In the sermon titled 'SLBC 1689 chap. 11 para. 5 Of Justification,' Eric Bechler discusses the doctrine of justification, emphasizing that while believers are justified through the imputed righteousness of Christ, this does not mean they will cease to sin. Justification is a permanent state that cannot be lost, even though sin can result in God's fatherly displeasure. The sermon explains that believers must continually confess and repent for their sins, drawing on biblical examples such as David's sin and repentance in 2 Samuel and Psalm 51. The distinction between monergism and synergism is also explored, with the sermon advocating a monergistic view where God alone is responsible for salvation. Justification is described as a forensic act by God, irrevocable and based solely on Christ's merit, ensuring eternal security for the believer. Believers are encouraged to respond to their own and others' sins with grace and forgiveness, reflecting the love of Christ.

A reading from the Second London Baptist Confession today comes from Chapter 11 of Justification, paragraph 5. God does continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified, and although they can never fall from the state of justification, yet they may by their sins fall under God's fatherly displeasure. And in that condition they have not usually the light of His countenance restored unto them until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance." We continue in our study of the doctrine of justification today. We've looked at the imputation of Christ's righteousness, faith being the sole instrument of our justification, and Christ's substitutionary atonements discharging our sin debt. Last week we looked at the timing of our justification that it is in time following faith in Christ rather than from eternity or the cross.

Today we focus on two points primarily. First, our justification doesn't mean that we will not sin anymore. We still have a sin nature. And second, once we are justified, we cannot fall from that state of justification, even if our sins cause us to be in God's fatherly displeasure. So first, we are declared justified by the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, not by any merit of our own, but solely on the merit of Christ's righteousness.

Being justified, though, does not mean we will never sin again. The reality is that we still have a sin nature. We will still be able to sin until we are glorified. John Owen says, indwelling sin continues to live in believers in some measure and degree while we are in this world. There is a remaining darkness to be gradually removed.

We have a body of death from which we are not delivered, but by the death of our bodies. John in his first epistle tells us if we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1, 8 and 9. He's speaking to believers in this letter.

Even though we've been saved, we still sin. If we are all honest with ourselves, I think we can all agree to that, that we sin pretty regularly, if not constantly. David gives us another example. David, a man after God's own heart, sinned. Nathan confronts him, you have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword.

You've taken his wife to be your wife, 2 Samuel 12, 9. How did David respond? He confessed to Nathan in 2 Samuel 12, 13. I have sinned against the Lord. Also in that passage there are punishments or chastisements placed on David for his great sin in verses 11 through 14.

In fact, we can find a detailed record of David's responses in Psalm 51, which I think we're all familiar with. In verse 1 and 2, David cries out to God for mercy, to wash, to wash him, to cleanse him from his sin. In verses 3 and 4, David confesses what he has done. For I acknowledge my transgressions against you. You only have I sinned and done this evil in your sight." And again in verse 7 and 9 through 9 David begs for pardon and restoration, purge me, wash me, make me hear joy and gladness, blot out all my iniquities.

And in verses 10 through 12, we read and feel the depths of David's emotion. Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me by thy gracious Spirit." It's a beautiful psalm and it lays out how each of us should respond when we sin. It's a good pattern for us to follow in our own prayers.

Well sin is gonna happen. We are still all sinners here. We will all face chastisements from God. But how do you respond? Do you say, that's not a big deal, and ignore it or overlook it and move on with your life?

Or do you recognize that your sin is really against God, against a perfectly holy and infinite God. John in writing to the lukewarm church in Revelation 3 19 tells us, as many as I love I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous therefore and repent." Barnes explains, the meaning is that it is a proof of love on his part if his professed friends go astray to recall them by admonitions and by trials. So a father calls back his children who are disobedient and there is no higher proof of his love than when with great pain to himself he administers such chastisement as shall save his child. Furthermore, be earnest, strenuous, ardent in your purpose to exercise true repentance and to turn from the error of your ways.

Lose no time, spare no labor that you may obtain such a state of mind that it shall not be necessary to bring upon you the severe discipline which always comes on those who continue lukewarm in their religion. We must as quickly as possible seek God's mercy and confess our sins, repent and ask for forgiveness. We must do this for the big sins. We must do this for the littlest, the smallest of our sins, those sins that no one notice or cares about. So that's the first point, that even when we've been declared just, we still sin.

We will live our entire lives being sanctified, dying daily to the old man, our sinful nature, and each day striving to be more and more like Christ. It is only when we die and are glorified that we will sin no more. To the second point, once we are justified we cannot fall from that state of justification, even if our sin causes us to be in God's fatherly displeasure. This is one answer to the question, is our justification permanent or conditional? From the conditional perspective, justification is an ongoing process of grace that can be lost through specific sins and regained through penance and sacraments.

There is also belief that individuals hold the capacity to reject God and to renounce their faith after having initially accepting it, thus losing their justification. There are also a number of scripture passages referred to for this position. Hebrews 6, 4 through 6, people have been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gifts shared in the Holy Spirit and then fallen away. Hebrews 10, 26-29, for if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins but certain fearful expectations of judgment and fiery indignation, which will devour adversaries. Other verses, John 15, 1 through 6, branches being cut off that don't bear fruit, 1 Timothy 1, 19 through 20, Romans 11, 19 through 22, and many others.

Conditional justification, though, is dependent on human will or human decision. The main difference here centers on the distinction between monergism, which is God alone's saving, and synergism, where God saves with human cooperation. Reform theology holds that justification is a forensic, judicial act by God, meaning it is a final legal verdict of not guilty rather than a state that changes daily. It is a one-time, can't-be-reversed, annulled or dissolved legal act of God and of God alone. Because our justification is based on Christ's righteousness imputed to us, not based on anything of ourselves, our future actions, whether sinful or good, have no effect on what Christ has done.

Furthermore, if we said a believer could lose his justification due to subsequent sins, it would imply that those sins were not paid for, that the supposed finished work of Christ was not actually finished at all. God forbid. Paul tells us in Romans 8, 29 through 30 that those whom he has justified, he has glorified. It doesn't say most of or some of. From John 10, 27 through 29, Jesus tells us, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. Our justification is secure. No one has the power to take us from Jesus's hands nor undo what he has done. Again Paul tells us, I am sure of this, that he who begins a good work in you will bring it to its completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1.6.

Dr. Sproul emphasizes here, salvation is initiated, sustained, and finished by God. God is not an unskillful builder who abandons his project halfway through. If he begins the work of faith and justification, he guarantees its final completion. So in conclusion, our justification doesn't mean we will not sin anymore.

God continues to forgive the sins of those who are justified. And although we can find ourselves in chastisement or in God's fatherly displeasure, we cannot fall from that state of justification. Before I close, what does this mean to us? I think this is a very encouraging paragraph. Think about your worst day.

Your deepest sins, your greatest failures can't undo what Christ has done on the cross. You don't have to try to gain or earn God's approval. His verdict of not guilty stands forever. Think about again your sins over a lifetime, the big ones, the little ones, the secret ones. You owe a massive debt.

I owe a massive debt to God. If you are a believer, God has forgiven you and you will never be able to pay that back. Christ paid that debt for your sins, for you. Think about all that God has done for you as you interact with other people, family, friends, even strangers. Try not to be bitter, judgmental to others.

We find that we're very quick to judge or condemn or even think poorly of others. It happens so quick. And that's our challenge, to be willing to forgive, to be willing to show grace, to be willing to show compassion and mercy, and to be willing to love like Christ first loved us. Amen. In.