Day 197

Of Justification.

Chapter 11, Paragraph 6.

“The justification of believers under the Old Testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the New Testament.”

Scripture Lookup

Galatians 3:9

Romans 4:22-24

Reflection

Abraham! Joseph! Moses! They and all the Old Testament saints who witnessed miracles, sacrificed animals, and lived in a culture, time, and place so foreign to my own, I admit I find them hard to relate to. Blame the old movies, musicals, and storybooks written about them, but their lives seemed so sweeping, so grandiose, so larger-than-life. (And in Technicolor!) What could modern-day Christians have in common with such ancient people whose faith was so strong movies were made about them millennia later?

A beautiful fact about justification is that when it comes to being declared righteous before God, all the elect are equal. The reason why Abraham is considered righteous, or Rahab, or Daniel, is not because there was something inherently amazing in them that made God take notice. They were justified by faith through the obedience and death of Jesus Christ. As any sinner who is drawn to Christ today is pardoned of sins and accepted as righteous, so too they were.  Time does not divide the elect when it comes to justification.

How could the Old Testament saints be justified by faith in Christ when Jesus had not been born yet? Earlier in chapter seven of the Confession we read how the Covenant of Grace (the offer of life and salvation to sinner by Jesus Christ) was revealed first to Adam and Eve after the Fall, then by farther steps until “the full discovery thereof was compleated in the new Testament”. Through the animal sacrifices, promises, and various types, Jesus was revealed to be the Seed of the Woman who would crush the Serpent’s head. Those elect who lived before Christ were not justified due to all the offerings they  sacrificed, but were justified by faith in the One who was to come. They received all the benefits of Christ’s redemption although it had not yet occurred. (Confession, Chapter 8, paragraph 6)

I may not lead a nation or have movies made about me. You might not, either. But if we are both in Christ, our righteousness is the same. We have God to thank for that.

Questions to Consider

• Is it hard to believe that you have anything in common with Old Testament saints?

Day 196

Of Justification.

Chapter 11, Paragraph 5.

“God doth continue to Forgive the sins of those that are justified, and although they can never fall from the state of justification; yet they may by their sins fall under God’s Fatherly displeasure; and in that condition, they have not usually the light of his Countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith, and repentance.”

Scripture Lookup

Matthew 6:12

1 John 1:7,9

John 10:28

Psalm 89:31-33

Psalm 32:5

Psalm 51

Matthew 26:75

Reflection

Slipping into sin is a sad reality for the Christian. It occurs too often, and we are reminded each time of how lacking in righteousness we are in our flesh. Is there ever a time that we finally cross the line, where God says “That’s it, I’m done here”? Does such sinning void the justification they have in Christ? With great joy and thankfulness we can shout NO! The elect can never fall from justification! God will always forgive our sins on account of Christ.There is no need to hold back from seeking His forgiveness, for He gives it freely.

There may be times, however, that we take His grace for granted, and do not humbly confess our wrongdoing. Distrust and pride can restrain our repentance. We may pridefully think we are above needing to confess, be hesitant to believe that He is faithful and will forgive us, or simply be unaware that there is any sin in our lives. At such times God may remove the light of His countenance from us.  As Chapter 5, paragraph 5 of the Confession states, He may:

…leave His children to the corruptions of their own heart…that they may be humbled, to raise them to a more constant dependence upon Him, and to make them more watchful against future occasions of sin…

We must be ever ready to fight the temptation of unbelief, put aside our pride and come to Him in humility. Is it fun to do? No. But the alternative – remaining distant from Him who loves us and has justified us – is much worse. Don’t keep away from God. Freely confess and repent. He has forgiven you, and will continue to forgive.

Questions to Consider

• What keeps you from immediately and freely confessing your sin before God?

Day 195

Of Justification.

Chapter 11, Paragraph 4.

“God did from all eternity decree to justify all the Elect, and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their Justification; Nevertheless they are not justified personally, until the Holy Spirit, doth in due time actually apply Christ unto them.”

Scripture Lookup

Galatians 3:8

1 Peter 1:2

1 Timothy 2:6

Romans 4:25

Colossians 1:21,22

Titus 3:4-7

Reflection

God works in a time entirely of His own choosing. In eternity past, God decreed that the elect would be justified. At the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. In due time, the Holy Spirit applies Christ to the elect, justifying them. This personal justification did not occur when redemption was decreed, nor does it occur at the moment when Christ died, but at a particular point in the elect’s life. At that time they are drawn to God and justified by Him. As a Christian, you do not say that you were justified in eternity past. Nor do you say that you were justified around the year 33. When you talk about your salvation, you remember a time in your own history when the Holy Spirit regenerated you, you believed in Christ, and as a result were justified. The benefits of Christ’s obedience and sacrifice are not obtained by the elect until the time of God’s appointing.

Notice how all three persons of the Trinity are involved in salvation: the Father decrees the redemption of the elect and ordains Jesus as the mediator. The Son willingly takes on human nature, fulfills the law and endures the punishment due us. After His ascension, the Son sends the Holy Spirit to apply this work to us. Justification is not a distant, far-off, long-ago historical event for the redeemed sinner; it is personally wrought in us through the gift of faith. God is intimately involved in securing and redeeming His people. If you are in Christ, He has personally justified you!

Questions to Consider

• If you are in Christ, when were you justified?

Day 194

Of Justification.

Chapter 11, Paragraph 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 to them: make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God’s justice in their behalf: yet in as much as he was given by the Father for them, and his Obedience and Satisfaction accepted in their stead, and both freely, not for anything in them; their justification is only of Free Grace, that both the exact justice and rich Grace of God might be glorified in the Justification of sinners.”

Scripture Lookup

Hebrews 10:14

1 Peter 1:18,1

Isaiah 53:5,6

Romans 8:32

2 Corinthians 5:21

Romans 3:26

Ephesians 1:6,7, 2:7

Reflection

Christ’s sacrifice satisfied the justice of God for the elect. He stood in our place; His life and sacrifice are considered ours when we are justified by faith. In the substitutionary atonement of Christ, we see the power, wisdom, and grace of God displayed.

Christ’s powerful obedience and death fully saves the elect. It does not make salvation possible and leaves the rest to fallen man to achieve. Not one tenth of a cent is owed to God; there is no longer any shadow of an outstanding debt. Jesus paid that debt, and proved that it was paid with His resurrection.

The sacrificial death of Christ demonstrates the wisdom of God in that it does not disregard the law. The wrath of God is not a case of unjust, uncontrolled temper poured out on a helpless victim. Transgression against a holy eternal God carries an infinite punishment. Christ, who knew no sin, freely and willingly endured that punishment on our behalf, satisfying the demand for justice properly.

Grace is abundantly displayed not only in Christ’s willingness to become the mediator of the elect, but in God’s freely accepting that obedience and satisfaction given. God did not have to redeem any sinner, but graciously agreed in the Covenant of Redemption to save the elect. Thus all who are effectually called are justified by His free grace.

Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. -Psalm 85:10

Questions to Consider

• Is there any part of justification that is not just or gracious?

 

Day 193

Of Justification.

Chapter 11, Paragraph 2.

“Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ, and his Righteousness, is the alone instrument of Justification; yet is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving Graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.”

Scripture Lookup

Rom. 3:28

Galatians 5:6

James 2:17,22,26

Reflection

Christians are declared righteous by God only by faith in Christ.

But what does saving faith look like?

Does saving faith have any outward manifestation? Can you be a Christian and no one ever know –  a “quiet faith”, if you may?

Is saving faith merely a mouth voicing the words, “I believe in Jesus”?

Is it mere obedience, duty devoid of feeling?

The faith that saves is not a dense fog of our own works that settles around us, but is a beam of light that directs our gaze to Jesus. Justification is by faith apart from works because saving faith rests solely upon Christ and His righteousness. We do not and cannot add anything to our justification. No amount of good work you do will enhance your standing before God. How can it, when the Son of God paid it all for you? The idea of being declared righteous based on our own works lessens Christ’s glory and insults His mediatorial work on our behalf.

However, since saving faith directs our gaze outside of ourselves and to Christ for salvation, such faith will always be accompanied by outward evidences that it exists. Like a pot of boiling water that bubbles up and overflows, our faith will be manifest in our speech and actions. It accompanies an enlightened mind that declares the gospel, a heart that loves the Savior, and a will that desires to obey and despises sin. Saving faith works by love, demonstrating its vitality. The faith that alone saves is never alone, thanks be to God!

Questions to Consider

• Do you tend to fall into thinking that your works justify you, or do you tend to fall into thinking that faith is not accompanied by works?

 

Day 192

Of Justification.

Chapter 11, Paragraph 1.

“…not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical 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 receiving, and resting on him, and his Righteousness, by Faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God.”

Scripture Lookup

1 Corinthians 1:30,31

Romans 5:17-19

Philippians 3:8,9

Ephesians 2:8-10

John 1:12

Romans 5:17

Reflection

In His active and passive obedience, Christ secured salvation for sinners. Christ passively obeyed when He suffered and died on the cross. Through receiving the penalty we deserved, He obtained for us forgiveness of sins. Also, Christ actively obeyed the law of God, fulfilling it perfectly on our behalf. He not only took away the punishment due to our sin, He also lived the righteous life that we cannot. There is nothing else needed to be done to have a right standing before God – Jesus did it all! In justification, then, we are declared righteous solely because of Christ. When God looks at us, He sees Christ’s perfect obedience, and attributes it to us.

How does one receive this salvation? By faith. It is not that we are declared righteous because of our faith, but rather we are declared righteous because of our faith in Christ. Faith is only the instrument by which Christ’s righteousness is imputed, or attributed, to us. It is even a faith that is not of ourselves, but a gift from God. Our faith makes us well, but only because of Christ.

Questions to Consider

• Are you resting in Christ’s righteousness?

 

Day 191

Of Justification.

Chapter 11, Paragraph 1.

“Those whom God Effectually calleth, he also freely justifieth, not by infusing Righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting, and accepting their Persons as Righteous; not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ’s sake alone,…”

Scripture Lookup

Romans 3:24, 8:30

Romans 4:5-8

Ephesians 1:7

Reflection

If you are effectually drawn to God, there is good news: you are justified! But what does that mean? It does not mean that God infuses us with righteousness. We do not soak up some righteousness in order to be justified. If that were the case, then that righteousness could leak out when we sin, and we could never be sure of our right standing before God. Our righteousness would be dependent upon our works. But we know that when God draws a sinner to Himself, it is effectual! So infused righteousness cannot be the means of justification.

Justification is God freely declaring the sinner forgiven of their sins, accounting the sinner as righteous, and accepting her as righteous. Christian, God no longer holds your sin against you. He views you as righteous, and accepts you as such! You are no longer estranged, but are in communion with Him!

“Hold up!” you say. “I thought God was holy, and cannot abide with sin! How can He declare a sinner righteous, if that sinner is not actually righteous?” The elect are not chosen, called, and declared righteous on their own merit. Rather, the path taken to be drawn to God is always through Jesus Christ.

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. -John 14:6

As mediator between the elect and God, Christ’s perfect obedience and sacrifice “hath fully satisfied the Justice of God” and “procured reconciliation”, as the Confession states in Chapter 8, paragraph 5. Christians are justified freely by God because He sees the righteousness of Christ on their behalf. Thus sinners can be forgiven, accounted as righteous, and accepted by God – all due to Christ!

Questions to Consider

• How does the Roman Catholic view of justification lessen the work of Christ?