Chapter 11 JUSTIFICATION

11.1 Those whom God effectually calls he also freely justifies.¹ He does this, not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting them as righteous,² not for anything done in them or by them, but for Christ’s sake alone.³ They are not justified because God imputes⁴ as their righteousness either their faith itself, or the act of believing, or any other act of obedience to the gospel. They are justified by God imputing Christ’s active obedience to the whole law and his passive obedience in death. By faith they receive and rest on his righteousness, and this faith they do not have of themselves for it is the gift of God.⁵

(1) Rom 8:30; 3:24
(2) Rom 4:5-8; Eph 1:7
(3) 1Co 1:30-31; Rom 5:17-19
(4) i.e. accounts or reckons
(5) 2Co 5:19-21; Tit 3:5,7; Rom 3:22-28; Jer 23:6; Phi 3:9; Act 13:38-39; Eph 2:7-8

11.2 Faith which receives and rests on Christ and his righteousness is the sole instrument of justification.¹ Yet it is never alone in the person justified, but is always accompanied by all the other saving graces; it is not a dead faith, for it functions by love.²

(1) Rom 1:17; 3:27-31; Phi 3:9; Gal 3:5
(2) Gal 5:6; Jas 2:17,22,26

11.3 By his obedience and death, Christ fully discharged the debt of all those who are justified. By his sacrifice in the blood of his cross, he underwent in their place the penalty due to them, so making an appropriate, real, and full satisfaction of God’s justice on their behalf.¹ Yet their justification is entirely of free grace, because he was given by the Father for them,² and his obedience and satisfaction was accepted in their place,³ both actions being done freely, and not because of anything in them.⁴ So both the exact justice and the rich grace of God are glorified in the justification of sinners.⁵

(1) Rom 5:8-10,19; 1Ti 2:5-6; Heb 10:10,14; Isa 53:4-6,10-12
(2) Rom 8:32
(3) 2Co 5:21; Mat 3:17; Eph 5:2
(4) Rom 3:24; Eph 1:7
(5) Rom 3:26; Eph 2:7

11.4 From all eternity God decreed to justify all the elect,¹ and Christ in the fullness of time died for their sins, and rose again for their justification.² Nevertheless they are not justified personally until the Holy Spirit in due time actually applies Christ to them.³

(1) Gal 3:8; 1Pe 1:2,19-20; Rom 8:30
(2) Gal 4:4; 1Ti 2:6; Rom 4:25
(3) Col 1:21-22; Gal 2:16; Tit 3:4-7; Eph 2:1-3

11.5 God continues to forgive the sins of those who are justified;¹ and although they can never fall from the state of justification,² yet they may fall under God’s fatherly displeasure because of their sins. In that condition they will not usually have fellowship with God ³ restored to them until they humble themselves, confess their sins, ask for pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.⁴

(1) Mat 6:12; 1Jo 1:7-2:2; Joh 13:3-11
(2) Luk 22:32; Joh 10:28; Heb 10:14
(3) Literally, the light of his countenance
(4) Psa 32:5; 51:7-12; Mat 26:75; Luk 1:20

11.6 The justification of believers under the Old Testament was in all these respects exactly the same as the justification of believers under the New Testament.¹

(1) Gal 3:9; Rom 4:22-24

Chapter 1: The Holy Scriptures
Chapter 2: God and the Holy Trinity
Chapter 3: God’s Decree
Chapter 4: Creation
Chapter 5: Divine Providence
Chapter 6: The Fall, Sin and its Punishment
Chapter 7: God’s Covenant
Chapter 8: Christ the Mediator
Chapter 9: Free Will
Chapter 10: Effectual Calling
Chapter 11: Justification
Chapter 12: Adoption
Chapter 13: Sanctification
Chapter 14: Saving Faith
Chapter 15: Repentance to Life and Salvation
Chapter 16: Good Works
Chapter 17: The Perseverance of Believers
Chapter 18: The Assurance of Grace and Salvation
Chapter 19: The Law of God
Chapter 20: The Gospel and its Gracious Extent
Chapter 21: Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
Chapter 22: Worship and the Lord’s Day
Chapter 23: Lawful Oaths and Vows
Chapter 24: Civil Government
Chapter 25: Marriage
Chapter 26: The Church
Chapter 27: The Fellowship of Believers
Chapter 28: The Ordinances
Chapter 29: Baptism
Chapter 30: The Lord’s Supper
Chapter 31: The State of People after Death and the Resurrection of the Dead
Chapter 32: The Last Judgment
Back