Maybe this doesn’t count as yelling at my windshield, because I would like to respond to something from the Westminster conference that was reported in Christian Renewal. That means my windshield wasn’t anywhere near when I read this.
Dr. Hywel Jones was reported as saying this: “Justification is the realization that one is pardoned of all sin, accepted by God without works of any kind, and this motivates and supports one in doing the will of God as nothing else does.”
This is not the only difference between us and our, um, discussion partners, but it is a significant one. Notice what Dr. Jones is saying here — “Justification is the realization that one is pardoned . . .” Emphasis is mine.
In contrast, we believe that justification is the grace of God on our behalf through the obedience of Jesus Christ alone. That obedience is ours through our union with Christ, and consequently all that Jesus ever believed and did is reckoned to our account.
Our discussion partners apparently think that justification is a process within us that includes believing the right things about justification. Notice again. “Justification is the realization . . .”
Now is this an imputed realization or an infused realization?
If I may, allow me to edit Dr. Jones’ statement back into orthodoxy. “Justification is the pardon of all sin, in which we are accepted by God without works or realizations of any kind, and this motivates and supports one in doing the will of God as nothing else does.”