Yes… in the big picture, correct. There is as I understand it a difference between ‘status’ and ‘standing’. Status is what Christ brought humanity locked in Adam out of, and then into, i.e., out of separation and into reconciliation. Standing is that position of servant-hood believers exercise via faith. Christ is the source of BOTH… one generic and the other specific. Some might view it as the difference between Providential grace and Enabling grace — either way all such emanates from God.
The condemnation was comprehensive as was the justification likewise comprehensive, AND no one’s agreement, belief nor permission was sought, considered or asked for. THIS “justification unto life” was the WORK of God and Christ alone.
I do think “faith” helps in the exercise of righteousness, i.e., enabling what God has done within to be a blessing without.
Certainly in the NT there is the distinction between sons or not sons and yet sometimes the language is somewhat generic, e.g., “children” etc. But that said… even where certain ones are being scolded as NOT sons the context makes it PLAIN that such were indeed sons but by virtue of their faithless disobedience were cutting themselves off from that very sonship.
I was merely reiterating a point from an earlier post.
Neither Dave nor I hold that works are a means to attain righteousness.
We both believe that agent of righteousness is the enabling grace of God that Paul describes so well in Titus 2, and that we appropriate that enabling grace by faith.
Yep no problem… God’s righteous grace touches all — those who recognise it can duly serve those who haven’t as yet realised it. But it is a reality nonetheless, as per…
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,…
Paul’s… “the grace of God” was none other than Jesus — the one who appeared bringing salvation to all men. This was God’s unilateral act in reconciling all to Himself.
To those then grasping this reality Paul further stipulates the following…
Tit 2:12-14 …teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
So there is the generic along with the specific in play, which pretty much also reflects Paul’s words here…
2Cor 5:15 …and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
This again demonstrates the generic along with the specific… Christ “died for all” is inclusive and generic, and yet more specifically… “those that live” are they that come into faithful service of Him.