Justification: Final and Irreversible

From the moment we first trusted in Christ, we were declared as perfectly righteous in the sight of God as Jesus Himself is. Today, Sinclair Ferguson marvels at the wonder of justification by faith alone.

Last week, we were talking on Things Unseen about the entire book of Romans, and this week, we’ve been thinking about only one verse, Romans 8:30.

Something very funny happened years ago, when several of the Ligonier Teaching Fellows were sitting around a table, recording a program. And right at the end, we were talking about how to read the Bible. And I used an illustration of how, when I was young, peppermints were the standard candy. And when I was given one, I tended to crunch it, so it was gone in a couple of minutes, whereas older people sucked them and could make them last for half an hour. And I wanted to make the point that we should meditate, suck slowly on verses of Scripture. And right at the end, I made this confident pronouncement, “So, when it comes to reading the Bible, we shouldn’t be crushers, we should be suckers.” And there was a kind of stunned silence among the Teaching Fellows. For a moment, I thought they were amazed at my insight and brilliant illustration, and then I realized what I’d said.

I’m not sure if the outburst of laughter was at the look of horrified realization on my face or at the fact I’d mistakenly thought I’d used a tremendous illustration. I hope my insight was edited well and truly out. And since the Teaching Fellows are my friends, they don’t constantly remind me of the occasion. It was a very funny moment. And since I was among friends, I think they’ve forgiven me. Now, I’m not going to use that terrible illustration ever again, but I mention it today because it is so terrible it might actually remind you of the point I was making so badly, that we do need to linger on the teaching of Scripture. And that’s actually what we’re doing this week—we’re sucking its theology. We’re like bees gathering nectar.

Paul is teaching us that we’re united to Christ in order to be transformed into His likeness. And for this to happen, it needs to begin in the Lord’s own plan and purposes in His predestination. And then, we need to be drawn into that plan by His effectual calling. By His Word and Spirit, we are awakened to faith in the Lord Jesus, so that now, in Christ, every spiritual blessing becomes ours. And right at the heart of these blessings is the one that Paul now mentions: “Those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified.”

Well, what does that mean? Well, it means a very great deal. So much so that Paul has spent several chapters out there in Romans explaining why we need justification, and we’ve thought of those chapters. And then he goes on to explain the amazing privileges it brings. Remember Romans 5:1: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” He goes on to speak about us rejoicing in the hope of glory, and rejoicing even in our sufferings, and rejoicing in God Himself.

I sometimes think that this section of Romans is like a suitcase a man’s wife has packed for him before he goes on a journey. And then, when he’s coming home, he tries to get everything that was in it back into it, and he realizes there seems to be more in this suitcase now than there was when I left home. And Romans 5:1–11 is like that—blessing upon blessing tumbles out of the suitcase of our justification.

But today, I want to emphasize this: Paul uses a completed tense, justified. He could have said, justifies: “Those He calls He justifies.” But by speaking of a completed action, He gives His words a wonderful sense of finality. It’s done, it’s complete, it’s final, and it’s irreversible. I think we need to linger on this because it’s an element in the gospel that feeds our assurance. The trial, the law court—it’s all passed. The verdict has been pronounced. There’s no double jeopardy. In Christ, the penalty for my sin has been paid. He took my guilt so that I might be counted righteous, justified in His righteousness.

Paul had said earlier, “Having been delivered up and put to death for our trespasses, Jesus was raised, resurrected for our justification.” His resurrection was God saying to Him: “You have paid the penalty for the sins that were not Yours, but theirs. The debt is cleared.” And now, the prison doors are flung open for Christ, and He emerges from the tomb, never to die again, and never needing to die again. He was once condemned; now He is forever, eternally, fully justified.

And here’s the wonderful, truly wonderful thing about the gospel: that when we believe into Jesus Christ, we too are fully and finally justified. From the moment you trusted in Christ, you were as justified as He now is—as completely, as permanently, as irreversibly, as eternally justified as the Savior because you’re justified with His righteousness, His justification. In fact, you may be the newest Christian listening to the podcast today, but you are as justified as the holiest saint in Christian history. You’re that if you became a Christian yesterday, and you’re that too if you became a Christian fifty years ago. That’s the sheer wonder, it’s the glory of being justified by faith. It’s ours now. It’s perfect, and it’s complete, because Jesus Christ has given you His righteousness. Isn’t the gospel absolutely amazing?