If justification is a one-time event, why was Abraham justified more than once? (from John Salza)

Gen. 12:1-4 – Abram is justified here,
as God promises to make his name great and bless the families of the earth
through his seed. Abram is justified by his faith in God.

Heb. 11:8-10 confirms Abraham's
justification occurred here, before Gen.
15:6 (later) by referring to Gen. 12, not Gen. 15.



Abraham's justification increased over time because justification is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process of growing in holiness.
Gen. 14:19, 22-23 - Abram is also justified
here, by being blessed by the priest-king Melchizedek. Melchizedek calls Abram
blessed and Abram gives him a tenth of everything.
Gen. 15:6 – Abram is further justified
here, as God promises him that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars


Because the Scripture says, “He believed the Lord, and He reckoned it to him as
righteousness,” Protestants often say this was Abram’s initial justification,
and cite Rom 4:2 to prove Abram was justified by his faith.
Yes, it is true Abram was justified by his faith, but he was justified 25 years earlier in Gen. 12:1-4, as Heb. 11:8-10 proves.
Gen. 22:1-18 – Abraham is further justified here, this time by works, when he offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God. James 2:21 proves this as James
writes, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son
Isaac upon the altar?”


James then confirms this by writing, “Abraham believed God, and it was
reckoned to him as righteousness” (James
2:23).



These verses prove that justification before God is an on-going process, not a one-time event of accepting Jesus as personal Lord and Savior, and is accomplished by faith and works.