Eternal Justification !

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Saved in the Purpose of God equals Eternal Justification !4

Now many enemies of the Gospel Doctrine of Non Imputation, which does equate to Eternal Justification, they make the slanderous accusation that , for one to believe in Eternal Justification, it must mean they have no regard for the Cross of Christ, but that is a slander and misrepresentation, and here is why:

Justification is derived from non imputation of sin, which we have reasonably concluded to be first and foremost from before the foundation of the world, based upon these Two scriptures 1 Pet 1:20; Rev 13:8, where its obvious God has purposed to impute sin on Christ, in order for Him to die for them in the fullness of time Gal 4:4; 1 Cor 15:3;

Hence Eternal Justification, Non Imputation of sin has its premise on God imputing the sins of the elect upon Christ, so that He in the fullness of time would come and die for them, and so this shows the enemies of the Gospel [EJ is an Gospel Truth] that their accusations are false and unjust, for EJ has everything to do with Christ's Death for Imputed sins of the Elect to Him !8

 

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Saved in the Purpose of God equals Eternal Justification !5

Because of the Non Imputation of sin, and that from before the foundation, there can never be condemnation to them which are in Christ Rom 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

How could it be when those in Christ where Chosen in Him 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:

And Grace was given them in Him [Christ Jesus] before the World began 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,

So in reality they themselves have never been condemned by God ! That is not to say they were not guilty of sin and condemnation Rom 5:18

18 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.

However the Guilt and Charge of it was Charged to Christ before the World Began 1 Pet 1:20

20 Who verily was foreordained[For Redemption] 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 [for sins charged to Him] from the foundation of the world.

So the deserved condemnation of Rom 5:18 was not legally charged to them personally in Christ Rom 8:1 ! 9

 

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Christ our Surety from Everlasting, so Justified the same !

Christ , if He died for us was Our Surety Heb 7:22

22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

Christ shedding His Blood was out of a Suretyship responsibility to a better covenant or testament Matt 26:28

28 For this is my blood of the new/better testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

The many here are them He was made a surety for !

Now the question is, when did Christ become their Surety ? It was before the foundation of the world, thats why we have scriptures like 1 Pet 1:20

20 Who verily was foreordained[to die] 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.

He was slain in His Suretyship Purpose from the foundation of the World, meaning though He had not already in time died, yet it had already before time been determined that He would die as a Surety, so Jesus said Lk 22:22

And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

It had been determined by the Eternal Counsels of the Godhead that Christ would come and die a Surety Death for the sins of God's Chosen People, those Chosen in the Surety before the foundation Eph 1:4.

 

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Christ our Surety from Everlasting, so Justified the same ! 2

As Our Covenant Surety, it was agreed upon from Everlasting in the Eternal Counsel/Purpose of the Godhead Eph 3:11

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

Notice that this purpose was in the Mediator Surety Christ Jesus ! Christ Jesus is His Mediator designation like here 1 Tim 2:5

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

And also here 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 The Mediator Surety before the world began,

It was agreed upon from everlasting that when Gods Chosen People would become guilty debtors to His Law by their sin and disobedience, that instead of them having to pay that sin debt, Christ would in their place pay the debt they incurred against God.

This Suretyship agreement went something like along the lines of that which Paul had with Philemon, who had a runaway slave, that Paul had met, which he became a believer through Paul's Ministry of the Gospel, and upon the slave returning to his master, Paul said these words Philemon 1:18-19

18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

You see that ? To put any wrong doing he had done against him, to put it on Pauls account, so Paul could repay it ! Thats the Principle of Suretyship that Christ was made for them He died for !

Christ unto the Father was made Surety for the sins of God's Elect, the Sheep, when they would sin in Adam initially and then in themselves as they are born physically into the world dead in trespasses and sins, even as others.

In the Eternal Purpose in Christ Jesus Eph 3:11 Christ was their Surety before the foundation, their sin in Adam and all their own sins had already been realized beforehand in God's Purpose and Charged to His Account, and so they for all intents and purposes were already in the Purpose of God Justified from them before they ever happened, by Suretyship agreement, which equates to Eternal Justification ! 9

 

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Eternal Justification before the world began !

Though its not specifically stated, it is strongly indicated and signified in 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,

This Grace was given [True Believers] us in Christ Jesus [when] before the world began, and yes this is one of those deep things of God of the Gospel, that the natural man cannot receive, it must be revealed by the Spirit 1 Cor 2:10-14, this Grace was given believers in Christ Jesus their Covenant Head and Mediator, before the world began, in which Grace comprehended all spiritual blessings 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:

That we enjoy in time, and so it comprehended our Eternal Justification, for its plainly stated that we were Justified by Grace Titus 3:7

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

And again, This Grace was given us in Christ Jesus, when ? Before the world began ! 9

 

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When were believers first in Christ ?

1 Cor 1:30

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

This scripture indicates the absolute Truth of the Gospel of Eternal Justification or believers having been Justified before God before the world began. See God the Father put believers in Christ, or how could scripture read here in this text "But of him are ye[believers] in Christ Jesus"

Now the question is, how long has then been so with God, that He put believers in Christ Jesus ?

Paul answers that question in 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[believers] in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Before the world began, because before it began, God gave us believers Purpose and Grace in Christ Jesus, and so at that same date, He viewed us and made us to be in Christ Jesus, and even then Christ was made unto us [in Him] Righteousness 1 Cor 1:30

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Which Righteousness imputes also to us Justification, for Justification is declaring one Righteous ! So being in Christ Jesus before the World began, with Purpose and Grace given us in Him 2 Tim 1:9, we had to be Righteous in Christ before the world began, hence Eternal Justification, a Gospel of Gods Grace Truth !

 

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When was He Jesus made a Surety of a better covenant ?

Heb 7:22

22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament/covenant.

The word testament diathéké is also translated covenant. So Jesus was made a Surety of a Better Covenant, which is the Everlasting Covenant Heb 13:20

20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

The Shepherd is the Surety of the Sheep, set up in the Everlasting Covenant, wherein His Blood was purposed to be shed 1 Pet 1:19-20

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

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

So, hence Jesus engaged in His Suretyship responsibility before the foundation of the world.

This meant that the debt of sin that would be incurred by the sheep in Adam and in themselves became Christ's, and not theirs. Gods vindictive Justice looked for the payment not from them, the principals, but from the Surety, Jesus, the Great Shepherd/Surety of the Sheep ! This is a Legal transaction from Heaven whereby the debt that shall be incurred by the sheep in Adam against Gods Law, became the debt of their Surety, hence discharging them from all their sin debt, making them perfectly Righteous/Justified from their sins before God, even before the foundation of the world ! Jesus was made a Surety before the foundation of the world ! 9

 

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Justification before the foundation for certain sinners is true simply because from everlasting their Surety, the Lord Jesus Christ was ordained in the counsels of God to satisfy God against their sins and iniquities that they would commit in time, so we read 1 Pet 1:18-20

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;


19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

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

And God from everlasting rested in that fact Heb 4:3

3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Matt 25:34

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

God in Covenant with His Son from everlasting, imputing the sins of the elect to His account, so that He would in time come and be a propitiation sacrifice 1 Jn 4:10, at that time He Justified His elect people from all their sins. 10

 

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Eternal Justification based upon the Suretyship of Christ !

It cant be denied by the adversaries of Truth that Christ was made a Surety for a better Covenant Heb 7:22

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament, which I believe refers to the Everlasting Covenant Heb 13:20

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting

covenant, Now basically a Surety has agreed to take on the debt, liability, payment for another; Now in this a pact is made by the Surety and the Creditor, the Creditor having accepted the Suretyship. Its like a striking of hands, or a hand shake like as here Prov 6:1

My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

Prov 17:18

A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

Now once the Creditor approves of this, those whom should incur a debt, a debt the Creditor knows the debtor cannot pay, by pledge of agreement, the Creditor must look for payment of the debt from the Surety and not the debtor, which discharges the debtor.
And so the debtors have been legally discharged or acquitted, justified from having to undergo any legal condemnation of the law, not to receive any meted out justice. Now lets ask ourselves, when did the Son Of God, Jesus actually become the Surety of an better Covenant ? Was it before the world began, or after. Was it before the Cross ? Whenever it was, that's when the debtors, for whom Christ was made Surety, were Justified in the eyes of the Law, from all condemnation they would occur upon themselves !

 

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Also, it should go without saying, to deny eternal justification based upon the Cross in time, is to deny Justification by the Cross in time, they are inseparable. Even though the Cross did not actually occur until 33ad, it by no means subjected God to have to wait until then to acquit His Elect based upon it. Neither did He have to wait until 33 a d to actually charge the sins of His elect upon their Surety Jesus Christ, He very well could have done that before the world began, which doing, acquitted the elect from all the charges they would incur in time, by #1 Their natural head adam, and #2 their own personal individual acts of transgressions after their physical life began in time ! So to deny eternal justification, is to deny Justification by the blood of Christ at anytime !10

 

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Eternal Justification is true because Justification by Grace is true Rom 3:24;Titus3:7; and since Grace had been given believers before the world began 2Tim1:9

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,

Then believers had been Justified by that same Grace before the world began!

 

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The Elect were Justified in Christ before the world began !

Now this is True on Two grounds. #1 They are in Christ due to their election in Him Eph 1:4 and 1 Cor 1:30

It is because of him[God the Father] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. NIV

And He chose them in Him before the foundation Eph 1:4

he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love

And we know that there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom 8:1

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Therefore they are them that are Justified. Justification is the antithesis to condemnation as seen here Rom 5:18

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.

John Gill writes of Rom 8:1 "them who are in Christ Jesus "

which are in Christ Jesus; not as mere professors are in Christ, who may be lost and damned: but this being in Christ, respects either that union and interest which the elect of God have in Christ, from everlasting: being loved by him with an everlasting love; betrothed to him in a conjugal relation; chosen in him before the foundation of the world; united to him as members to an head; considered in him in the covenant of grace, when he engaged for them as their surety; and so they were preserved in him, notwithstanding their fall in Adam; in time he took upon him their nature, and represented them in it; they were reckoned in him when he hung upon the cross, was buried, rose again, and sat down in heavenly places; in consequence of which union to Christ, and being in him, they are secure from all condemnation: or this may respect an open and manifestative being in Christ at conversion, when they become new creatures, pass from death to life, and so shall never enter into condemnation: hence they stand further described, as such

So the mere fact that some were Chosen by God in Christ before the foundation, necessitates their Eternal Justification before the foundation. You cant believe in Election, and deny Eternal Justification as some men do ! 10

 

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Accepted in Him equates to Justification in Him !

In line with the fact that Gods elect/chosen are Justified in Christ before the foundation as Per Eph 1:4, because they are in Him, and there's no condemnation to them in Him Rom 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. esv

Just as clear is that those Chosen in Christ before the foundation, were as early accepted in Him the Beloved Eph 1:6

to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One,

This agrees with 2 Tim 1:9 that Grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began:

He has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

And so they were accepted in the Beloved. Eph 1:6

6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

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

That word in the greek χαριτόω means:

I favor, bestow freely on.

properly, highly-favored because receptive to God's grace. 5487 (xaritóō) is used twice in the NT (Lk 1:28 and Eph 1:6), both times of God extending Himself to freely bestow grace (favor).

And of course we are Justified freely by His Grace Rom 3:24;Titus 3:7

And then the english word itself for accepted means:

to have a favorable opinion of, Approved.

Remember when God told cain that if he did good he would be accepted Gen 4:7

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?


Well, Gods chosen are accepted in Christ before the foundation without doing anything good, it was by free grace ! And this Justified them before God ! 10

 

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Blessed with all spiritual blessings means eternal Justification !

Back in the book of Ephesians, Paul writes these words to Believers, Gods Chosen Eph 1:1-4

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

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:

According to our election in Christ, God blessed the elect with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Some of these spiritual blessings we partake of only after we're born into the world, like regeneration and faith, both spiritual blessings, however Justification before the Mind of God is a Spiritual blessing we have in Christ as early as our election in Him was, before the foundation of the world.

Yes, all the elect like other men are born dead in sin, and are by nature children of wrath as others, but different from the non elect portion of mankind, they have been chosen in Christ before the foundation, and in Him have been given all spiritual blessings, such as Justification, and so unlike the non elect, they are still born Justified before God, even as they are born, by nature, children of wrath as others ! 11

 

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2 Cor 5:19 can very well be a scripture on Eternal Justification, I believe it is, and therefore a vital part of the message of reconciliation, or the word of reconciliation 2 Cor 5:19

That is, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

That word in en as in Christ can sometimes be translated with, and so can be rendered :", that God was with Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.

This could very well be the transaction agreement of Suretyship, when before the foundation, God the Father made His Son an Surety of an Better Covenant, which was the Everlasting Covenant Heb 13:20

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Now its hard to deny that an Everlasting Covenant was made regarding the blood of Christ. And we know that His Blood shed was determined before the foundation of the world when we consider these two scriptures #1 Rev 13:8

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.

# 2 1 Pet 1:20

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

I believe this has to do with being pre-appointed the redeemer of Gods elect before the foundation. This pre-appointment I believe was in establishing the Surety engagement of Christ, wherein the sins of Gods elect would be charged to Him, and Suretyship Righteousness and Obedience would be charged to the Elect, so Vs 21 of 2 Cor 5:21 supplements Vs 19 !

 

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Gods Eternal Purpose/will in Christ demands Eternal Justification of His Chosen !

Eph 1:7-11

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

This purpose is the same purpose as that Paul will write of later in this same letter Eph 3:11

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

This purposed involved the forgiveness of sins Eph 1:7. This informs us that its always been the eternal purpose of God to forgive the sins of His people in Christ according to the riches of His Grace. Its always been from everlasting, not to punish His Chosen for their sins, but to punish their sins in the person of Christ. This is why David wrote of an mercy from everlasting to everlasting Ps 103:17

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

This is why Christ was set forth, foreordained before the foundation in this redemptive purpose 1 Pet 1:18-20

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you

Rom 3:24-25

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Those words "set forth" is the greek word protithémi which means:

I purpose, design beforehand, determine.

"to place, set") – properly, to place before, setting forth in advance to achieve a particular purpose.

("to purpose") is the root of 4286 /próthesis ("God's providence, eternal purpose)

The Purpose of God to remit the sins of His people through Christ was set forth from the beginning, because it His Eternal will to do so, by imputing the sins of His people unto Christ. All the Old Testament Saints were given Faith in His blood.

And since Gods will to forgive the sins of His People according to His Eternal Redemptive Purpose in Christ, Their Justification from their sins was from the establishment of that same Eternal Purpose ! 11

 

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By the way, I'm deeply indebted to God for His servant John Gill for his piece on Eternal Justification:
http://www.mountzionpbc.org/Index/index04.htm

With that stated I quote him here:

It deserves regard and attention, that the saints under the Old Testament, were justified by the same righteousness of Christ, as those under the New, and that before the sacrifice was offered up, the satisfaction given, and the everlasting righteousness brought in; for Christ's blood was shed for the remission of sins that were past, and his death was for the redemption of transgressions under the first Testament, #Ro 3:25 Heb 9:15.Now if God could, and actually did, justify some, three or four thousand years before the righteousness of Christ was actually wrought out, taking his Son's word and bond as their Surety, and in a view of his future righteousness; why could he not, and why may it not be thought he did, justify all his elect from eternity, upon the word and bond of their Surety, and on the basis of his future righteousness, which he had engaged to work out, and which he full well knew he would most certainly work out? and if there is no difficulty in conceiving of the one, there can be none in conceiving of the other.

Basically the point here is that if God Justified the OT Believers based upon the blood of Christ, many many centuries prior to His incarnation, then why doubt that He justified the elect from eternity based upon the blood of Christ that would be shed for them in time. Certainly He could trust His Son to come into the World and shed His blood of the everlasting covenant!

 

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Being Justified by His Blood Rom 5:9 means Justification by God from the foundation of the World. Why and how can that be ? Because from God's Eternal Purpose and perspective Christ was slain from the foundation of the World Rev 13:8

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.

Rev 5:9

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

So Christ being slain denotes His Blood which denotes Justification by His Blood Rom 5:9

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.11

 

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Due to the fact that in the mind and purpose of God, Christ was slain from the foundation of the World, it must be the sins of the Elect in His mind and purpose had been imputed upon Him, then must the Elect have been Justified from their sins from the foundation.

 

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Contending for Justification from Eternity for Gods Elect !

Now Justification is totally of God Rom 8:33

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

Yes it emanates from His Mind ! God is Eternal Deut 33:27

27 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.

Its an Act/Work of His Eternal Mind premised upon the Lamb slain from the foundation Rev 13:8;1 Pet 1: 20, and all His Works are known from the beginning Acts 15:18

18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Acts of God Mind are Eternal and Immutable Ps 33:11

11 The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.11