The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Justification - A Process?

My pastor provided me with an excellent work on Justification by John Owen, who goes on to explain how Rome has confused Justification with Sanctification, and has put the cart before the horse by using the two important Biblical concepts interchangablely and greatly confusing and confounding in the process.

It is now clear ot me that Paul does not use the example of Romans 4:3 to explain how justification is works/ability oriented or part of a process - Paul uses this example to prove that Justification is an unmerited declaration of Righteousness - a gift of faith wrought in the children of God. Man does not just decide to have faith. Faith is a gift, one that we do not naturally possess but is ignited in us by the spirit of God!