Imatges de pàgina
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him and his righteousness by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God. (1)

II. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification; (2) yet it it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied

is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man to whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 2 Cor. v. 19, 21. To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.-For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Rom. iii. 22, 24, 25, 27, 28. Tit. iii. 5, 7. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;-That, being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs, according to the hope of eternal life. Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. Jer. xxiii. 6. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. See also 1 Cor. i. 30, 31, and Rom. v. 17, 18, 19.

(1) Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Acts xiii. 38, 39. Eph. ii. 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

(2) II. John i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Rom. iii. 28. Therefore we conclude, that a man is justified by faith without

with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith; but worketh by love. (1)

III. Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are thus justified, and did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to his Father's justice in their behalf. (2) Yet in as much as he was given by the Father for them, (3) and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead, (4) and

the deeds of the law. Rom. v. 1. Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(1) Jam. ii. 17, 22, 26. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.-Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?-For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Gal. v. 6. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

(2) III. Rom. v. 8, 9, 10, 19. But God commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more, then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.-For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 1 Tim. ii. 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Heb. x. 10, 14. By the which will we are sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.-For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. See also Dan. ix. 24, 26, and Isa. liii. 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12.

(3) Rom. viii. 32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

(4) 2 Cor. v. 21. For he hath made him to be sin

both freely, not for any thing in them, their justification is only of free grace; (1) that both the exact justice, and rich grace of God, might be glorified in the justification of sinners. (2)

IV. God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect; (3) and Christ did, in the fulness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their justification : (4) nevertheless they are

for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Matt. iii. 17. And, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Eph. v. 2. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, for a sweetsmelling savour.

(1) Rom. iii. 24. Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

(2) Rom. iii. 26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Eph. ii. 7. That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus.

(3) IV. Gal. iii. 8. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 1 Pet. i. 2, 19, 20. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.-But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. See Rom. viii. 30.

(4) Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made

not justified, until the Holy Spirit doth, in due time, actually apply Christ unto them. (1)

V. God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified: (2) and although they can never fall from the state of justification, (3) yet they may by their sins fall under God's fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of his countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance. (4)

under the law. 1 Tim. ii. 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Rom. iv. 25. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

(1) Col. i. 21, 22. And you, that were sometime alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled, in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy, and unblamable, and unreprovable in his sight. See also Gal. ii. 16, and Tit. iii. 4, 5, 6, 7.

(2) V. Matt. vi. 12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 1 John i. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John ii. 1. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

(3) Luke xxii. 32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. John x. 28. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.-Heb. x. 14. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

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(4) Ps. lxxxix. 31, 32, 33. If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes: Nevertheless, my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail

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VI. The justification of believers under the Old Testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the New Testament. (1)

CHAPTER XII.

OF ADOPTION.

ALL those that are justified, God vouchsafeth, in and for his only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption: (2)

xxxii. 5. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Matt. xxvi. 75. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus,-and he went out, and wept bitterly. See also Ps. li. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 1 Cor. xi. 30, 32.

(1) VI. Gal. iii. 9, 13, 14. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.-Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Rom. iv. 22, 23, 24. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now, it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.

(2) I. Eph. i. 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Gal. iv. 4, 5. God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

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