Justification is a declaration received by faith.
Isn’t that odd? Can one think of any law court situation in which the “not guilty” verdict would fail to apply because the accused failed to believe the judge?
On the other hand, it is not all that odd to see trust as the basic bond in a relationship. If we are entrusted to Jesus then we are are one with him and are accepted by the Father for his sake.
But that is not all. Hebrews 11.1-12.3 presents faith as powerful because it involves a confidence about God’s promise to bring about a promised deliverance. Right now, we hear no divine declaration. God’s voice does not split the rock roaring that we are righteous in his sight. Nor do we show much difference with unbelievers in the way we suffer under the curse. To the human eye it looks like we are all alike under that condemnation.
Of course, God has made a tangible verdict. He raised Jesus from the dead.
So perhaps justification by faith is how you deal with the anomaly of a verdict unaccompanied by the striking a gavel. Jesus is trusted. His past verdict and vindication (justification) means there is now “no condemnation” for us who belong to him. Jesus is trusted. His promise to come and publicly exalt us, to “openly acknowledge and acquit” us, is firm and certain.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
What do you mean by “unaccompanied by the striking of a gavel?” And what do you mean by “promise to come and publicly exalt us?” This sounds suspiciously like putting all the weight on the eschatological aspect of justification, making it less definite in the here and now. This may be an NTW distinctive, but it is not Scriptural. God pronounces us “not guilty” at the time point of faith with the bang of the gavel that is every bit as final as Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead (Rom 4:24). It is *now* that we are completely freed from condemnation.
You heard a gavel? When?
Or do you believe that the gavel fell for your surety because he was raised.
Good question: Is “faith” an arbitrary means for receiving grace? If not, why not?
I’m unsure that pushing the forensic aspect is the way to go.
Not that you asked, but at this point, I think I’d say [1] that trust in someone is the ground for any intimate, personal relationship (with God, with another human, or with a pet), and [2] since life is the essence of the person of God, we can receive that life only when we “draw near” to God in an intimate, personal relationship with him. Hence, we receive life from God through trusting him.
This is all speculative, mind you, but there seem to be (at least) two aspects to the view that I like. First, there’s no possibility that faith becomes somehow “meritorious”: If I trust my friend, it’s because he is trustworthy. Placing my faith in a friend does not somehow make me deserve or merit the benefits of that relationship. Faith or trust is simply the ground of the relationship that allows me to enjoy the fruit of the relationship (which actually is the relationship itself — i.e., being able to hang out with the person).
Secondly, “faith” is not a unique way of receiving divine benefits. Faith is the ground of all intimate relationships — with God, with other humans, or with pets — and is a necessary to all intimate relationships. Hence, “faith” is not an arbitrary means of receiving the benefits of a relationship with God. (I might add that, as with a friend, the benfit of a relationship with God is the relationship itself. Life adheres to the person of God. It is not something “external” to God that we receive beyond that relationship.)
FWIW.
“What do you mean by ‘unaccompanied by the striking of a gavel?'”
No divine voice from heaven saying, “You are my son in whom I am well pleased.” Justification is decaritive but we hear no declaration.
“And what do you mean by ‘promise to come and publicly exalt us?'”
I mean his promise to openly declare that we are righteous before him. Faith becomes sight and hearing.
“This sounds suspiciously like putting all the weight on the eschatological aspect of justification, making it less definite in the here and now.”
I disagree that it sounds that way. Justification is definite–but it occurs without an audible/experienced declaration. The question is why is this so.
“This may be an NTW distinctive, but it is not Scriptural.”
It is distinctive of any number of Pauline scholars including Richard Gaffin.
“God pronounces us “not guilty” at the time point of faith with the bang of the gavel that is every bit as final as Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead (Rom 4:24). It is *now* that we are completely freed from condemnation.”
But that is not what I meant by the bang of a gavel. You are right. God’s vindication of Jesus is his verdict on all who belong to him from the moment they become His.
But there will be an audible big bang in the future, whereas all is silent right now. That is the other anchor point of our faith. That day of vindication is future, but it is no less certain than the past fact of Jesus’ own vindication.
Romans 6.16: “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” Just as present condemnation (to slavery to sin) leads to future condemnation so present righteousness (“the obedience of faith”) leads to future righteousness.
For what it is worth, I did not think I was saying anything controversial. Just helping people think through their Faith so it holds together in a nonarbitrary fashion.