I already told you what I believe that verse is talking about and quoted the Romans verses that I believe support my statement. I'll try to say it differently....
Romans 5:1-2 says that a believer has already been justified so they are not waiting to be justified. It says that the hope that we wait for is the glory of God. We are justified now, we will be justified again or confirmed in glory. That is what we wait for, that final confirmation and the manifestation of the kingdom. The prize that is won at the end of the race.
I wish that some on this site would take it upon themselves to make an "Official CF Concise Dictionary" to make it easier for some to refer to and avoid a confusion of terms such as appears to be the case on this thread. Alas! wishful thinking, but this below could be a start.
back on topic
I see that there are several terms that are being mixed and jumbled so that confusion is rampant. They are: righteousness, salvation, imputation and sanctification.
SALVATION
it is rooted in the Atonement of Jesus, which is a substitutionary penalty for our sins. The basis for salvation is faith and not works (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9). Since salvation is thus based on an event done by Messiah on the Cross, our salvation is simiarly an event in time. The lyrics from Amazing Grace express that well: "Once I was lost, and now I am found"
RIGHTEOUSNESS/JUSTIFICATION
These are legal terms that are almost synonyms. Just as the defendant in a criminal trial is declared guilty, or innocent, both terms indicate that a judge or jury, (both being in a superior position) states that "This person is not guilty" and as a matter of course in the USA, that person cannot be tried again on that particular charge (double jeopardy) This, like salvation is a "historical event" on the life of the believer, However, there is another element to this being declared righteous before God because it has a theological and historical basis, and that is imputation.
IMPUTATION
is akin to the "charging over" of $1 million dollars to your VISA or your checking account daily by another, so that no matter how much you spend in one day, you always have a VISA or checking account that never goes lower than that $1 million dollars. In this case, it is the righteousness of Jesus which is imputed to our "sin account" with God, and the guarantor of that checking account is Jesus Christ, himself. Using banking terms, there will never be a time when our sins will ever be too much for Jesus' atonement,and there will be a NSF or insufficient fund notice given to the believer.
Below, Paul explains that we all have the fallen sin nature of Adam charged to all of humanity because we ALL have sinned... that is why we all deserve death, but because the righteousness of Jesus is "charged over to the believer, God can see only the that exact and same righteousness that Jesus has when he looks at the believer. That is why His righteousness is imputed and not infused as a tea bag makes tea with hot water.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18
Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
SANCTIFICATION
comes at the point of time of our conversion, but it is also progressive in that we can grow more like Christ if we choose. Sanctification is unlike salvation, righteousness and justification because there can be a certain "measurement" involved, and that is the fruit in the life of the believer. Fruits do not come instantaneously, but come as a tree matures,and is nurtured in good soil with adequate moisture.
end of "dictionary"
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That is why it is indeed our salvation is so great, and why it is important to get our terminologies correct. Otherwise, we can be as effective as the three blind men who are touching an elephant at different places, and each tries to tell the others, "THIS is what an elephant looks like!"
In summary, I post this doxology from Paul:
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Ro 11:33–36). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
