Justification Unto Life & Regeneration VII

Proof Text #7

"But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness." (Rom. 4: 5)

Justifies The Ungodly

The term "ungodly" is never used to describe a believer or regenerated man. Once justified, the ungodly become the godly and evidence that justification by righteous works. In the bible an "ungodly" man is one who is not saved. He is one not righteous, not godly, either in law or in character. Get any concordance and look up the word "ungodly" and this will become apparent. 

Therefore, God justifies the ungodly means he justifies the unregenerate. He justifies the ungodly sinner who believes in Christ, who joins himself in heart and soul to Christ. Following faith union the ungodly are declared to be righteous by imputation and from that follows regeneration and sanctification. 

Wrote Robert Haldane in his commentary:

"Justifieth the ungodly. — If the expression, ‘to him that worketh not,’ needed any explanation, this term — the ungodly — would place its meaning beyond all doubt. The term ungodly is applied throughout the Scriptures to wicked men, Romans 5:6; 1 Timothy 1:9; 1 Peter 4:18; 2 Peter 2:5, 3:7; Jude 4, 15. Men are ungodly in themselves, though, as soon as they are justified, they cease to be ungodly. They are ungodly till they believe; but in the moment that they receive the gift of faith, they are thereby united to the Savior, and are instantly invested with the robe of righteousness, and also partake, according to the measure of their faith, of all those other graces that are received out of His fullness."

Well, to me, this is clearly what is meant by justifying the ungodly. But, if regeneration precedes justification, then God does not justify the ungodly, but the godly.

Haldane also wrote:

"It is true, as has been observed, that the moment a man is justified, he is godly; but the question is, if he be godly or ungodly in the moment which precedes his justification? If he be godly before, then the words of the Apostle are false; and the contrary, that God justifies the godly, would be true."

As men are not godly before they believe and are justified, so they are not regenerated before faith and justification.

Haldane also wrote:

 

"The assertion of the Apostle is, that God justifies the ungodly, which can have no other meaning than that men are ungodly in the moment that precedes their justification." 

Amen to that! Those Calvinists, therefore, who put regeneration before both faith and justification involve themselves into many logical difficulties and many oppositions to the teaching of the apostles. 

I will offer one more affirmative argument before I end my affirmative arguments for the proposition that justification logically precedes regeneration and sanctification. Following that post I will look at those "logical difficulties" that confront those who put regeneration before justification and faith. I will also look at some of the arguments used by these Calvinists to support their view that regeneration precedes justification. I will also look at what leading Calvinists and the Reformers said upon the subject (I have already done this to a great degree but will expand it). 

"Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things." (II Tim. 2: 7 nkjv)