is not a matter of the past or the future, but is given in the present.Therefore, the pronouncement ofacquittal is a matter of the present.1) However, the full possession of the righteousness is realized in the future. Concerning this, A. Deissmann explains well, “we see the peculiar dynamical tension between the consciousness of present possession and the expectation of future full possession.”2) As was seen in the case of Abraham, “justification can scarcely be distinguished from forgiveness of God” (H. A. A. Kennedy).3) It is God’s gift to believers in Christ, the full possession of which is to be realized in the future. Paul who claims Abraham’s justification through faith says very strongly as follows. “So you see that it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham” (Gal. 3:7). The Greek word for “see” is γινώσκετε. It is given in the imperative mood and placed at the beginning of the sentence. The present active indicative form of the word
ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ 1) cf. R. Bultmann, Theology of the New Testament, Vol. 1. trans. by K. Grobel(New York: Charles Scribner’s Son, 1954), p. 274. 2) A. Deissmann, op. cit., 170. 3) H. A. A. Kennedy, op. cit., p. 137.
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