HC 61

Q61. Why do you say that you are righteous only by faith?

Not that I am acceptable to God on account of the worthiness of my faith, for only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ is my righteousness before God. I can receive this righteousness and make it mine my own by faith only.

Proof texts

• 1 Cor. 1:30-31 — [30] And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, [31] so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
• 1 Cor. 2:2 — [2] For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
• Rom. 10:10 — [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
• 1 John 5:10-12 — [10] Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. [11] And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [12] Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited 1 Cor. 1:30-31 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 4 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q33 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WLC Q70 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q33 · WLC Q70 · WLC Q71 · WLC Q72 · WLC Q73 · WCF 11.1 · BC 6.1 · BC 6.2 · BC 6.3 · 1689 11.1