BC 6.2

6.2. The Justification of Sinners

We believe that our blessedness lies in the forgiveness of our sins because of Jesus Christ, and that in it our righteousness before God is contained, as David and Paul teach us when they declare those people blessed to whom God grants righteousness apart from works. (Ps. 32:1, Rom. 4:6) And the same apostle says that we are "justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Rom. 3:24) And therefore we cling to this foundation, which is firm forever, giving all glory to God, humbling ourselves, and recognizing ourselves as we are; not claiming a thing for ourselves or our merits and leaning and resting on the sole obedience of Christ crucified, which is ours when we believe in him. That is enough to cover all our sins and to make us confident, freeing the conscience from the fear, dread, and terror of God's approach, without doing what our first parents, Adam and Eve, did, who trembled as they tried to cover themselves with fig leaves. In fact, if we had to appear before God relying- no matter how little- on ourselves or some other creature, then, alas, we would be swallowed up. Therefore everyone must say with David: "[Lord,] do not enter into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you." (Ps. 143:2)

Proof texts

• 1 John 2:1 — [1] My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
• Rom. 4:6 — [6] just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
• Ps. 32:1 — [1] Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
• Rom. 3:24 — [24] and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
• 2 Cor. 5:18-19 — [18] All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
• Eph. 2:8 — [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
• 1 Tim. 2:6 — [6] who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
• Ps. 115:1 — [1] Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
• Rev. 7:10-12 — [10] and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” [11] And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, [12] saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
• 1 Cor. 4:4 — [4] For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.
• Jas. 2:10 — [10] For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
• Acts 4:12 — [12] And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
• Heb. 10:20 — [20] by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
• Rom. 4:23-25 — [23] But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, [24] but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, [25] who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
• Gen. 3:7 — [7] Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
• Zeph. 3:11 — [11] “On that day you shall not be put to shame because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.
• Heb. 4:16 — [16] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
• 1 John 4:17-19 — [17] By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. [19] We love because he first loved us.
• Luke 16:15 — [15] And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
• Phil. 3:4-9 — [4] though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: [5] circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; [6] as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. [7] But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. [8] Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith —
• Ps. 143:2 — [2] Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited 1 John 2:1 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 21 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. HC Q53 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. HC Q59 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

HC Q53 · HC Q59 · CD 3.1