Who is "him that justifieth the ungodly"?

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Scripture harmonizing scripture !

1 Cor 2:12-13

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us [Gods chosen] of God.


13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Of all books in the history of the world, none save the scriptures are spiritual.

Sure, one does not have to be spiritual to read and even study the bible, but in order to understand it, to the least degree, one must be spiritual or have been given the Spirit which is of God.


The word comparing in 1 Cor 2:13 in the greek is the word:

Sugkrino and means:

1. to joint together fitly, compound, combine
2. to interpret
3. to compare

Its not until we have born of the spirit that we can interpret the scriptures and join together the pieces of truth to the over all puzzle.

With that said, when scripture can be spiritually harmonized and shed light, one part on another part, there is nothing unlawful about that; Now in regards to Rom 4:5 and 5:10

Rom 4:5

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Rom 5:10

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

There is something interchangeably true about both of these scriptures, and that is being reconciled to God by the death of His Son, while yet being an enemies [by nature] is the same as being Justified by God while being Ungodly.

For one [though this will be denied] cannot be reconciled to God without being Justified as well !

Rom 5:10 can very well read without violation or wresting truth Rom 5:10

10 For if, when we were ungodly, we were justified before God, by the death of his Son, much more, being justified, we shall be saved by his life.

Rom 4:5 can read as well

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that reconciled the enemies, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Even the elect, by nature, we are enemies of God, but He does not view us as His enemies, because of Christ death for us. Yes by our actions we are worthy of Him being our enemy, but He is not, but we hate him by nature.

So, even when we the elect, are ungodly, that is by nature at enmity with God, we are Justified before Him Legally , how ? By the Death of His Son.

And, this is what God given Faith comes to believe and realize !

 

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The scriptures teaches 3 types of Justification, and confusing them can be to our eternal peril, may God grant those who are His elect a understanding.

First and foremost, there is Justification before God, which is totally and 100% the Work of Jesus Christ, and the accomplishment of Jesus Christ.

Rom 4:25

25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Rom 5:9

9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Rom 3:24

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption [blood] that is in Christ Jesus:

Secondly, There is Justification before our consciousness, which is the work of the Holy Ghost per 1 Cor 6:11

11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Rom 5:1

1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

And thirdly, there is Justification before men, by the believers own testimony [word and deed] James 2:23-25

23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.


24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

This act of hers, did not make her Justified before God, for that she already was by the imputed Justification of Christ, but it made her to appear Justified before men, especially those spys, and for us today who read of this testimony of scripture of her and this deed.

There will be also yet in the future, a Justification of all of Gods elect before the whole Universe in the day of Judgment.

Now, even though all the above Justifications are important and should be rejoiced in, the First one [Justification before God by Christ work] is the most important, to be wrong on that one , makes the others that are subsequent wrong as well !

 

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Justified by Grace then made Heirs experientially !

Titus 3:7

7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

What Paul is saying, is that by Christ death, which was by the Grace of God Heb 2:9, those Christ died for were made Righteous or Justified Rom 5:19

19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience [Death Heb 2:9] of one shall many be made righteous.

Now as a result of this, those ones He tasted death for shall be made experientially Heirs according to the Hope of Eternal life, which was promised them Titus 1:2

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Notice how Paul used the phrase Twice in this epistle " Hope of Eternal life" !

But because we are freely by the Grace of God Justified, made Righteous Legally, God must now through the application work of the Holy Spirit make us Heirs experientially.

Notice Paul says right after stating that we are Justified by His Grace " we should be made"according to the hope of Eternal life.

The word made is the greek word ginomai and means:


to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being

2) to become, i.e. to come to pass, happen

What this means, is that we should now receive New Life, to become a New Creation, a New Man as in Eph 4:24

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

This New Man is created ktizō:


to create

a) of God creating the worlds

b) to form, shape, i.e. to completely change or transform

And so thats what God does for all who are Legally Justified by the Grace of God, He makes them Heirs experimentally by giving them New Being, New Existence, a Existence that prepares them for Eternal Life in Glory..

We are made meet Col 1:12

12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Eternal Life is an Inheritance, and its bequeathed upon all the Heirs of Promise, the Children of Promise.

So those freely Justified by Grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus Rom 3:24 which is to say His Blood Eph 1:7, they will be given a New Life corresponding to what they are, Heirs of the Kingdom , which is Eternal life.

 

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Justified while Ungodly !

Rom 4:4-5

4Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

That those whom Christ died for are Justified before believing, which pleases God [Heb 11:6] is evident from the fact that God Justifieth the Ungodly ! The word Justify here is in the present tense, denoting He was or is Justifying the Ungodly, while they are or were The Ungodly. This is the same as when Paul taught that the elect were reconciled to God while yet enemies Rom 5:10 !

Now how can this be ? Because they are reconciled or Justified by Christ's Blood [ Rom 5:9] and or His Death [Rom 5:10] and this before they believe !

Those Christ died for, shed His Blood for are not Justified by their pleasing God, but by His Pleasing God in their behalf, for it is said of Him by the Father Matt 3:1

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

God Justifies the Ungodly, in that those Christ died for, shed His blood for, which blood Justified them before God, nevertheless they shall still be born as ungodly sinners as anyone else, but the Blood of Christ has always Justified them. To deny this Truth, is to deny the Gospel !

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Justified while Ungodly !

God Justifieth the Ungodly Rom 4:5

5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Note, its not Justifying the Believer, but the ones Believing , believed on Him that is Justifying the Ungodly, meaning God Justifieth the Elect while they were in a state of Ungodliness, as they were reconciled to God while they were being enemies Rom 5:10, even while they were being by nature Children of wrath as others !

Abraham was in a state of ungodliness when God Justified him ! As all are Justified by Christ's Righteousness, Abraham, while Ungodly was shown His Righteousness in the coming seed, so He rejoiced to see His Day !

 

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Justified before saved !

Paul writes Rom 5:9

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

The Elect are Justified solely by the Blood of Christ, even before they are saved ! Paul states to the Church, being now Justified by His Blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. The we here is not just those he was then writing to, but includes all for whom the Blood of the Covenant was shed for, the many Matt 26:28, for they all were Justified by His Blood no matter what generation they would be born in, they shall be saved from wrath through Him ! All the Elect of God because of the Blood of Christ alone are saved from God's Wrath in this Life and the One to come. Those born children of wrath by nature, are even saved from God's Wrath, where others are said to have it abiding on them Jn 3:36

36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

God's wrath cannot be abiding on a Justified person, made so by Christ's Obedience Rom 5:19b, even though they are born enemies and unbelievers by Nature as Others ! 2

 

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God imputes Righteousness without Works !

Rom 4:6

6Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

God imputes Righteousness without Works , that is previous acts from the sinner, without works. Works is the greek word ergon and means:

business, employment, that which any one is occupied

a) that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking

2) any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind

3) an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work

Basically this means that this person or persons had Righteousness imputed unto them for not doing anything !

This includes heart Work by which we Believe Rom 10:10

10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

This is so because Righteousness is imputed solely because of Christ's Obedience to Law and Justice on behalf of all He died in the stead of Rom 5:19

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

All for whom Christ died [The Many] have Righteousness imputed to them, even while they are " by nature, children of wrath as others" !

 

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Who are the objects of God's Justification ?

I do not believe it can be made more plainer who they are Rom 8:33-34

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.


It's the Elect of God, and them only !

 

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Justified by His Blood

All for whom Christ died scripture indicates that they are Justified by His Blood Rom 5:9

9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

The word Justified is the greek word dikaioō and means:


to render righteous or such he ought to be

2) to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered

3) to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be

So everyone Christ died for is declared Righteous before God, and their deliverance from God's Wrath is ensured, that is from His retributive wrath for their sins. They by the Blood of Christ [alone] are freed from the Law of sin and Death, in that God in Justice can never punish them for their sins again for Christ's Sake. Even when one who is covered by the Blood of the lamb, is born into this world as by nature, child of wrath as others, they are never and can never be under God's vindictive and punitive wrath, for that could only be if Christ had not already satisfied all of God's Law and Justice on their behalf by His Cross ! Consequently, every ungodly sinner that is born into this world, whom Christ died for Rom 5:6, shed His Blood for, are already Justified from all things, and stand before God clothed in the perfect Righteousness of Christ, solely by Grace Rom 3:24; Yes in themselves deserving as others wrath and condemnation, but because of Christ, they are born into this world, even as ungodly sinners, Heirs of Eternal Glory !

 

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If God Justifieth the Ungodly, then it is reasonable to conclude that God did Justify them, all for whom Christ died, before they had yet been given saving Faith, and while they were ungodly enemies ! Rom 4:5

5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

The word ungodly here is the greek word asebēs and means:


destitute of reverential awe towards God, condemning God, impious

Everyone Christ died for and Justified by His Blood[Rom 4:25], are being born into the world ungodly, but they are already Justified by Christ's Blood, if Christ did die for them !

Thats why Paul preaches that we are Justified freely by Grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, meaning His Death ! Rom 3:24

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 3

 

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Justified before God before and apart from Faith !


That all for whom Christ died, shed His Blood for, gave Himself for, that they are all Justified before God by it [His Blood] even as the blessed resurrection so declares it Rom 4:25: That this is the case is collaborated by the Truth of Rom 5:19b

19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

That by the one obedience [active and passive] of ONE MAN ALONE [Jesus Christ] many SHALL be made Righteous, or as the Prophet Isaiah says it, He shall Justify many Isa 53:11

11He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Some Translate like this

ESV Isa 53:11

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see[a] and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.

So it is by the obedience of ONE, shall many be declared Righteous or Justified. Now this comes about by only the obedience of One, and not Two, which would be the case if Faith by the believer is being considered, in that, that is also obedience, as in the obedience of Faith [believing] Rom 16:26

26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—

Also Rom 10:16-17

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

These makes it clear that Faith is an act of obedience to the Gospel. Those who say Faith is not an act of obedience, are deceived ,plain and simple.

But according to the Truth of Rom 5:19b, many shall be made righteous, and that not by the obedience of Two, but one ! To deny this, debate it, is nothing but rejection of the Gospel Truth !

 

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The Just shall live by Faith !

That those Christ died for are Justified before they believe, made Righteous or Just Rom 5:19

by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

That word righteous is the greek word dikaios and is translated Just 33 times, for instance here Rom 1:16-17


17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

So Rom 5:19 could actually read:

by the obedience of one shall many be made Just

The obedience here is His Death, by His obedience unto death [Phil 2:8] shall many be made Just !

Now, all those who are Just [Justified] by His Obedience, shall live by Faith in the future.

So clearly, being made Just or Justified, precedes living by Faith. This is Justification before God before Faith !

Gal 3:11

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Heb 10:38

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Hab 2:4

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

 

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Justified by Grace ! Rom 3:24

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Justification is a gracious act of God, because of the redemption in Christ's Blood Eph 1:7 !

That even when unworthy in ourselves, and ungodly Rom 5:6; Rom 4:5, God does freely acquit us, that is all for whom Christ died, of all Transgressions of His Law, and accepts us into His Favour and declares us Righteous, with a Righteousness that has been freely imputed to us, even while we ourselves are in unbelief !

This free and gracious Justification of All for whom Christ died, will in God's time, will be revealed to each of them for whom He died and Justified, so they shall live by Faith !

Faith being not a condition, but a means of revealing or making known that Justification, that already exists in God's Mind, that is already credited to ones account, because of Christ's redemptive blood.

 

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Faith being not a condition !

Faith being not a condition, but a means of revealing or making known that Justification, that already exists in God's Mind, that is already credited to ones account, because of Christ's redemptive blood.

Justification by Faith is how God has ordained that the Justified ones find out about and realize their Justification freely given to them by God through Jesus Christ ! This is why it is written, the Just or Justified shall live by Faith, hence everyone Christ died for and shed His Blood for, are Justified before God because of it [Rom 5:9] they must be given Faith, a Fruit of the Spirit of God, to embrace and receive consciously that Peace with God, which Christ's redemptive blood accomplished for them as God's Elect, and so is so called " The Faith of God's Elect"

Those who take Justification by Faith [ Rom 5:1] and declare it to be a condition of man, that he must meet, in order to God to Justify them, they PERVERT the Truth of Justification by Grace and Faith, and do preach a false and accursed Gospel. That Justification is received by Faith, as it is revealed to the Justified one, we most heartily agree, but to state that it is a condition in order to get Justified before God, we reject as criminal and Apostate ! 3

 

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Faith is not the causative reason for one's Justification before God unless we are strictly speaking of Christ's Faith or Faithfulness, but rather it is the sense, or perception, and evidence of ones Justification [ Heb 11:1] for it is Christ's Righteousness as imputed that only Justifies before God, and this is revealed from Faith to Faith to heaven born Faith ! Faith is a spiritual grace or fruit [Gal 5:22] and enabling produced by the Holy Spirit of God that gives the redeemed sinner eyes to see in Christ a imputed Righteousness, now having by Him also convicted of our own sinfulness by nature, we do turn from our own Righteousness, and succumb to the Righteousness we have had revealed to us by the Gospel, provided by Christ Rom 1:16-17, hence the Spirit of God bears witness with our spirit that we are indeed Justified and do have peace with God through Jesus Christ, and do become evidentially as well as declaratively Justified by the Spirit of God 1 Cor 6:11. Now Faith reveals to the Elect sinner, their state in Christ, and their free gift of Righteousness through Him Rom 5:17-18

17For if by one man's offense death reigned by one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ.

18Therefore as by the offense of one, judgment to condemnation came upon all men, even so by the righteousness of One, the free gift unto justification of life came upon all men.

 

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God's Justification of His Elect is Twofold, it is first and foremost forensic and declarative of God's Mind, and then it is experimental or internal, for then God causes the Justified to live like it by Faith, for the experimental comes by the New Birth. All those whom God Justifies judicially by the Blood of Christ and His Grace Alone per Rom 5:9;3:24 shall be Justified experimentally by the Spirit 1 Cor 6:11

11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

This scripture confirms a first Justification by Christ, His Blood, or in His Name, followed by the Justification the Spirit accomplishes, which is also because of Christ's Name or in recognition of His Work ! Hence God gives grace for the living according to their Judicial status. That is why it is imperative that all for whom Christ died, must be born again Rom 5:19b

so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous [experimentally by New Birth].

In addition to making Christ's obedience the sole basis of forensic Justification, it is also the sole basis for constitutive righteousness which is brought to pass by New Birth !

 

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Sometimes disobedient

Titus 3:3

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Even though the Elect by Nature were disobedient, yet even then, Paul never classified them and neither were they ever " The children of disobedience" as per Eph 2:2

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

In the greek the children of disobedience reads "toiv uioiv thv apeiqeiav;:

The definite article makes it clear that these are a definite group of people, they are the vessels of wrath Paul writes on in Rom 9:22. In other words, the children of disobedience will always be the children of disobedience !

The Elect, even though by Nature are children of wrath as others, and walk according to the prince of the power of the air, yet they have already been accepted or Highly Favored in the Beloved Eph 1:6

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Yes, they have that status before God, by Grace, prior to their actual quickening in the Time state Eph 2:5

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved )

The difference, the Elect, because of Christ's obedience, they shall be made Righteous ! Rom 5:19 and this is done by their New Birth by the Spirit, which causes their obedience to the Truth 1 Pet 1:2

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

2 Thess 2:13

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Belief of the Truth and obedience are the same !

 

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Faith believes on Him that Justifieth the ungodly. That is God given faith receives the Divine Testimony that God Justified His People solely upon Christ's death per Rom 8:33-34, and not on account of any works or conditions performed by men, but while they were being ungodly and enemies in themselves, God was justifying them by the death of His Son ! Also God imputes righteousness to all for whom Christ died or was made sin for 2 Cor 5:21; Rom 5:19 without works, this is testified Rom 4:6

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Now without works means without believing, for believing is a work performed by the mind of man. The word works ergon means:

business, employment, that which any one is occupied

a) that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking

2) any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind

3) an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work

So now if God imputes Righteousness because one did believe a testimony, then Rom 4:6 cannot be true ! If God justifies any sinner or accounts them righteous because of believing, then He is responding to good, virtuous dispositions within him the man, which cannot be if He is Justifying the Ungodly. Ungodly means: 3

destitute of reverential awe towards God, condemning God, impious

For Paul writes 1 Cor 1:30

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

And this fact of accomplishment s received by God given Faith !

 

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It is God who Justifies !

Rom 8:33

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

Now who shall lay anything to the charge[Against] of God's Elect ? It is God that Justifieth [declares righteous]

Quite frankly here, the non charge by God regarding His Elect, is their Justification !

Nothing of the Elect's performance is regarded in the matter. Now who are those whom God will not lay charges against ? Quite frankly it is for all those Christ died, which reasonably means, the charges that should have been laid or charged against them, were laid or charged upon Him, leaving them Justified by God !

God did not lay iniquity upon them, but upon Him Isa 53:6

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid[or charged or to strike] on him the iniquity of us all.

 

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Justified by His Grace before the world began !

Rom 3:24

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Titus 3:7

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.


This Grace by which God's Elect are Justified was given them in Him before the world began 2 Tim 1:9

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

So if Grace was given them so early, then Justification by that Grace was given to at the same date !

Also were they accepted in Him at that date ! Eph 1:4-6

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace [Given 2 Tim 1:9], wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 3