Why Justification Means so Little to Us

"We all are all wrong with him [God] because we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Far too frequently we fail to entertain  the gravity of this fact. Hence the reality of our sin and the reality of the wrath of God upon us for our sin do not come into our reckoning. This is the reason why the grand article of justification does not ring the bells in the innermost depths of our spirits. And this is the reason why the gospel of justification is to such an extent a meaningless sound in the world and in the church in the twentieth century. We are not imbued with the profound sense of the reality of God, of his majesty and holiness. And sin, if reckoned with at all, is little more than a misfortune or maladjustment." (John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied, p. 117)

Christ is a Complete Savior: John Murray on Justification and Sanctification

"It is an old and time-worn objection that this doctrine [justification] ministers to licence and looseness. Only those who know not the power of the gospel will plead such misconception. Justification is by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone. Justification is not all that is embraced in the gospel of redeeming grace. Christ is a complete Savior and it is not justification alone that the believing sinner possesses in him. And faith is not the only response in the heart of him who has entrusted Christ for salvation. Faith alone justifies but a justified person with faith alone would be a monstrosity which never exists in the kingdom of grace. Faith works itself out through love (cf. Gal. 5:6). And faith without works is dead (cf. James 2:17-20). It is living faith that justifies and it is living faith unites to Christ both in virtue of his death and in the power of his resurrection. No one has entrusted himself to Christ for deliverance from the guilt of sin who has not also entrusted himself to him for deliverance from the power of sin." (John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied, p. 131)

Book Review: By Faith, Not By Sight

By Faith, Not by Sight: Paul and the Order of Salvation by Richard B. Jr. Gaffin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoy reading Gaffin. His Resurrection and Redemption was excellent. This book is very good as well. He packs a lot into a few pages. He is careful to avoid the either/or idea when it should be both/and. His exegesis is strong and careful. This book revolves to a large degree around II Corinthians 4:16 and what that implies for the anthropology of a regenerate man. He has a great discussion of sanctification, as well as future justification. He avoids the errors of the New Perspective, while still opening up new avenues of thinking. His point about us already being resurrected and our bodies catching up at the end of time was paradigm shifting for me.

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