John Gill wrote in his masterpiece, a Body of Doctrinal Divinity, that "God's will to elect, is the election of his people, so his will to justify them, is the justification of them;" (John Gill, A Body of Doctrinal Divinity, Book II, Chapter V, Section II.)

     God's word is so powerful that whatever He declares, it's accomplished the moment He says it. He has no need to wait for the results. We, being temporal creatures, must wait for things to be accomplished when we set our mind to something. If we decide to do something, we must allocate time to our endeavors and wait for the results. But God, being the Eternal Almighty has no need to wait for things to be accomplished in time. He created time and sees it all at once. There is not a moment in time that escapes His constant scrutiny - past, present, or future! And if He has decreed to Justify His elect by the blood of Christ, then He needs not wait as an observer for things to be accomplished in time.

     Christ is said to be the lamb slain before the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8). Now do I believe that Christ was "physically" slain in eternity? Absolutely not. Christ, the physical man was crucified in time on the cross. He was slain in time. That is how we see and understand things - in time. But Oh what sweet joy it brings to my soul to know that from all eternity the Father looked upon Christ as slain for the justification of His people! The Lord has always constituted His people as righteous in Christ from all eternity. His people were never constituted as wicked sinners as Christ was their mediator from before the foundations of the world.

     God's people have been given all spiritual blessings in Christ from before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:3-4). One of these spiritual blessings is the imputed righteousness of Christ. There was never a moment in God's mind that the elect were hated and despised. He has always viewed them as being in Christ.

     So how does this apply you? Child of God, if you have been given belief in the Gospel, then please recognize that this precious gift is the evidence of your justification. When you were first given that sweet assurance in Christ, you did not "join" the Kingdom of God. You were always viewed as part of His kingdom. There is no danger of you falling out of His sovereign hand as you have always been held. And even in your unconverted state, God's love for you was beyond measure. He has always viewed you in Christ. How cool is that!?!?

    Grace and Peace,
    Brandan