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Joe k said:
Faith is never the cause of God justifying a person. Regardless what any creed or confession says, it is wrong. God gives faith because we are justified by Him and the imputed righteousness of Christ. Then it does become our faith, and we believe. But the Elect, who have been given to Christ in eternity Have eternally been justified in Christ.
NO ONE here has said that "faith is the cause of God justifying a person"!! Be advised, the ground here is not conducive to planting strawmen. The Scriptures, men throughout history who have held to its truth and the majority of us here, particular those of us who have been willing to engage you in this thread hold tenaciously to "Sola Fide". If you don't know what that means, then you should spend some quality time reading through the various articles found here: Sola Fide - The Doctrine of Justification. Faith is the "vehicle" by which a sinner apprehends Christ whose righteousness is then imputed to him. Here it is again from the inspired record:


Romans 3:28 "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

Romans 4:9-12 "Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say, To Abraham his faith was reckoned for righteousness. How then was it reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision: and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision; that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be reckoned unto them; and the father of circumcision to them who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had in uncircumcision."

Romans 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"

Galatians 3:6 "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness."

Galatians 3:24 "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."


Secondly, you have yet to provide even one solitary passage which would teach that sinners are justified in eternity and more, that this nullifies all the passages and many more that clearly show that justification is apprehended by and at the time of one's believing upon Christ. Can you present a case from Scripture in your defense?

In His Grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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