Romans
8:30 Those
whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified,
and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Justifying faith provides us
forgiveness of our sins, acceptance by the Father and brings spiritual growth
and healing in the life of the believer.
Justification
is similar to the case of a sick man who believes the doctor who promises him a
sure recovery and in the meantime obeys the doctor’s order in the hope of the
promised recovery (from his sinful tendencies). He abstains from those things
which have been forbidden him by the doctor, so that he may in no way hinder
the promised return to health or increase his sickness until the doctor can
fulfill his promise to him.
Now, is this sick man well? The
fact is that he is both sick and well. He is sick in fact but he is well (regarded
as righteous) because of the sure promise of the doctor, whom he trusts and who
has reckoned him as already cured, because he is sure that he will cure him.
In the same way Christ, our
Samaritan, has brought his half-dead man into the inn to be cared for, and He
has begun to heal him, having promised him the most complete cure unto eternal
life, and He does not impute his sins, that is, his wicked desires, unto death,
but in the meantime in the hope of the promised recovery He prohibits him from
doing or omitting things by which his cure might be impeded.
Now is he perfectly
righteous? No, for he is at the same time both a sinner and a righteous man; a
sinner in fact, but a righteous man by the sure imputation and promise of God
that He will continue to deliver him from sin until he has completely cured
him. And he is entirely healthy in hope, but in fact still a sinner.
But now if this sick man
should like his sickness and refuses every cure for his disease, will he not
die? Certainly, for thus it is with those who follow their lusts in this world. (Luther’s Works)
It is faith in the doctor’s promise
of a full cure which motivates the patient to obey the health regimen. The
obedience of faith brings us forgiveness and healing. Such is the nature of
saving faith in our Lord Jesus.
