Justification is one of those spiritual blessings wherewith the elect are blessed in Christ according to election-grace, before the foundation of the world, #Eph 1:3,4. That justification is a spiritual blessing none will deny; and if the elect were blessed with all spiritual blessings, then with this; and if thus blessed according to election, or when elected, then before the foundation of the world: and this grace of justification must be no small part of that “grace which was given in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world was”, #2Ti 1:9. We may say, says Dr. Goodwin {14}, of all spiritual blessings in Christ, what is said of Christ, that his goings forth are from everlasting–in Christ we were blessed with all spiritual blessings, #Eph 1:3 as we are blessed with all other, so with this also, that we were justified then in Christ!
Dr. John Gill
18th Century Baptist Theologian
I Timothy 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began
Grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. Understand that St. Paul is saying that before the elect took on flesh and blood the elect were given grace in Christ Jesus, the Elect One. Someone please tell me how it is the case that it is a stretch, based on this passage alone, to embrace eternal Justification. What — we were given a grace before time began that did not include the grace of Justification? What kind of given grace doesn’t include Justification?
Look, if you want your Justification time bound, I’m not going to hiss at you. I mean, I think that it is inconsistent but I’m not going to cast you outside the circle of faith. Can you make that kind of space for those of us who want to be consistent in our Reformed theology?
