WCF 11.4

11.4. Of Justification

God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect, and Christ did, in the fulness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their justification: nevertheless, they are not justified, until the Holy Spirit doth, in due time, actually apply Christ unto them.

Proof texts

• Gal. 3:8 — [8] And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”
• 1 Pet. 1:2, 19, 20 — [2] according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. [19] but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. [20] He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you
• Rom. 8:30 — [30] And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
• Gal. 4:4 — [4] But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
• 1 Tim. 2:6 — [6] who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
• Rom. 4:25 — [25] who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
• Col. 1:21, 22 — [21] And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, [22] he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
• Gal. 2:16 — [16] yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
• Tit. 3:3, 4, 5, 6, 7

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Gal. 3:8 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 9 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 · HC Q59 · BC 6.1 · BC 6.2 · BC 6.3 · 1689 11.1 · SC60 5.1 · SC60 5.2 · SC60 5.3 · SC60 5.4 · IAR 5.6 · SHC 5.1 · SHC 5.2 · SHC 5.3 · SD 11.1