A Key to the Key of Scripture, Chapter 3 · Exposition of verse 21
Verſe 21. But now is the righteouſneſſe of God made manifest without the Law, hauing witneſſe of the Law and of the Prophets.
THus farre hath the Apoſtle ſtabliſhed his negatiue aſſumption, and proued that by workes no childe of Adam can be iuſtified: Now it remaines hee ſhould inferre the other part of his diſiunction, [Therefore by faith:] which alſo he doth Ver. 28, directly. And to the concluſion paſſeth by oblique anſwere to a ſuppoſed queſtion: If not by workes, how then? If they be no cauſe or meane of iuſtification, how then are wee iuſtified? and where ſhall wee hauehave ſuch righteouſneſſe as may ſteede vsus at Gods iudgement ſeate? Anſ. Ʋer. 21. The righteouſneſſe of God is made manifeſt without the law, &c. In which words, and thoſe that follow to Ver. 27. is ſet downe a deſcription of that righteouſneſſe, whereby a ſinner is iuſtified in the ſight of God. Particulars of the deſcription theſe:
Firſt, efficient; Righteouſneſſe of God.
Secondly, meane of reuelation, negatiue: Without law.
Thirdly, adioyned: approbation and teſtimony of law and Prophets.
Fourthly, Inſtrument: Faith in Christ.
Fiftly, Subiect: Beleeuers all, and onelyonly.
Sixtly, Cauſa foreign. Grace of God.
Seauenthly, Cauſa. foreign, or meritorious: Redemption in Christ.
Eightly, endes ſubordinate Ʋer. 25.26.
[Righteouſneſſe of God:] Senſe of the words. Righteouſneſſe of God, is diuerſly taken in Scripture:
Firſt, for that vniuerſall holineſſe, that is in Gods nature, vvhereof he is denominated iuſt.
Secondly, as oppoſed to merciemercy, it ſignifieth particular iuſtice diſtributiue, whereby hee rewards eueryevery man after his workes.
1 Iohn. 1.Thirdly, for the truth of GOD, and his fidelitie in performing promiſe.
Here none of theſe meant: and it was a dreame of Oſiander. That the Lord ſhould in iuſtification communicate vntounto vsus his eſſentiall righteouſneſſe, vvhichwhich is incommunicable. Wee ſhall beſt ſee the meaning by comparing this place with others: asaPhilip. 3.9. Rom. 10.2.3. vvhere wee ſee it oppoſed to our owne righteouſneſſe. Now ſo is that righteouſnes termed, vvhichwhich is vvrought by our ſelues, in doing the duties preſcribed by the law: Gods righteouſneſſe then is that, whereof GOD is the vvorker, donour, approuer.
Obſer. From this part of the deſcription then, this may be obſerued. That the righteouſneſſe whereby a ſinner is iuſt in the ſight of GOD, is ſuch a righteouſneſſe, as vvherein man himſelfe hath no vvorke, but GOD onelyonly in Chriſt: It is ours indeede in reſpect of poſſeſſion, being giuen vsus of God, but Gods onelyonly in reſpect of operationb2 Cor. 5.19. Rom. 3.26.: And leaſt any iuſticiarie ſhould obiect: that God is indeede the vvorker of it, but by inherence in vsus, vſing vsus as inſtruments to worke it, ſee Rom. Rom 10.3.4.10.3.4. vvhere vve are remitted to the perſon of Chriſt, as the onelyonly ſtore-houſe vvhere the Lord hath laide it vp for vsus.
Ʋſe. Learne wee therefore to renounce our owne, and to ſubmit to the righteouſneſſe of GodcPhilip. 3.8.9., and heauie is the doome, paſſed by the Apoſtle, on all that ſeeking to ſtabliſh their owne righteouſneſſe, refuſe that wrought for vsus by God in Chriſt, and tendred to vsus in the Goſpell.
See vvee meane of reuealing negatiue: (Reuealed without the law:) Law, here taken ſtrictly for law morall; more largely in the latter part of the verſe, for the writings of Moſes.
Morall law then ſo farre from procuring, Doct. that it doth not ſo much as reueale, the meanes of a ſinners iuſtification in the ſight of GoddRom. 10.4.5.. That vve erre not, let vsus a little inquire the ſenſe: vvhether muſt this be vniuerſally vnderſtood, or onelyonly in ſome reſpect? Some take it vniuerſally; thoſe eſpecially that exclude Chriſts actiue obedience from iuſtification, thinking that neither matter, nor efficiencie of righteouſneſſe is reuealed in the law. Now I take it, that is more then can be collected; for it is confeſſed on all ſides, that bearing the curſe of the law is required to iuſtification and that the law reueales and vrgeth. I take it therefore, this is to be limitted to the vvorker, and manner of efficiencie, vvhichwhich the law neuer reueales; that euer preſſeth obedience to be vvrought by our ſelues; ſatisfaction to be made by our ſelues. Hath no word of obedience, or ſatisfaction to be wrought for vsus by our mediatour Chriſt Ieſus; which is that meane of iuſtification that the Lord hath ordained, and reuealed in the GoſpellaRom. 1.17.. If any ſhall hence thus reaſon; Law reueales not the righteouſneſſe, vvhereby a ſinner is iuſtified; and it reueales Chriſts actiue obedience to the law: Therefore Chriſts actiue obedience, is no part of that righteouſneſſe vvhereby a ſinner is iuſtified. Anſ. Firſt, ad maiorem: if it be vnderſtood of the matter of our righteouſnes, falſe; if of the authour and manner of efficiencie, true; and ſerues not to proue the concluſion. Secondly, ad minorem: Law reueales not Chriſts actiue righteouſnes: viz. as done by Chriſt, or as to be performed by him in our ſteede; but it reueales, that righteouſneſſe for the matter of it, which vvas to be performed by him, that vndertooke to procure iuſtification for vsus in the ſight of God.
Vſe. And me thinkes this one reaſon, if there vvere no more, vtterly ouerthrowes all that righteouſneſſe, that any man can expect by his owne performing, the law: for if the law neuer knew the meanes of a ſinners iuſti…ying in the ſight of God, and yet teacheth (hypo…hetice) all that vvill be iuſtified by the law, to doe themſelues the things in the law enioyned, apparent it is, that vve can neuer be iuſtified by our owne performance of the law.
Followeth now the approbation it hath from Law and Prophets; that is, from Scriptures Moyſaicall and Propheticall; asbMat. 7.12.: The truth hereof, viz That Moſes and Prophets ſend vsus out of our ſelues, to a righteouſneſſe of Gods working, and donation, I might proue by a large inductioncGen. 3.15. & 15 6.: Types of law many; Paſſeouer dEzod. 12. Pſal. 32. Iſay. 53. Ier. 23.8. Act. 10.43., Inſcription on the High-prieſts plate. Holineſſe of the Lord: braſen ſerpent: In a vvord ſacrifices all prefigured Chriſt: for Prophets, ſee Dauid: Pſal. 32. Iſay cap. 53. Ier. 23.8 &c. Conferre like ſpeech of Peter. Act. 10.43.
Ʋſe And is it not ſtrange? this meanes of Iuſtification, ſhould be reiected for noueltie, or that any Papiſt ſhould be ſo braſen-faced, as to affirme, it vvas neuer heard of till the dayes of Luther? out of queſtion, one of the two is true; eyther Moſes and the Prophets vvere Lutherans; or elſe Luther, in this, as in many other points of doctrine, a diſciple of Moſes and the Prophets.