Day 47: Of Justification, part 5

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 11, sections 5-6
Larger Catechism Q. 72-73

---

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 11
V. God does continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified [o]; and although they can never fall from the sate of justification [p], 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 [q].

[o] Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Ver.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 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: Ver.2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

[p] Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

[q] Psalm 89:31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Ver. 32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Ver.33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.
Psalm 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Ver.8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Ver.9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Ver.10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Ver.11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Ver.12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Psalm 32:5 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.
Matthew 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
1 Corinthians 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. Ver.32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Luke 1:20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

---

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 [r].

[r] Galatians 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Ver.13 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: Ver.14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Romans 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Ver.23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; Ver.24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

---

Larger Catechism
Q. 72. What is justifying faith?
A. Justifying faith is a saving grace [i], wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit [k] and Word of God [l], whereby he, being convinced of his sin and misery, and of the disability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out of his lost condition [m], not only assenteth to the truth of the promise of the gospel [n], but receiveth and resteth upon Christ and his righteousness, therein held forth, for pardon of sin [o], and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the sight of God for salvation [p].

[i] Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

[k] 2 Corinthians 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
Ephesians 1:17-19 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

[l] Romans 10:14-17 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? Ver.17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

[m] Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
John 16:8-9 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Ver.9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

[n] Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

[o] John 1:12 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:
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

[p] Philippians 3:9 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 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

---

Q. 73. How doth faith justify a sinner in the sight of God?
A. Faith justifies a sinner in the sight of God, not because of those other graces which do always accompany it, or of good works that are the fruits of it [q], nor as if the grace of faith, or any act thereof, were imputed to him for his justification [r]; but only as it is an instrument by which he receiveth and applieth Christ and his righteousness [s].

[q] Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

[r] Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

[s] John 1:12 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:
Philippians 3:9 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:
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.