The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 70-14, titled "Questions and Answers--Part 42."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. Copyright 1993 by John MacArthur Jr., All Rights Reserved.

Question

Between Ephesians 2:8-9, and between those verses and verse10, something happens after salvation, and it’s denoted by the word “created.” “God creates us unto good works.” And in Ephesians 4:24 we are told to “put on the new man created in holiness and righteousness.” So, God creates righteousness in man, so couldn’t we say, that at times, when we’re walking in the Spirit, and not fulfilling the lust of the flesh, the Christian becomes innately righteous, not just inputted righteousness?

Answer

Yes. Yes, that’s a very important question. What he is asking is, at the time of conversion is there only a forensic righteousness, or an inputted righteousness, or a declared righteousness, which by the way what justified means? To be justified means to be declared righteous. That is to say God looks at me and says, “Well the fact, the reality is, you’re not righteous. But, I impute to you the righteousness of Christ. And therefore clothing you, as Isaiah puts it, in the robe of righteousness, I now see you as righteous, because your unrighteousness is covered by Christ.” That’s a declaration, that’s what justification means.

But justification cannot be separated from sanctification. You are declared righteous in justification, and then the process of making you righteous begins to function. You have put on Christ and, and yet you must put on Christ. We used to say, “Its becoming what you are.” You are righteous in Christ, now act like it.

I think that is what sanctification is. I think that, that process begins at salvation. You are created unto good works. There is a life principle in you that produces those good works. And you have the ability in your fallen nature to resist that effort on God’s part. And that’s why there are commands in the New Testament for you to line up with the power of the spirit and let him work that through you.

But I am convinced clearly in Scripture that there is not just a declared righteousness, not just a forensic righteousness, but a real righteousness that is wrought in the heart of a believer. There are a number of reasons for that; textually you can see frequently that salvation is even referred by the word sanctified, that means is to be set apart from sin. You are not only declared righteous, you are set apart from sin, so both those realities go together. I just finished writing a new book called, Faith Works, and it is the sequel to the Gospel according to Jesus called, “Faith Works.” “Faith” a noun, “Works” a verb. “Faith” is a working faith, that’s Ephesians 2:8, 9 and 10. It will be out in the middle of February, and it takes this whole issue of justification and sanctification and deals with it through all of the epistles in the New Testament.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
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