the names of all for whom the Surety was slain for them from the foundation Rev 13:8. In this book are all the names of all whom God has Promised Eternal Life Titus 1:1-2


1Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

1 Jn 2:25

25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

This was their Eternal Justification, their sins were never laid to their Charge, but unto Christ.

These are the foreknown of God, His People Rom 11:2

2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,

 

[beloved57]

A word on God's Eternal Purpose !

Eph 3:11

11According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Its quite appropriate to say a word on God's Eternal Purpose when considering such a subject matter as Eternal Justification.

Most religionists fail in their understanding of God's Eternal Purpose or Decree. The Decree is Eternal [Timeless] but it is executed as well in time, however by it being Eternal in the Mind of God who is Eternal Deut 33:27;1 Tim 1:17, its completed from His Eternal Perspective ! An Eternal Being cannot but view things from an Eternal Perspective, since He is God. For God's realization of His Eternal Purpose is not dependent upon the succession of Time or neither is it in Him a process that needs fulfilling before He realizes the completion of it. Now it does for us, His creatures, but that's why we are not God, and can never be God, because our rational being's is temporal. There is succession of God's Eternal Purpose only as it is revealed in time to the creature. For us to think that God only realizes His Eternal Decree or Purpose as it is realized in time by us His creatures is to bring God down to our level as a Temporal Being, or it is exalting ourselves to be equal with Him. For God's realization of things are not governed by temporal means, such as time.

The fulfillment of God's Eternal Purpose in time, does not bring realization of His Purpose to Himself, but to bring realization of it to His creatures in time Heb 6:17-18, He shews to the Heirs of Promise the immutability of His Counsel. God's Eternal Decree comprehends all things before time, throughout time and after time !

 

[beloved57]

Justification before they believed !

The Justification of the Elect before they believed is Taught in Rom 4:25

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Here all the elect or the church were Justified in their Head and Representative, when He rose from the dead after being delivered for their offences!

The YLT: who was delivered up because of our offences, and was raised up because of our being declared righteous.

Christ resurrection from the dead was a testification or gives testimony that all for whom He died have been legally acquitted or discharged from all their sins. It was more than just an acquittal of Christ, because He was not delivered for His own offences, but the offences of others.

For Christ was their Surety, made so from Eternity in the Everlasting Covenant when He had their sins laid to His charge [imputation], by which He became legally liable by the Justice of God, and in due time, He gave Himself as an Offering for their sins, and when He arose from the dead, not as an private person, for He did not die as a private person for his own transgressions, but for the sins of the Many. So when He rose Justified and acquitted, then those for whom He died were also acquitted and Justified. For if He was delivered for their sins, then He was raised for their Justification, therefore all for whom Christ died and rose for , are Justified, even if they have not yet been born sinners, for God knows whose sins He bare , because it was for all those the Father hath given Him Jn 17:2. To deny this, one may as well deny Christ's resurrection from the dead. All this was accomplished [their Justification] before they believed a thing !

 

[beloved57]

If one is Elect !

If one is of the Elect, they are Justified as Early as their Election was. Now Paul writes in Rom 8:33

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

Election and Justification go hand in hand. Paul writes that it is God that Justifieth. Who ? Why the Elect, which is quite plain from the scripture, for this cannot be gainsaid, and from it we read that nothing can be laid to the Charge of God's Elect, but He has Justified them. Now how long has God viewed them as Chosen or Elect in Christ ? Eph 1:4

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

How long ? Before the foundation of the world, then scripture teaches the Elect before God, have been Justified before the foundation of the world.

Also it should be noted that scripture teaches that God viewed His Elect in Christ before the world began, and scripture plainly teaches that there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus Rom 8:1 and 2 Tim 1:9

 

[beloved57]

Who are the objects of Justification ?

If we read the sacred writings in Rom 8:33-34

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

It cannot be denied that Paul points to God's Elect as being the Ones God Justifies !

Now Who shall lay any Charge upon God's Elect ? Mind You Paul was not Just speaking of God's Elect in his present, but even of those who were yet to be born in the future ! Who would be able to lay charges against them ? Would they be born sinners as other men ? Of course they would. Would they be under the same legal condemnation as other men ? No they would not ! Why ? Because they are God's Elect, and others were not. Thats a benefit of being one of God's Elect, that other men do not have.

So God's Elect can not have anything laid to their Charge, for God has Justified them. Now when did they become God's Elect ? Was it when they believed ? No, they were His Elect from everlasting, they were Chosen in Christ before the world began, and given grace in Him Eph 1:4;2 Tim 1:9. If this be True, then as His Elect then, they were ['declared not guilty] and declared Righteous at the same time.

Also it was by Electing Grace that they were placed in Christ, and reckoned as in Him before the foundation of the world, and if this be so, then they must be reckoned as Righteous, for there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.

 

[beloved57]

The Beginning of Justification !

Justification has it's beginning [ If we can call it a beginning], not when a sinner believes or is converted, not even when Christ died upon the cross [in time] but before the world began in the Eternal Counsels of the God Head, in the Everlasting Covenant, at which time [ If we can call it time] many were chosen in Christ Jesus, The Only Eternally Begotten Son and Mediator, and they were Predestinated to the Adoption of Children see Eph 1:3-5 and 2 Tim 1:9, here it is stated that many in Christ were given Grace and Justification is freely by Grace Rom 3:24

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. The word freely here is important. It is the greek word dorean and means undeservedly ! Not because of ones Faith or Repentance or anything they did or did not do, not even their accepting it, for they did not even exist yet except in God's Mind and Eternal Purpose.

Now this being True, The Elect were viewed by the God Head in Christ and having Union with Him from Everlasting, and this Eternal Union is the foundation of the communicating of all the spiritual blessings or saving benefits [from the fall] which they the elect receive in time, all for the Glory of God's Grace freely given them in Christ before the world began Eph 1:6; 2 Tim 1:9 !

 

[beloved57]

Not a inward work !

Justification is not a work that was wrought in the elect sinner [inwardly], for it is not the New Birth, however it is the fruit of it. In other words all whom are Justified from everlasting will in time be the recipients of the New Birth by the Spirit. This is when God causes the elect sinner to partake of a nature that corresponds with His declaration of them as Justified or Righteous because of the obedience of Christ. However Justification is just a legal term that defines the elect sinner as righteous in the Mind of God, even when the sinner is unrighteous in themselves and their manner of life. What they do or are doing or what they have not done has nothing to do with it, but it only has to do with what Christ done in their behalf, and the Father hath accepted it.

 

[beloved57]

Justification is legally and declaratively a right standing before God as Judge. One can be before God either Justified or condemned, there is no middle ground. One is either born into this world as Justified or condemned before God, though all are born sinners. These are both what is termed forensic words, having to do with a courtroom setting. Now reconciliation, propitiation, justification and remission of sins are all joined together and all are dealt with by the blood of Christ. His blood has satisfied God's Justice in all these area's. Everyone Christ died for, having been slain in the Eternal Purpose of God before the foundation of the world, are reconciled, propitiated, justified and have remission of sins when they are born in this world dead in Trespasses and sins. This is True only Legally before God without them knowing about it.

 

[beloved57]

Imputation of sins of the elect to Christ from the foundation!

Rev 13:8

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

If in the Eternal Purpose of God, the Lamb has been slain from the foundation of the world, what was He slain for ? It was for the sins of those He was actually slain for in time ! God's Elect. We know this because Peter writing to God's Elect in 1 Pet 1:1-2 writes this to THEM 1 Pet 2:24

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Whose our sins ? Its the Elect according to the foreknowledge of God !

Now, if Christ was slain in the Eternal Purpose of the Father, it was for the sins of the foreknown Elect of God.

And that means their sins had been imputed to His Charge, in the Eternal Purpose of God before the foundation of the world. See 1 Pet 1:20 !

It was before the foundation of the world that the Triune God, The Father, Word, and Holy Spirit, The God-Head, in the Counsel of the Everlasting Covenant, Christ being the designated Surety thereof, The Father imputed, laid to the Sureties charge, in His Mediator Office 1 Tim 2:5, the sins of all His Elect. Also they received from Him the Imputed Righteousness of His future obedience unto the Law of God.

This imputation concerns only the Election of Grace among men, and not that of the reprobates, men or angels !

 

[beloved57]

Eternally Justified in God's Purpose !

Everyone who is truly believing in the Son of God for their Salvation Jn 3:16, for the word believing there is in the present tense hence "whosoever is believing" was eternally Justified in the Purpose of God by the Grace of God Rom 8:30; 2 Tim 1:9

Rom 8:30

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

2 Tim 1:9

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

The Justification of the Elect of God did not begin in time, but from everlasting. Paul when revealing in His Gospel the eternal decree of God and of predestination, states clearly that all of God's Elect were Justified in His Eternal Purpose of Grace ! Thats what Paul also points to in Titus 3:7

7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

What Hope of Eternal Life ? This right here Titus 1:2

1Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

The Elect were made Heirs of Eternal Life before the world began, by Grace, and they were Justified by that Grace before the world began !

The writer John Gill once said " God's will to elect is the election of His People; so also His will to Justify them is the justification of them" !

God's Justification of His People is an act of Grace and based upon the redemption that is in Christ Jesus Rom 3:24

24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Now this redemption, took place in the mind and purpose of God before the foundation of the world 1 Pet 1:20 and Rev 13:8


20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Rev 13:8

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

 

[beloved57]

In the Mind of God !

The religious people of our time have shown profound irreverence to God, as though, when something in the Mind of God means nothing to them, as though what's in His Mind as True cannot be True unless its true in the minds of his creatures, reducing God to their levels, which is blasphemy !

However in the Mind and Purpose of God, the Lord Jesus Christ was the lamb Slain from the foundation of the World Rev 13:8

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

This is not saying that He was literally slain in time from the foundation, but that He was slain in the Mind and Eternal Purpose of God from the foundation of the World !

You see God the Father constituted His Son as an Surety of the Covenant, the Everlasting Covenant before the world began. He was designated a substitute and redeemer before the world began, and as such God in His own Mind looked upon His Son as having been slain, put to death for the Sins of His Elect from Eternity. This was prefigured with Abraham and Isaac. Even though Abraham did not literally put his son to death, he certainly had purposed to do so in his mind ! This purpose was so real that it was said that he received his son back from the dead ! Heb 11:19

19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Abraham looked at his son as good as dead, and believed that God could raise him from the dead to establish His earlier promises regarding him !
And so, The Father looked at His own beloved Son as already scarified for His Sheep from everlasting, according to the agreement in the Everlasting Covenant , when Christ became Surety !

Its dishonoring to God to despise and treat with contempt that which He See's as real and complete in His Mind, because it was not so in the minds of His creatures..

 

[beloved57]

Continuing with Justification from Everlasting !

As we should consider the Gospel Truth of Eternal Justification, we Look at Eph 1:4

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

For it cannot be honestly denied that God the Father did view the Chosen as In Christ before the Foundation of the World, for they were Loved in Him Before the foundation of the world Jn 17:23-24

23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

Now, If God the Father did view them in Christ before the foundation, did He view them in a state of condemnation or Justification ? We dare not conclude condemnation because that is impossible for those which be in Christ Jesus Rom 8:1, So it must be Justified, for also He did not lay their sins to their charge in Adam Rom 8:33-34; 2 Cor 5:19. The conclusion is obvious, they were Justified before the foundation of the world !

 

[beloved57]

I have some points derived from scripture Truth, why all those Christ died for are Justified from Eternity, from their sin in adam and consequently all sin following. I have listed six reasons, and I am indebted to God through one John Brine from his treatise on Eternal Justification.

Point #1 Justification is an immanent, and consequently an eternal act. This argument must be allowed conclusive, unless it can be proved that Justification is a transient act.

What is meant by an immanent act ? Well the word itself means:


remaining within; indwelling; inherent.

2.
Philosophy . (of a mental act) taking place within the mind of the subject and having no effect outside of it. Compare transeunt.

3.
Theology . (of the Deity) indwelling the universe, time, etc. Compare transcendent ( def. 3 ) .

It means it's a inward act of God's reckoning. Its a Judgment of God based on nothing outside of Him, and so such a act would be Eternal simply because God is Eternal Deut 33:7

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

This is why David could write regarding God's Mercy Ps 103:17

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

You see that ? The mercy of the Lord is from Everlasting to Everlasting, to who ? Those who fear Him or the Vessels of Mercy Rom 9:23

23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

An Immanent Act of God is different from an transeunt act of God which produces effects outside of God ! An example of that would be Creation, it's accomplishment is outside of God and by His Power !

 

[beloved57]

Point 2

2. The elect were by God considered and viewed in Christ from everlasting; which is excellently expressed by Dr. Thomas Goodwin in these words:

"Look, as God did not, in his decrees about creation, consider the body of Adam singly and apart from his soul, nor yet the soul without the body (I speak of his creation and state thereby) neither should either so much as exist, but as the one in the other: so nor Christ and his church in election, which gave the first existence to Christ as a head, and to the church as his body, which each had in God's decrees." Exposition of the First Chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians, London, 1681, Pt. 1, p. 72.

Now as God considers His elect in Christ, they are either objects of condemnation, or Justification. The former must be denied, and therefore the latter evidently follows; except, as God beholds the elect in Christ, they are neither objects of condemnation, nor Justification; which is an absurdity that none will admit.

There is no doubt that God viewed His Chosen In Christ before the Foundation Eph 1:4

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

 

[beloved57]

Point # 3

Eph 1:3-4

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

The Elect were blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ before the foundation of the world, and therefore with Justification, for that is a spiritual blessing !

It was then they were taken into covenant relationship with and in Him, to be God's peculiar people, and were thereby eternally Justified in Him from all things. It was then that Christ their Chosen Head became their Surety, and covenanted to pay all their sin debts as Justice due, for the sin they shall commit in Adam along with all the sins they shall commit after their personal manifestation into the world !

This Grace by which they are Eternally Justified, was given to them In Christ [Their Surety Head and Mediator] before the world began,2 Tim 1:9, from Everlasting, because from everlasting God Loved them in Christ Jer 31:3 and made them accepted in Him Eph 1:6 !