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Justification 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. 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. 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'.
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