GEO. OFFOR.
JUSTIFICATION BY AN IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS
JUSTIFICATION is to be diversly taken in the Scripture. Sometimes it is taken for the justification of persons; sometimes for the justification of actions; and sometimes for the justification of the person and action too.
It is taken for the justification of persons, and that, as to justification with God; or, as to justification with men.
As to justification with God; that is, when a man stands clear, quit, free, or, in a saved condition before him, in the approbation of his holy law.
As to justification with men; that is, when a man stands clear and quit from just ground of reprehension with them.
Justification also is to be taken with reference to actions; and that may be when they are considered, as flowing from true faith; or, because the act done fulfils some transient law.[1]
As actions flow from faith, so they are justified, because done before God in, and made complete through, the perfections of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5; Heb 13:15; Rev 8:1-4).
As by the doing of the act some transient law is fulfilled; as when Jehu executed judgment upon the house of Ahab. 'Thou hast done well,' said God to him, 'in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart' (2 Kings 10:30). As to such acts, God may or may not look at the qualification of those that do them; and it is clear that he had not respect to any good that was in Jehu in the justifying of this action; nor could he; for Jehu stuck close yet to the sins of Jeroboam, but 'took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel' (2 Kings 10:29,31).
I might hence also show you that a man may be justified even then when his action is condemned; also that a man may be in a state of condemnation when his action may be justified. But with these distinctions I will not take up time, my intention being to treat of justification as it sets a man free or quit from sin, the curse and condemnation of the law in the sight of God, in order to eternal salvation.