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Justification 1.
GOD freely justifies the persons whom He effectually calls. He does
this, not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins
and by accounting them, and accepting them, as righteous. This He does for
Christ's sake alone, and not for anything wrought in them or done by them.
The righteousness which is imputed to them, that is, reckoned to their
account, is neither their faith nor the act of believing nor any other
obedience to the gospel which they have rendered, but Christ's obedience
alone. Christ's one obedience is twofold-His active obedience rendered to
the entire divine law, and His passive obedience rendered in His death. Those thus justified receive and rest by faith upon Christ's
righteousness; and this faith they have, not of themselves, but as the
gift of God. 2.
The faith which receives and rests on Christ and His righteousness
is the sole means of justification. Yet it is never alone in the person
justified, but is invariably accompanied by all other saving graces. Nor
is it a dead faith, for it works by love. 3.
By His obedience and death Christ paid in full the debt of all
those who are justified. By the sacrifice of Himself in His blood-shedding
on Calvary, and His suffering on their behalf of the penalty they had
incurred, He fully and absolutely satisfied all the claims which God's
justice had upon them. Yet their justification is altogether of free
grace, firstly because Christ was the free gift of the Father to act on
their behalf; secondly because Christ's obedience and His satisfying the
demands of the law was freely accepted on their behalf; and thirdly
because nothing in them merited these mercies. Hence God's exact justice
and His rich grace are alike rendered glorious in the justification of
sinners. 4.
From all eternity God decreed to justify all the elect, and in the
fullness of time Christ died for their sins and rose again for their
justification. Nevertheless they are not justified personally until, in
due time, the Holy Spirit actually applies to them the benefits of
Christ's Person and work. 5.
God continues to forgive the sins of all the justified.
They can never lose their justification; but they may, by reason of
sin, fall under God's fatherly displeasure; in which case, until they
humble themselves, confess their sins, beg God's pardon, and renew their
faith and repentance, God will not usually restore to them 'the light of
His countenance'. 6.
Believers in Old Testament times were justified in precisely the
same way as New Testament believers. [Previous Chapter] [Next Chapter]
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