Evangelical Gospel
Justification is exclusively declarative, and not transformative – This is the belief that justifying righteousness only declares a believer righteous, as distinct from actually making him righteous.
Biblical Gospel
“God’s forgiveness is not merely a judicial act by which He sets us free from condemnation. It is not only forgiveness for sin, but reclaiming from sin. It is the outflow of redeeming love that transforms the heart. David had the true conception of forgiveness when he prayed, ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.’ Psalm 51:10”
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 114 E.G.W.
Justification is exclusively declarative, and not transformative – This is the belief that justifying righteousness only declares a believer righteous, as distinct from actually making him righteous.
“God’s forgiveness is not merely a judicial act by which He sets us free from condemnation. It is not only forgiveness for sin, but reclaiming from sin. It is the outflow of redeeming love that transforms the heart. David had the true conception of forgiveness when he prayed, ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.’ Psalm 51:10”
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 114 E.G.W.
Forgiveness, or pardon, is defined by Ellen White as the same as justification. She writes, “Pardon and justification are one and the same thing”. The above statements mean that justification can never be limited to a mere declaration. It is both a declaration and a transforming process.
Dennis and Matthew Priebe