Justified when we believe
Rev. Martyn McGeown explains the doctrine of justification by faith alone, emphasizing the theological distinctions necessary to properly understand how God justifies believers in eternity, at the cross, and in time through the application of Christ's righteousness. McGeown grounds his exposition in Scripture, particularly Acts 13:38-39, demonstrating that believers are justified by faith in the present tense when they believe in Christ.
A good theologian must "rightly [divide] the word of truth" (II Tim. 2:15), that is, make proper distinctions. The word translated "rightly dividing" means to cut straight. In our consideration of justification, we make distinctions. It is tempting not to do this or to be suspicious of those who do so. Nevertheless, theology without distinctions is impossible. One of the distinctions that theologians have made is between justification in eternity and justification in time. Sometimes that...
Full article available on sb.rfpa.org