JUSTIFICATION: A NEW COVENANT BLESSING 1

1 justification : A NEW COVENANT BLESSING1 ZANE C. HODGESI. INTRODUCTIONIn a previous article, it was shown that the prophecy in Jeremiah 31 about the New COVENANT involved a promise of This article will consider the question of whether it also entailed a guarantee of LWUVKsECVKQP. After all, as seen in VJG RTGXKQWU CTVKENG 2 CWN EQPUKFGTGF JKOUGNH C OKPKUVGT QH VJG New COVENANT . Again, I quote his words in 2 Cor 3:5-6:0QV VJCV YG CTG UWHsEKGPV QH QWTUGNXGU VQ VJKPM QH CP[-VJKPI CU DGKPI HTQO QWTUGNXGU DWV QWT UWHsEKGPE[ KU HTQO )QF YJQ CNUQ OCFG WU UWHsEKGPV CU OKPKUVGTU QH VJG PGY EQXGPCPV PQV QH VJG NGVVGT DWV QH VJG 5 RKTKV HQT the letter kills, but the Spirit gives EQWTUG VJG FQEVTKPG QH LWUVKsECVKQP D[ HCKVJ YCU C ETWEKCN RCTV QH VJG 2 CWNKPG IQURGN 6JG SWGUVKQP DGKPI TCKUGF KU VJKU &KF 2 CWN VJKPM QH LWUVKsECVKQP D[ HCKVJ CU C DGPGsV KPENWFGF KP VJG promises made in the New COVENANT ?]]]]

2 The solution to this question is not quite as obvious as the issue discussed in the previous article. It is plain that the New COVENANT anticipated regeneration, but did it also anticipate LWUVKsECVKQP!II. FORGIVENESS UNDER THE NEW COVENANTT here is no question that forgiveness is one of the New %QXGPCPV DGPGsVU (QT VJKU YG JCXG VJG CWVJQTKV[ QH VJG DQQM QH Hebrews. Let me quote the words of Heb 10:15-18:#PF VJG *QN[ 5 RKTKV CNUQ YKVPGUUGU VQ WU HQT CHVGT *G had said before, This is the COVENANT that I will make 1 This article appeared in the Autumn 2006 issue of See the preceding article in this of the grace evangelical Society100 Spring 09with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write VJGO VJGP *G CFFU 6 JGKT UKPU CPF NCYNGUU FGGFU + YKNN TGOGODGT PQ OQTG 0QY YJGTG VJGTG KU TGOKUUKQP of these, there is no longer an offering for last words of this quotation are not from Jeremiah but are the words of the writer of Hebrews.)]]

3 Notice his comment, Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering HQT UKP 6JG YQTF remission here, of course, is the Greek noun aphesis which is the standard NT noun for the author of Hebrews understands the New COVENANT YQTFU VJGKT UKPU CPF NCYNGUU FGGFU + YKNN TGOGODGT PQ OQTG as guaranteeing the forgiveness of FORGIVENESS AND justification COMPARED(QT CP[QPG YJQ UGGU PQ FKUVKPEVKQP DGVYGGP LWUVKsECVKQP CPF the forgiveness of sins, then the problem being discussed is already solved. If they are interchangeable terms, then when one is promised so is the other.*QYGXGT VJGTG KU C ETKVKECN FKHsEWNV[ YKVJ VJKU CRRTQCEJ 6JG KFGPVKsECVKQP QH HQTIKXGPGUU YKVJ LWUVKsECVKQP KU KPXCNKF + FQ not believe that the NT offers any evidence that they should be equated, as though they were interchangeable terms.)]]

4 In fact, in Acts 13, they seem to be distinguished.+P VJCV EJCRVGT KP 2 CWN U URGGEJ KP VJG U[PCIQIWG QH #PVKQEJ QH 2 KUKFKC 2 CWN URGCMU VJGUG YQTFU KP XX Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness QH UKPU CPF D[ *KO GXGT[QPG YJQ DGNKGXGU KU LWUVKsGF HTQO CNN VJKPIU HTQO YJKEJ [QW EQWNF PQV DG LWUVKsGF by the law of the word CPF 2 CWN ENGCTN[ CRRGCTU VQ FKUVKPIWKUJ VJG VYQ DGPGsVU 6Q RCTCRJTCUG JKU YQTFU *G UGGOU VQ DG UC[KPI I am preaching forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ, CPF GXGT[ DGNKGXGT KP *KO KU CNUQ LWUVKsGF 6 JGTG KU PQ UWIIGUVKQP QH equivalence forestall a question, I am aware that the CPF is not found in the critical editions of the Greek NT.]]]]]]]

5 Of course, it is found in the ,WUVKsECVKQP # 0GY %QXGPCPV $NGUUKPI101/CLQTKV[ 6 GZV $WV VJG CDUGPEG QH VJG CPF in no way invalidates my argument. Instead it results in two separate sentences. This is illustrated by the NIV translation of these verses as follows:Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to [QW 6 JTQWIJ JKO GXGT[QPG YJQ DGNKGXGU KU LWUVKsGF HTQO GXGT[VJKPI [QW EQWNF PQV DG LWUVKsGF HTQO D[ VJG law of under this translation, we have no real grounds for GSWCVKPI VJGUG VYQ DGPGsVU QH HCKVJ KP %JTKUV #U C OCVVGT QH HCEV the conclusion that they are distinct is strengthened by the fact VJCV 2 CWN CPF 2 GVGT CTG RCTCNNGNGF KP VJG PCTTCVKXG QH VJG DQQM QH #EVU #U HCT CU + MPQY VJKU.]]]]]]

6 WECP VGEJPKSWG YCU sTUV PQVKEGF CU HCT DCEM CU VJG YQTM QH 4 $ 4 CEMJCO KP VJG GCTN[ U +P VJG .WECP RCTCNNGNU QDUGTXGF D[ 4 CEMJCO 2 GVGT U RTGOKGT URGGEJ KP #EVU JCU KVU EQWPVGTRCTV KP 2 CWN U RTGOKGT URGGEJ KP #EVU 13:16-41. Close study of the two speeches reveals both similari-ties and differences.$QVJ URGGEJGU JCXG KP EQOOQP CP QHHGT QH VJG HQTIKXGPGUU QH UKPU CPF $WV QPN[ VJG 2 CWNKPG URGGEJ EQPVCKPU C TGHGTGPEG VQ LWUVKsECVKQP D[ HCKVJ +H CP[QPG VJKPMU VJKU KU CEEK-FGPVCN + JCXG C DTKFIG KP $TQQMN[P + F NKMG VQ UGNN [QW 1 DXKQWUN[ .WMG YCU YGNN CYCTG QH 2 CWN U FGGR KPVGTGUV KP VJKU FQEVTKPG YJGTGCU 2 GVGT PGXGT OGPVKQPU KV KP #EVU QT KP JKU VYQ GRKUVNGU 6 JWU KP VJG DQQM QH #EVU VJG QPN[ TGHGTGPEG VQ LWUVKsECVKQP KU TKIJV JGTG CPF KV KU QP VJG NKRU QH 2 CWN 6 JCV KU DQVJ JKU-torically and psychologically EQWTUG VJKU KU PQV VQ UC[ VJCV 2 GVGT FKF PQV MPQY VJG FQE-trine.]]]]]]]]]]

7 That would be absurd. Rather, Luke s assignment of this FQEVTKPG VQ 2 CWN U OQWVJ DWV PQV 2 GVGT U TGKPHQTEGU VJG KPHGTGPEG that has already been made. Luke knew that this doctrine was RTQHQWPFN[ KORQTVCPV HQT 2 CWN CPF .WMG MPGY KV YCU PQV KFGPVK-cal with the doctrine of the forgiveness of then is the difference between these doctrines? This can be stated very simply. Forgiveness is an interpersonal issue. In ordinary life it deals with relationships between people. In religious matters, it deals with man s personal relationship with )QF $[ EQPVTCUV LWUVKsECVKQP KP 2 CWNKPG VJQWIJV KU C LWFKEKCN issue. According to 6JG #OGTKECP *GTKVCIG &KEVKQPCT[ there are journal of the grace evangelical Society102 Spring 09 HQWT HWPFCOGPVCN FGsPKVKQPU HQT VJG YQTF LWFKEKCN RNWU C VJGQ-NQIKECN FGsPKVKQP 1.]]]

8 Of, pertaining to, or proper to courts of law or the adminis-tration of Decreed by or proceeding from a court of $GNQPIKPI QT CRRTQRTKCVG VQ VJG QHsEG QH C LWFIG 4. Characterized by, or expressing Theol 2 TQEGGFKPI HTQO C FKXKPG LWFIOGPV 3+V UGGOU VQ OG VJCV VJG 2 CWNKPG EQPEGRV QH LWUVKsECVKQP KU LWFK-EKCN KP CNN QH VJGUG UGPUGU (QT 2 CWN KV KU DCUKECNN[ C VGTO TGNCVGF VQ the courtroom, and the act of justifying someone is the function of a Judge (that is, of God) and expresses a divine pronouncement, or judgment, about the believer in Jesus Christ. That judgment is that the Judge recognizes no charge at all against the conception appears very clearly in Rom 8:33-34a: Who UJCNN DTKPI C EJCTIG CICKPUV )QF U GNGEV!]

9 +V KU )QF YJQ LWUVKsGU 9JQ KU JG YJQ EQPFGOPU! +P LWUVKsECVKQP VJGTGHQTG )QF RTQ-nounces the believer perfectly righteous and, as a consequence, he is beyond any and every charge before God s Judgment summarize, forgiveness removes the personal barrier of UKP DGVYGGP )QF CPF VJG DGNKGXGT ,WUVKsECVKQP HTGGU VJG DGNKGXGT HTQO CNN CEEQWPVCDKNKV[ KP VJG sPCN LWFIOGPV As we all know, there is a myth abroad that holds that every JWOCP DGKPI YKNN UVCPF DGHQTG )QF KP VJG sPCN LWFIOGPV +V KU C O[VJ VJCV UVKNN CRRGCTU KP EQOOGPVCTKGU $WV KV KU C sEVKQP UKPEG it contradicts the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here are *KU YQTFU KP C OQTG CEEWTCVG HQTO VJCP YJCV YG sPF KP QWT 'PINKUJ $KDNGU John 5:24: Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has ever-lasting life, and does not come into judgment, but is passed from death into 3:17-18: For God did not send His Son into the world VQ LWFIG the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.]]

10 He who believes in Him is not LWFIGF DWV JG YJQ FQGU PQV DGNKGXG JCU CNTGCF[ DGGP LWFIGF, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of Dell VJ GFKVKQP (June 26, 2001).,WUVKsECVKQP # 0GY %QXGPCPV $NGUUKPI103(TQO VJGUG UVCVGOGPVU KV KU ENGCT VJCV sPCN LWFIOGPV RGTVCKPU only to the unregenerate. From Revelation we learn that the TGIGPGTCVG JCXG CNTGCF[ DGGP TCKUGF CPF INQTKsGF C VJQWUCPF [GCTU DGHQTG VJG sPCN LWFIOGPV CV VJG )TGCV 9 JKVG 6 JTQPG 5 QOGQPG OC[ UC[ JQYGXGT $WV VJG UCXGF CTG LWFIGF CV VJG ,WFIOGPV 5 GCV QH %JTKUV +P C UGPUG [GU *QYGXGT KV KU KPVGTGUV-KPI VJCV 2 CWN PGXGT WUGU VJG )TGGM YQTF krisis for that event. 6JG VGTO VTCPUNCVGF LWFIOGPV UGCV KU VJG )TGGM YQTF bema.]]]]]]