Of the concomitants of vocation,
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism. by which we are called; 2Theff. ii. 14. Whereunto he called you by our gospel.
Quest. 33 .W Of Justification.
HAT is justification ?
A. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our fins, and accepteth us as
righteous in his fight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputedtous, and received by faith alone.
Q. 1. What are the parts ofjuftification ?
A. It consists of two parts. First, The pardon of fin ;Acts xiii. 39. And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from whichye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Secondly, The acceptation of our persons as righteous;
Rom. v. 1, 2, 3. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peacewithGod, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Q. 2. Whose act is it to justify sinners ?
A. It is the act of God alone; Rom. viii. 33. It is God that justifieth .
Man'sjustifying of himself is nothing ; Luke xvi. 15. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men, but God knoweth your hearts ; for that which is highly esteemed amongst men, is abomination in the fight of God. Nor other mens justifying of us; Rev. iii. F.
I know thy works, that thou hast a name to live, and art dead.
Q. 3. Is there anything in man to merit his justification ?
A. No; it is an act of free grace grace in God ; Rom. iii. 24.
Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption which is in Jesus Christ.
Q. 4. I fit be not for any inherentrighteousnes , how then?
A. It is for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us ; Rom. iv. 6. Even as David also defcribeth the blessedness of the man unto whom,God,imputeth righteowners without works.
Q. 5. How is Christ'srighteousness made ours?
A. By application of it to us by faith ; Gal. ii. 16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believedinJesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law ; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Q. 6. Is it not partly by Christ's righteousness made ours, and partly our own ?
A. No ; by Christ's righteousness, without any mixture of ours ; Rom. iii. 28. Therefore we conclude, that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism.
Q. 7. But doth not James say otherwise, James ii. 14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though am an say he hath faith and have not works ; Can faith save him ?
A. The two apostles contradict not one another; Paul speaks ofjuftificationbefore God; and James of justifying our faith beforemen.
Q. 8. Is no regard then to be had to good works ?
A. Yes, very great; they that believe, must be careful to maintain good works ; Tit. iii. 8. That they which have believed in God,mightbecareful tomaintaingoodworks. These things are good and profitable untomen.
Q. 9. Why can none be justified by works ?
A. Because all are guilty before God; Rom. iii. 29. Is he the God of the Jews only ? Is he not alsooftheGentiles ? Yes, of the Gentiles also.
And the law curses all that are under guilt ; Gal. iii. 10. Cursed is everyone that continuethnot in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Q. 10. What is the first inference from hence ?
A. The happy state of believers who are now at peace with God; Rom . v. 1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. And whom he juftifieth he glorifieth. Rom. viii. 30. Whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Q. 11. What is the second inference from hence ?
A. The excellency and necessity of faith ; Rom. iii. 30.
The circumcision is justified by faith, and the uncircumcifion through faith.
Q. 12. What is the third inference ?
A. That the greatness off in is no bar to faith, since it is the righteousness of Christ that justifieth ; 2Cor. v. 21. For he hath made him to be fin for us, who knew no fin, that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.
Q. 13. What is the last inference ?
A. That believers ought to be exceeding humble, and far from boasting.
The law of faith excludes boasting ; Rom. iii. 27. Where is boasting then ? It is excluded : By what law ? of works? nay, but by the law of faith.