Of Justification
Section 11.6
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.
The reverse of this is maintained by Socinians. We shall only observe, that though " the rigliteousness of God" is now more clearly manifested by the gospel, yet it was " witnessed by the law and the prophets." — Rom. iii. 21. And those, under the Old Testament, who laid hold upon that righteousness by faith, were as really and fully justified as believers under the New Testament. Paul, accordingly, adduces the justification of Abraham as an example of the method in which believers in all ages must be justified. — Rom. iv. 3. Though the everlasting righteousness was not actually brought in until Christ " became obedient unto death," yet the efficacy of his death extended to believers under the former as well as under the present dispensation.
What an invaluable and transcendently glorious privilege is justification ! How unspeakably blessed is the man to whom God imputeth righteousness without works ! Delivered from the awful curse of the broken law, and introduced into a state of acceptance and favour with God, all penal evil is extracted out of the cup of his affliction, death itself is divested of its sting, and all things shall work together for\ his good. Adorned with the glorious robe of the Redeemer's righteousness, he shall stand before the judgment-seat undismayed, while the exalted Saviour and Judge shall bid him welcome to that state of final and everlasting blessedness which God hath prepared for him, saying, " Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom ])repared for you from the foundation of the world." But wliei e will the sinner and the ungodly appear in that day when the Son of
CHAP. XII.] OF ADOPTION. ^ 137
man shall sit upon the throne of his glory, and summon them before his august tribunal to receive their final doom? How will the impenitent and unbelieving — all who have not submitted to the righteousness of God — then " call to the mountains and rocks to fall upon them and hide them from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb." Let those who have hitherto been labouring to establish their own righteousness cease from the vain attempt — let them receive the gift of righteousness which is presented for their acceptance in the offer of the gospel — and let them plead this perfect and glorious righteousness, and improve it by faith, as the sole ground of all their expectations from a God of grace either in time or through eternity. Renouncing all dependence on their own works of righteousness, let them, like Paul, desire to " win Christ, and be found in him, not having their own righteousness, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."
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Chapter 11: Of Justification
Justification by faith alone through the imputed righteousness of Christ
Of Justification
Section 11.1
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 anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ’s sake alone; nor by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness, but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God.
Of Justification
Section 11.2
Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification; yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.
Of Justification
Section 11.3
Christ, by His obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are thus justified, and did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to His Father’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 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.
Of Justification
Section 11.4
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.
Of Justification
Section 11.5
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 not have the light of His countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.
Of Justification
Section 11.6
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.
Section VI.— The justification of believers under the OljJ Testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the New Testament."
IT Gal. iii. 9, 13, 14; Rom. iv. 22-24; Heb. xiii. 8.
The truth taught in this Section has already been fully proved above, under Chapter vii., §§ 4, 5 and 6 ; and Chapter viii., § 6.
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