The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum The When and How of Justification

As you might expect, I disagree with your conclusion and which appears is your now adopted view: aka "Eternal Justification", and my disagreement could not be stronger.
1. The Scriptures are more than perspicuous on this matter in myriad places, e.g., one of the most salient: (cf. Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3; Gal. 3:6; James 2:23), all of which speak specifically on the subject of "justification", without any need of inference.

2. IF justification was "eternal", then nothing after the decree would be necessary, even including the incarnation, active obedience, passive obedience, resurrection of Christ, for the decree according to this view would have made it done. However, as with all these things, including EVERY SINGLE THOUGHT WORD AND DEED of every human being was necessary to bring the decree to pass for each and every one whom God had predestinated and elected to salvation in the Lord Christ. And that justification which is imputed to them is also made sure through sanctification and final justification (cf. Rom 8: 29,30).

Thus, as John Murray makes so clear based upon Scripture and reason in his marvelous book, Redemption Accomplished and Applied, The decrees of God and eternal and infallible AND in those decrees are included the MEANS to the end which bring them to pass. Faith in Christ is NOT simply the realization/apprehension of the assurance of justification, but rather but the means/instrument of being united to Christ and owning that justification which is imputed to those who are given true saving faith and repentance.