Of the concomitants of vocation,
An Expofition of the Affembly's Catechism. by which we are called; 2Theff. ii. 14. Whereunto he calledyou by our goſpel.
Queſt. 33 .W Of Justification.
HAT is juftification ?
A. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our fins, and accepteth us as
righteous in hisfight, onlyfor the righteousness of Christ imputedtous, and received byfaith alone.
Q. 1. What are the parts ofjuftification ?
A. It confifts oftwo parts. First, The pardon of fin ;Acts xiii. 39. And by him allthat believe are justified from all things, from whichye could not be justified by the law of Mofes. Secondly, The acceptation ofour perſons as righteous;
Rom. v. 1, 2, 3. Therefore being justifiedby faith, we have peacewithGod, through our Lord Jesus Chrift, by whom alſo we have acceſs by faith into this grace wherein we ſtand, and rejoice in hope ofthe glory ofGod.
Q. 2. Whoſe act is ittojustify finners ?
A. It is the act ofGod alone; Rom. viii. 33. It is God that juſtifieth .
Man'sjustifying ofhimself is nothing ; Luke xvi. 15. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourſelves before men, but God knoweth your hearts ; for thatwhich is highly esteemedamongst men, is abomination in the fight ofGod. Nor other mens justifying ofus; Rev. iii. F.
I know thy works, that thou haſt a name to live, and art dead.
Q. 3. Is there anything in manto merit his juſtification ?
A. No; it is an act of free grace grace inGod ; Rom. iii. 24.
Being juftified freely by his grace, through the redemption which is in Jeſus Chrift.
Q. 4. Ifit be not for any inherentrighteousnes , howthen?
A. It is for the righteouſneſs of Chrift imputed tous ; Rom. iv. 6. Even asDavid alſo defcribeth the bleſſedneſs of theman untowhom,God,imputeth righteowners without works.
Q. 5. How is Chriſt'srighteouſneſs madeours?
A. Byapplication ofit to us by faith ; Gal. ii. 16. Knowingthat a man is not justifiedby the works ofthe law, butby the faith ofJeſus Chrift, even we have believedinJeſus Chrift, thatwe mightbe justifiedby the faith ofChriſt, andnot bythe works ofthe law ; forbythe works ofthe law ſhallno fleſhbe juſtified.
Q. 6. Is itnot partly by Chriſt's righteouſneſs madeours, and partly our own ?
A. No ; byChriſt's righteouſneſs, without anymixture of ours ; Rom. iii. 28. Therefore we conclude, that a man is juſtifiedby faith without the deeds ofthe law.
An Exposition of the Aſſembly's Catechism.
Q. 7. But doth not James ſayotherwise, James ii. 14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though aman 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 noregard then tobe had to goodworks ?
A. Yes, very great; they that believe, must be careful to maintain good works ; Tit. iii. 8. That they which have believed inGod,mightbecareful tomaintaingoodworks. Theſe things are good and profitable untomen.
Q. 9. Why can none be justified by works ?
A. Becauſe all are guilty beforeGod; Rom. iii. 29. Is he theGodof theJews only ? Is he not alſooftheGentiles ? Yes, ofthe Gentiles alſo.
And the law curſes all that are under guilt ; Gal. iii. 10. Curſed is everyonethat continuethnot in allthings which are written in the book ofthe law to dothem.
Q. 10. What isthe firſt inference from hence ?
A. The happy ſtate ofbelievers who are now at peacewith God; Rom . v. 1. Therefore being justified by faith, wehave peacewith God through our Lord Jesus Chriſt. Andwhom he juftifieth he glorifieth. Rom. viii. 30. Whomhe justified, themhe alſo glorified.
Q. 11. What is the ſecond inference from hence ?
A. The excellency and neceffity of faith ; Rom. iii. 30.
The circumcifion is justifiedby faith, andthe uncircumcifion through faith.
Q. 12. What is the third inference ?
A. That the greatneſs offin is nobarto faith, fince 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 ofGodin 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 ? ofworks? nay, but by the law offaith.