LORD’S DAY 23
Q. 59. But what doth it profit thee now that thou believest all this?
A. That I am righteous in Christ, before God, and an heir of eternal life.1
- Rom. 5:1; Rom. 1:17; John 3:36.
Q. 60. How art thou righteous before God?
A. Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ;1 so that, though my conscience accuse me that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them,2 and am still inclined to all evil;3 notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine,4 but only of mere grace,5 grants6 and imputes to me7 the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ;8 even so, as if I never had had nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me;9 inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart.10
- Rom. 3:22, &c.; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8, 9.
- Rom. 3:9, &c.
- Rom. 7:23.
- Rom. 3:24.
- Tit. 3:5; Eph. 2:8, 9.
- Rom. 4:4, 5; 2 Cor. 5:19.
- 1 John 2:1.
- Rom. 3:24, 25.
- 2 Cor. 5:21.
- Rom. 3:28; John 3:18.
Q. 61. Why sayest thou that thou art righteous by faith only?
A. Not that I am acceptable to God on account of the worthiness of my faith,12 but because only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ is my righteousness before God;13 and that I cannot receive and apply the same to myself any other way than by faith only.14
- Psa. 16:2; Eph. 2:8, 9.
- 1 Cor. 1:30; 1 Cor. 2:2.
- 1 John 5:10.
LORD’S DAY 23
Righteous By Faith
1. What is the profit in believing the articles of the Apostles’ Creed?
It assures me that I am righteous in Christ before God and an heir of eternal life.
2. How are you righteous before God?
Only on the grounds of the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ. Romans 3:24, 25; Titus 3:5-7.
3. Have you merited in some way this righteousness of Christ?
No, without any merit of mine, but only of mere grace, God imputes to me the righteousness of Christ. Romans 4:16.
4. How does God impute to you this righteousness of Christ?
Only by means of a true faith. Romans 4:24; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8, 9.
5. What comfort do you receive when you embrace such a benefit with a believing heart?
That though my conscience accuse me that I have grossly transgressed the commandments of God and kept none of them, I am yet assured that God sees me in Christ as if I never had had nor committed any sin. Psalm 51:9-15.
6. Can you boast, then, in your faith?
No, I am not acceptable to God on account of the worthiness of faith, but only because Christ’s satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness are my righteousness before God. I Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 2:8-10; I Corinthians 2:2.
7. Why then is faith necessary?
I cannot receive and apply Christ’s righteousness to myself any other way than by faith only. Romans 5:1.