A Catechism, Chapter 24
CHAP. 24. Of Justification & of Adoption.
Q LEt us come to the first of these benefits whih is our justification; and first tell me what is the meaning of the word to justifie?
A. It doth not signifie to make an unjust man just by changing his qualities; for then it were all one with sanctification from which it is distinct 1 Cor 6. 1. 1.
Q. What then doth it signifie?
A. To Iustifie is frequently opposed to condenme aProv. 17. 15. Dent. 25. 1. Mat. 12. 37. Rom. 8. 33., and therefore it doth properly signifie to acquit from blame and punishment
Q. What is the cause of our justification.
A. The impulsive cause that moveth God to justifie a sinner is nothing else but his free grace: Rom. 3 24. Tit 3. 7.
Q. VVhat is that for which God doth justifie?
A. God doth not justifie us without righteousnesse; for then how should God be just bExod. 34. 7. Rom. 2. 2. Gen. 18. 25. Prov 17. 15.? but he justifieth us by and for a righteousnesse which is most exact and perfect.
Q. What is that perfect righteousnesse?
A. Not our own righteousnesse in obedience to the Law cRom. 3. 2c. Gal. 3. 11. & 2. 16. Psal. 143. 2. Phil. 3. 9., for that is most imperfectdIsai 64. 6. Psal. 130. 3.
Q. What righteousnesse is it then?
A. That perfect righteousnesse whereby we are justified is that righteousnesse which was wrought by Christ, and inherent in his person, Isai 45. 24, 25. Ier. 23. 6. 1 Cor. 1. 30. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Rom. 5. 18, 19.
Q. How comes the righteousnesse of Christ to be ours, that we may be justified thereby?
A. God doth graciously impute it to us eRom. 4. 6., and faith is the instrument for the receiving of it fRom. 3. 28. & 4. 5. & Gal. 2. 16., that so by it we may be justified;
Q. Open this a little further, how faith is considered when we are said to be justified by faith?
A. Faith is not considered in justification properly, as if the very act of believing were the matter of our righteousnesse; neither doth it iustifie as a work or vertue in us by any merit of it selfe.
Q. Why may not faith be considered in our justification as a work or vertue in us?
A. Because all workes of ours are excluded from being any cause or matter of our justification gRom. 3. 28. Gal. 2 16. Phil. 39.; and therefore if faith were so considered, it must then be excluded also;
Q. How then is faith considered when we are said to be justified by faith?
A. OnelyOnly relatively in respect of the object of it, which is Jesus Christ and his righteousnesse.
Q. Faith being not considered in our justification properly as a worke or vertue in us, it must needs then be considered relatively in respect of Christ the object of it; but how may the truth of this yet further appeare?
A. As the Scripture saith we are justified by faith, so it also saith Christ is our righteousnesse hIer. 23. 6., and that we are justified by Christ iActs 13 39. 2 Cor. 5. 21..
Q. VVhat else may be said for the further clearing of this truth?
A. Sometimes this phrase, to be justified by faith, is expounded in the words immediately following, to be nothing else but to be justified by Christ, Gal. 2. 16. 17.
Q. VVhat are the parts of justification?
A. Justification is onelyonly one benefit of God vouchsafed to believers; but there are two parts thereof inseparably conjoyned, namely, forgivenesse of sinnes through the sufferings of Christ, and accounting a man just and righteous through the righteousnesse of Christ imputed to him.
Q. VVhat is the object of justification, the persons whom God doth justifie?
A. OnelyOnly the Elect kRom. 8. 30. Isai 45. 25., being by nature and in themselves sinners and ungodly lRom. 5. 4, 5. & 5. 10., but called by grace to be true believers in Christ mRom. 8. 30 Gal. 2. 16. Rom. 3. 30..
Q. What is Adoption?
A. An act of Gods free grace n1 Iohn 31., whereby the Elect oEph. 1. 5.being in themselves aliens & strangers pEph. 2. 19.from God, are upon their believing in Christ q2 Cor. 6. 17, 18. Iohn 1. 12. Gal. 3. 26.admitted for Christs sake rIohn 1. 12. Gal. 4. 4, 5., on whom they doe believe, into the houshold of God, and to the dignity and priviledge of his children sEph. 2 12. 2 Cor. 6. 18..
Q What are the benefits of this adoption?
A. By means hereof believers are brethren to Christ Jesus tRom. 8. 29. Heb. 2. 11, 12. Iohn 20. 17., have title to the heavenly inheritance uRom 8. 17.and have liberty and boldnesse to make their requests to God wGal 4. 6. Rom. 8. 15., as to a most gracious and loving father, with great assurance to be heard xMatth. 7. 9, 10, 11..