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Chosen no: R-657 b, from: 1884 Year. |
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Questions And Answers.
Question. Please harmonize if you can Prov. 17:15with Rom. 4:5. The first reads: "He that justifieth the wicked and he that
condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord." The
second is: "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that
justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
Answer. Strictly
speaking, no man can justify another, i.e., to make or truthfully
pronounce him conformable to God's law. Yet it is quite a common thing for men
to pronounce that right which is wrong, and thus they attempt to justify evil
and evil doers. And the same disposition which leads them to do this, leads
them also to condemn the just. Because they prefer evil, they attempt to
deceive themselves and others into the idea that wrong is right and right is
wrong. This is an
abomination to the Lord.
But while God condemns man's attempt to thus
justify the wicked, the second text shows that he can and does justify the
wicked. How? Certainly not in the same way he has just condemned --by excusing
wickedness, or attempting to make it appear right, and remitting the penalty
which he had justly pronounced against it. No, but God devised a way by which
he could be just, and yet the justifier of sinners who believe in Jesus (Rom. 3:26), viz.: By giving his only begotten Son
who "for the joy set before him," became our willing substitute. Our
sins having been laid upon or imputed to him (Isa.
53:6) if we believe on him, his righteousness will be imputed to us;
and thus we are justified. Sin having been cancelled by the Redeemer, the
sinner will in due time be made actually perfect.
Question. Was the prize of the high calling ever presented as an incentive to entire
consecration? Is it not rather a spiritual truth revealed to the newly begotten
creature--a truth which the natural man cannot receive?
Answer. We so
regard it. Paul urges consecration to God on account of the mercies of God as
displayed in their justification (Rom. 12:1).
When the natural man out of gratitude and love surrenders his whole being to
God, he does not understand that the will of God is the complete surrender of
his humanity, nor does he understand how the new creature develops into his
Lord's likeness. Truth relative to his high calling is unfolded to him by
degrees.
W.T. R-657b : page 8 - 1884r.
