Of Christ's Acquitting Believers
A. Let none be afraid or ashamed to confess the person, office, or any truth of Christ, for any loss or danger that may threaten them; Luke
12:8, 9. Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God. But he that denieth me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God.
Q. 11. What is the third inference?
A. Let Christians abound in good works. Every act of charity for Christ shall be acknowledged by him in the day of judgment; Mat.
25:35. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in.
Q. 12. What is the last inference?
A. Let all Christians love and long for the day of Christ's appearing; 2 Tim. 4:8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto them also that love his appearing.
Of Christ's Acquitting Believers Quest. 1. WHAT is it to be acquitted by Christ?
A. It is to be discharged and cleared from all the guilt of sin, and punishment due to it by the law, upon the account of Christ's righteousness imputed by God, and received by faith; Rom. 5:1.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. 8:1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.
Q. 2. How many ways are believers acquitted?
A. They are acquitted now in the court of heaven; Rom. 8:33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. In the court of their own consciences; 1 John 3:21. Beloved, if our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God.
And in the day of judgment: both particular, Heb. 9:27. As it appeared unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. And general; Acts 3:19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. Their sins are then blotted out.
Q. 3. How doth Christ's acquittance now, differ from that at judgment?
A. They differ in respect of publicness; this is secret in the believer's bosom, and that open before men and angels; Rev. 3:5. I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Q. 4. What is the second difference?
A. They differ in respect of subjective certainty and assurance. A believer may doubt of this, but not of that; 1 Cor. 4:4, 5. For I know nothing of myself, yet am I not hereby justified; but he that judgeth me, is the Lord; therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come.
Q. 5. What is the third difference betwixt them?
A. They differ in point of consolation: this way always bears proportion to the certainty of it. Hence that day is called the time of refreshing; when Christ blot sout their sins by sentencial justification; Acts 3:19. Repent ye, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Q. 6. Do believers then lie under condemnation till that day?
A. No; they are truly and fully justified now; John 5:24. He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. But this sentence is not yet published by Christ's own mouth, as it shall be then.
Q. 7. On what account shall they be acquitted in that day?
A. On the very same account and score they are now, viz. For the imputed righteousness of Christ in the way of free grace; Eph. 1:7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
Q. 8. Must the saints be summoned to Christ's bar in that day?
A. Yes; they must appear as well as others; 2 Cor. 5:10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. But not to the same end; John 5:29. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Q. 9. What is the first inference hence?
A. How sure is a believer's justification, being so ratified privately and publicly in this world, and that to come.
Q. 10. What is the second inference?
A. Though the day of judgment be awfully solemn, it should not be dreadful to believers: they should look for, and hasten to the coming of the day of God; 2 Pet. 3:12. Looking for, and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, &c.
Q. 11. What is the third inference?
A. That faith is a grace of absolute necessity, and unspeakable excellency; Rom. 5:1, 2. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand.