Westminster Confession of Faith
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.[250]
Every Day Reformed, Every Day Reforming
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.[250]
5: God does continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified;[247] and although they can never fall from the sate of justification,[248] 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.[249]
4: God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect,[244] and Christ did, in the fullness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their justification:[245] nevertheless, they are not justified, until the Holy Spirit does, in due time, actually apply Christ unto them.[246]
Q. 71. How is justification an act of God’s free grace?
A. Although Christ, by his obedience and death, did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God’s justice in the behalf of them that are justified;[291] yet in as much as God accepteth the satisfaction from a surety, which he might have demanded of them, and did provide this surety, his own only Son,[292] imputing his righteousness to them,[293] and requiring nothing of them for their justification but faith,[294] which also is his gift,[295] their justification is to them of free grace.[296]
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.[239] Yet, in as much as He was given by the Father for them;[240] and His obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead;[241] and both, freely, not for any thing in them; their justification is only of free grace;[242] that both the exact justice, and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.[243]
2: Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification:[237] yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but works by love.[238]
Q. 70. What is justification?
A. Justification is an act of God’s free grace unto sinners,[286] in which he pardoneth all their sins, accepteth and accounteth their persons righteous in his sight;[287] not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them,[288] but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ, by God imputed to them,[289] and received by faith alone.[290]
Q. 33. What is justification?
A. Justification is an act of God’s free grace,[91] wherein he pardoneth all our sins,[92] and accepteth us as righteous in His sight,[93] only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us,[94] and received by faith alone.[95]
1: Those whom God effectually calls, He also freely justifies;[234] not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for any thing 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,[235] they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God.[236]
Q. 32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?
A. They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, and sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them.[90]
Q. 60. Can they who have never heard the gospel, and so know not Jesus Christ, nor believe in him, be saved by their living according to the light of nature?
A. They who, having never heard the gospel,[253] know not Jesus Christ,[254] and believe not in him, cannot be saved,[255] be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature,[256] or the laws of that religion which they profess;[257] neither is there salvation in any other, but in Christ alone,[258] who is the Savior only of his body the church.[259]