ETERNAL JUSTIFICATION:
"It does not begin to take place in time, or at believing, but is
antecedent to any act of faith. -- 1. Faith is not the cause, but an
effect of justification; it is not the cause of it in any sense; it is
not the moving cause , that is the free grace of God; 'Being justified
freely by his grace,' Rom. iii.24; nor the efficient cause of it; 'It
is God that justifies,' Rom. viii.33; nor the meritorious cause, as
some express it; or the matter of it, that is the obedience and blood
of Christ, Rom. v.9, 19, or the righteousness of Christ, consisting of
his active and passive obedience; nor even the instrumental cause;
for, as Mr. Baxter himself argues, 'If faith is the instrument of our
justification, it is either the instrument either God or man; not of
man, for justification is God's act; he is the sole justifier, Rom.
iii.26, man doth not justify himself: nor of God, for it is not God
that believes:' nor is it a *causa sine qua non*, as the case of elect
infants shows; it is not in any class of causes whatever; but it is
the effect of justification; all men have not faith, and the reason
why some do not believe is, because they are none of Christ's sheep;
they were not chosen in him, nor justified through him; but justly
left in their sins, and so to condemnation; the reason why others
believe is, because they are ordained to eternal life, have a
justifying righteousness provided for them, and are justified by it,
and shall never enter into condemnation: the reason why any are
justified, is not because they have faith; but the reason why they
have faith, is because they are justified; was there no such blessing
of grace as justification of life in Christ, for the sons of men,
there would be no such thing as faith in Christ bestowed on them;
precious faith is obtained through the righteousness of our God and
Saviour Jesus Christ, 2 Pet. i:1; nor, indeed, would there be any room
for it, nor any use of it, if a justifying righteousness was not
previously provided." John Gill, Body of Divnity, Vol 2. page 292
Gaius
.
|
