XI. Of Justification
1. Those whom God Effectually calleth, he also freely ajustifieth, not by infusing Righteousness into them, but by bpardoning their sins, and by accounting, and accepting their Persons as cRighteous; not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ’s sake alone, not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other devangelical obedience to them, as their Righteousness; but by imputing Christ’s active obedience unto the whole Law, and passive obedience in his death, for their whole and sole Righteousness, they ereceiving, and resting on him, and his Righteousness, by Faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God.
aRom. 3:24; Rom. 8:30 bRom. 4:5–8; Eph. 1:7 c1 Cor. 1:30–31; Rom. 5:17–19 dPhil. 3:8–9; Eph. 2:8–10 eJohn 1:12; Rom. 5:17
2. Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ, and his Righteousness, is the aalone instrument of Justification: yet it is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving Graces, and is no dead faith, bbut worketh by love.
aRom. 3:28 bGal. 5:6; James 2:17, 22, 26
3. Christ by his obedience, and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are justified; and did by the sacrifice of himself, in the blood of his cross, undergoing in their stead, the penalty due unto them: make a proper, real and full satisfaction ato God’s justice in their behalf: yet inasmuch as he was given by the Father for them, and his Obedience and Satisfaction accepted in their stead, and both bfreely, not for anything in them; their Justification is only of Free Grace, that both the exact justice and rich Grace of God, might be cglorified in the Justification of sinners.
aHeb. 10:14; 1 Pet. 1:18–19; Isa. 53:5–6 bRom. 8:32; 2 Cor. 5:21 cRom. 3:26; Eph. 1:6–7; Eph. 2:7
4. God did from all eternity decree to ajustify all the Elect, and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise bagain for their Justification; Nevertheless they are not justified personally, until the Holy Spirit, doth in due time cactually apply Christ unto them.
aGal. 3:8; 1 Pet. 1:2; 1 Tim. 2:6 bRom. 4:25 cCol. 1:21–22; Titus 3:4–7
5. God doth continue to aForgive the sins of those that are justified, and although they can never fall from the state of bjustification; yet they may by their sins fall under God’s cFatherly displeasure; and in that condition, they have not usually the light of his Countenance restored unto them, until they dhumble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith, and repentance.
aMatt. 6:12; 1 John 1:7, 9 bJohn 10:28 cPs. 89:31–33 dPs. 32:5; Ps. 51:1–19; Matt. 26:75
6. The Justification of Believers under the Old Testament was in all these respects, aone and the same with the justification of Believers under the New Testament.
aGal. 3:9; Rom. 4:22–24