Now what is it to be Justified by Faith?
Greetings Brightfame52, I hope your week has been a blessed one.
I would first like to affirm particular election and that by the grace of God we are saved. I affirm this in the hopes that what I present is not misconstrued.
John Calvin writes:
"To justify, therefore, is nothing else than to acquit from the charge of guilt, as if innocence were proved. Hence, when God justifies us through the intercession of Christ, he does not acquit us on a proof of our own innocence, but by an imputation of righteousness, so that though not righteous in ourselves, we are deemed righteous in Christ." -- John Calvin Institutes 3.11
My first point. What John Calvin wrote above, is the traditional understanding of what justification is. What you wrote, below is something different.
#1 Its to be Justified by His Faith/Faithfulness, meaning Jesus Christ, its the Faith of Jesus Christ. #2 It's when that Justification by Christ is declared or pronounced in the conscience of the already Justified.
What you wrote appears to be an attempt at some "high Calvinist" position and reasoning from this position. What Calvin wrote is more of a traditional Calvinist (or moderate Calvinist) position, imo.
The only reason I bring this up, which is my first point, is because you then wrote...
It's never meaning that faith is a condition we must act in order to get Justified before God, cause that overthrows Justification before God based solely upon the Person and Work of Jesus Christ , what He did for the Justified. Then it becomes justification by our works, a false gospel!
If your formulation and conclusion is true, then John Calvin forwarded a "false gospel". Which he most certainly did not, and just about every Calvinist would object to any claim that he did. Not saying I agree with all that Calvin wrote, but because you might not agree with what Calvin wrote does not mean you may conclude he, or anyone else, is spreading
false gospel.
John Calvin says we must...
"On one side, we must look at God; and, on the other, at man." -- John Calvin
Notice that Calvin says we must on one hand, look at man. This claim in no way suggests that Calvin is forwarding a works based gospel. John Calvin then goes on to say about Ephesians 2:8-9.
"The next question is, in what way do men receive that salvation which is offered to them by the hand of God? The answer is, by faith; and hence he concludes that nothing connected with it is our own. If, on the part of God, it is grace alone, and if we bring nothing but faith, which strips us of all commendation, it follows that salvation does not come from us." -- John Calvin
John Calvin says that if the only thing the sinner brings to the table is faith, then salvation is by grace alone. Notice Calvin doesn't try and argue that man doesn't bring faith? It's because Calvin thinks man brings faith, for he says, "if we bring nothing but faith." If "we" bring nothing but "faith". (emphasis on the we, meaning man).
My point here is that simply because a person on this forum asserts that man brings faith does not automatically mean that the person is forwarding a works based doctrine. The New Testament constantly contrasts works and faith, meaning faith is not works according to the Bible. The assumption that any kind of formulation of faith brought by man is a work based doctrine is fundamentally false, even from a Calvinist position. One might not agree with anthers faith formulation. But a faith alone formulation is most certainly not works based.
My second point is about the "when" justification happens. John Calvin says justification is, as I quoted earlier,
"nothing else than to acquit from the charge of guilt" -- John Calvin. With John Calvin as a guide, for me, I would ask if you hold to the
Supralapsarian formulation or the
Infralapsarian formulation?
If you hold to the Supralapsarian model then you and Calvin are at odds regarding justification. If the Infralapsarian model, then you and Calvin might be in agreement. The reason for this is that Calvin says that justification is related to "guilt". Thus, guilt must be considered at the point of God's decree of eternal election. Which only happens in the Infralapsarian model and not the Supralapsarian model. Typically the Supralapsarian model is used by most high Calvinists.
Peace to you and yours, brother
