Originally posted by Kenneth Roberson
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Why is justification linked to trust? In other words, why does justification mean God declares a person righteous because he believes God can be trusted?
Because this is how the writers of the New Testament understood the intent of the writers of the entire Bible.
Consider.
For what was Abraham tested?
For trust, that God would save Isaac, give his son back to him from the dead.
Hebrews 11:19</a>He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.
Why was Abraham's trust tested?
Because he had claimed he trusted God to always rescue.
Genesis 15:6</a>Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Because God told him that this was how His lost sheep would recognise His voice and return to Him.
Genesis 12:3I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you."
By telling him he would be a blessing to the world and then placing him in dangerous situations like putting him at risk in King Abhimelech's palace and then rescuing him. Abraham connected the two and realised that God's lost sheep would see him being rescued from danger, and understand that their inability to do good works, because these works put them in danger, could be solved by God's help, so they could not just do good works and help people physically, but also turn people to God, which helped people spiritually, and which was even better.
The Way
God created problems and ignorance in advance, so that in solving these situations His helping hand would be revealed.
Isaiah 45:77I form the light and create the darkness;
I bring prosperity and create calamity.
I, the LORD, do all these things.
I bring prosperity and create calamity.
I, the LORD, do all these things.
John 9:1</a>Now as Jesus was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth, 2and His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him.
3Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him.
He did this so that His sheep, lost because of the Fall, would find Him and return:
John 3:1</a>Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.”
Joshua 2:8</a>Before the spies lay down for the night, Rahab went up on the roof 9and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you. 10For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Seab before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites across the Jordan, whom you devoted to destruction.c 11When we heard this, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth below.
In summary, justification happens when God asks you if you trust Him to rescue you, when you attempt to attract the attention of people by attempting to do difficult things, like helping people or explaining difficult teachings, and you say you do trust this promise. Your justification is confirmed when you receive trust strengthening revelations:
1 Cor 10:1I</a> do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
Acts 19:1</a>While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interiora and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”
“No,” they answered, “we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3“Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked.
“The baptism of John,” they replied.
4Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
5On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
“No,” they answered, “we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3“Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked.
“The baptism of John,” they replied.
4Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
5On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Sanctification happens when God tests you to see if your trust is real and you pass the test. It is confirmed when you are able to do great works through God:
Numbers 14:24</a>But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he has entered, and his descendants will inherit it.
John 3:3</a>Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
John 5:30</a>"I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
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