The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Justification and the Effectual Call

Again, I have to disagree. The "effectual call" consists of:

1. Outward, general call; e.g., preaching of the gospel
2. Inward call: regeneration and drawing to Christ by virtue of the new nature created by the Spirit

It is God Himself Who "applies" justification, i.e., makes a legal pronouncement declaring the believer, at the moment faith reaches out to Christ, is righteous. Justification follows faith. And faith follows the effectual call.

Whoa!! Perhaps part of the problem here is terminology. You appear to be using "effectual call" in a very broad, encompassing sense which includes conversion; i.e., regeneration, repentance and believing on Christ. IF that is the case, then I can understand, at least in part, how you would be wanting to say that "the effectual call applies justification". But nevertheless, it isn't the "effectual call" itself that applies justification, but God Who imputes the righteousness of Christ to the sinner at the moment he/she believes. And the believing always occurs, in the case of adults, immediately after regeneration.

Methinks you have not understood what is entailed in this ordo solutis, specifically in regard to what transpires between the "and whom he called, them he also justified:" The "calling" is to faith in Christ. And those who believe on Christ, "them he also justified". The biblical record concerning Abraham fully supports this:

Romans 4:3-5 "For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness."

Galatians 3:6-9 "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. Know therefore that they that are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, [saying,] In thee shall all the nations be blessed. So then they that are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham."

In is an incontrovertible fact, according to the text, that justification FOLLOWS faith. The merits of Christ's atoning work is IMPUTED/RECKONED to the one who believes in time.

Can you provide scriptural support for this view of yours? It seems you have opted to embrace only half of the biblical teaching re: sanctification. There are two elements of sanctification: 1) Definitive, and 2) Progressive.

It isn't a matter of becoming more sanctified in Christ, but rather becoming more sanctified to be holy as God/Christ is holy. (cf. 1Pet 1:15, 16; 2:1-3; Eph 4:20-24; Jam 1:21; Rom 6; et al)

[color:"purple"]Definitive Sanctification:[/color]
º Definitive Sanctification by John Murray

[color:"purple"]Progressive Sanctification:[/color]
º Sanctification by B.B. Warfield
º The Necessity of Progress by John Angell James

I will make a concerted effort to read that article by Crisp, D.v.

In His Grace,