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Lesson 9 Justification Lord's Day 23 - 24
Justification In Lord's Day 7 extensive attention was given to faith. In Lord's Days 8-22 the Twelve Articles of the Christian faith were discussed. In Lord's Day 23, the balance will be drawn up and the benefit of faith will be discussed. Next, the significance of faith will be considered. Lord's Day 24 then discusses good works.
Q. 59. But what doth it profit thee now that thou believest all
this? (a) Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, John 3:36. The profit of faith What benefit does this give that thou believest all this? "All this" means the twelve articles of the Apostles Creed. What is the fruit, the profit, the gain that we believe all this? The answer is short and powerful: "That I am righteous in Christ, before God." The words "justification" and "justify" in the Bible always bring us into the area of the administration of justice. There is an accused one deserving the death penalty. But the Judge acquits him from each sin and all guilt. It is this acquittal of which is spoken. In justification, God, as Judge, acquits the condemned one. God can do this on the basis of the righteousness of Christ, by which all the sins of the elect are satisfied. This is the heart of the gospel of free grace, "Being justified by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24). "To be righteous in Christ, before God" means acquitted by God in Him. In Christ, the acquitted sinner becomes an heir of eternal life. Instead of everlasting death, the sinner receives eternal life. John wrote: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36).
JUSTIFICATION:
Acquittal: Jesus pleads for the sinner by pointing to His satisfaction. He desires to stand the place of the sinner. The sinner is acquitted by God the Father on the basis of Christ's satisfaction and therefore receives eternal life. The Holy Ghost causes the believer to be aware of this acquittal in his conscience. He gives testimony in his heart.
Q. 60. How art thou righteous before God?
(a) Romans 3:21-22, 24 , 5:1-2, Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 3:9; Righteous by faith How do we become righteous before God? Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). The catechism teaches us here who the man is who is justified by faith in Christ. It is a sinner whose conscience accuses him and who feels that he has transgressed all God's commandments. He experiences his lost state. We have sinned against God and He has been nothing but good to us. The sin of the sinner arouses God's wrath. The experience of the sinner is that he stands condemned before God's judgment. He cannot deliver himself from this. Even another, who is no more than a mere creature, cannot help him (see Lord's Day 5). Nevertheless, God, the same God who condemns, is also the God who acquits. Through the benefits merited on the cross by Jesus Christ, the guilt is atoned and judgment borne. A miraculous exchange takes place. Jesus died instead of sinners worthy of condemnation, and God, of mere grace, acquitted them. It is as Paul wrote: "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24). "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). Only because of Christ's merits The perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ are granted and imputed to the acquitted one by God. Granted and imputed mean that nothing of man is included. There is satisfaction because Christ perfectly satisfied God's demand by bearing the punishment. He obtained righteousness because He fulfilled the law by perfectly obeying His Father. Holiness points to the holy works which He has done. God imputes the perfect work of Christ. It is then as if the sinner never had or committed any sin. Embracing with a believing heart The comfort of the acquittal is made known to the heart by the Holy Ghost through the Word and is received by faith. That faith can be weak or strong. God's child is so dependent on the ministration of the Holy Ghost. Consequently, there can be so much strife in the heart. However, the Lord does not forget even one of His children. Isaiah prophesied to the people of Israel living in captivity, "Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God" (Isaiah 40:1). God makes them know of their acquittal of guilt and punishment through His Word and Spirit. The Holy Ghost powerfully applies a promise from the Bible in their heart, which they may embrace by faith. By this the accusing conscience is quieted, and everything is good between God and the sinner.
Q. 61. Why sayest thou that thou art righteous by faith only?
(a) 1 Corinthians 1:30, 2:2; Not because of faith Only by faith are we righteous before God. It is only by faith, without the deeds of the law. Paul said, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" (Romans 3:28). Question 61 considers the meaning of faith. We are not acquitted and accepted as a child of God on the basis of the fact that we believe. Believing is not our merit. And therefore faith is not the basis of our justification. We are justified because of the mediatorial work of Christ. Faith is the hand by which we receive the merits of Christ. Faith is not the reason why the Lord forgives our sins and accepts us. Faith is a gift given to us by the Lord Himself. And that which is a gift can never be a merit. Faith is only the instrument by which we receive Christ's merits and God's acquittal. Therefore faith is certainly necessary to be saved, but not the reason why we are saved. Faith in Christ is truly an activity, but not a work by which we earn something. God's child is justified solely by faith. It is not by faith and works together, and not because of faith. Faith of itself does not save. What justifies us is Christ, who is received by faith. In the epistle to the Philippians we read, "That I may win Christ, 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" (Philippians 3:8-9).
Q. 62. But why cannot our good works be the whole or part of our
righteousness before God?
(a) Galatians 3:10, Deuteronomy 27:26; Not by good works Can a person not be saved by doing good works? This would only be possible if we could produce a righteousness that could exist before God's tribunal. What must I do to be saved? Many people would like to offer the Lord something. However, the Lord in His judgment will require perfection from us. He requires a perfect righteousness. We cannot satisfy the Lord with our imperfect and defiled good works. God requires a perfect sacrifice. This sacrifice has only been brought by One, namely Jesus Christ. Christ has merited this perfect righteousness on Golgotha. As Surety He bore the entire punishment for sin. He completely fulfilled the law. He performed all good works. It is Him only whom we need. It is and remains: Christ alone, by grace alone, by faith alone. Our good works cannot be an addition to the work of Christ, because our works are not perfect and cannot bear the test of God's judgment. By nature, we live under God's curse. Moses spoke to the people of Israel "Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them" (Deuteronomy 27:26). Cannot man therefore merit heaven by doing good works? No! The Roman Catholic church teaches that the obedience of Christ must be supplemented by good works, thus God must do something and man must do something. However, that notion is untenable. Paul said, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Thus our good works cannot be a part of the righteousness which can exist before God. God requires a perfect righteousness. No person possesses this, unless we are, by faith, privileged to flee to Christ as a condemned sinner. Then we receive His righteousness.
Q. 63. What! Do not our good works merit, which yet God will reward in
this and in a future life? (a) Luke 17:10. The rewarding of good works Does not the Bible speak about a reward? We do read in the Psalms: "And in keeping of them (i.e. God's commandments) there is great reward" (Psalm 19:11); and in the book of Chronicles: "For your work shall be rewarded" (2 Chronicles 15:7). And where there is a reward, must there not be merits? Indeed, God will reward good works. However, this reward does not take place because of merit, but of grace. The Lord has promised that He would, for Christ's sake, reward the good works of His people, also in this temporal life. Of Jehoshaphat it is written "Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honor in abundance" (2 Chronicles 17:5). We always think of reward on the basis of accomplishment. One good turn deserves another. What is in it for me? The Lord, however, uses a totally different measuring-stick. He does not give a reward as a compulsory recompense for services rendered. He grants the reward out of grace. The accomplishment of God's children is so minute and the reward so great. Christ said in a parables, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matthew 25:23). God's children receive eternal life purely as a reward of grace, as Paul testified: "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" (Titus 3:5). The Holy Ghost Himself is the overseer of all good works in the believer. The Lord does not crown their work, but His own work, out of grace. Good works will be done to the honor of God. They come of their own accord. Faith and works belong together.
Q. 64. But doth not this doctrine make man careless and profane? (a) Matthew 7:18, John 15:5. No faith without good works Christ says, "I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). In the parable of the true vine and the branches, we read that the fruits grows of their own accord. It is only by faith in connection with Christ that fruits will appear in our lives. These fruits grow gradually. These fruits also cannot remain hidden. Other people will notice them. The fruits are for the Husbandman, for the Lord. The life of God's children must be to the honor of God. It is impossible that a redeemed one does not love God. A Christian who finds his life in sin is an impossibility. It is therefore impossible that God's children will not do good works. They share, after all, in all the gifts of grace of the Lord Jesus. The Surety is not only given to their justification, but also to their sanctification. Paul said of Him, "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). The Holy Ghost sanctifies God's children. He works good works in them, throughout their entire lives. The biblical doctrine of justification does not make careless and profane people. That is impossible! Justifying faith, which always turns to Christ alone, by His grace always brings forth fruits of thankfulness. Questions to go with lesson 9. (Lord's Days 23 and 24).
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