LORD'S DAY. 23
Question 59. But what doth is profit thee now that thou believest all this?
Answer. That I am righteous in Christ, before God, and an heir of eternal life. (a)
Question 60. How are thou righteous before God?
Answer. Only (b) by a true faith in Jesus Christ; so that though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and (c) kept none of them, and am still (d) inclined to all evil; notwithstanding, God, without any (e) merit of mine, but only of mere (f) grace, grants (g) and (h) imputes to me, the perfect (i) satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ; even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully (j) accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me; (k) inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart.
Question 61. Why sayest thou, that thou art righteous by faith only?
Answer. Not that I am acceptable to God, on account of the (l) worthiness of my faith; but because only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, is my righteousness before (m) God; and that I cannot receive (n) and apply the same to myself any other way than by faith only.
(a): Rom. 5:1; Rom. 1:17; John 3:36
(b): Rom. 3:22ff; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8,9
(c): Rom. 3:9ff
(d): Rom. 7:23
(e): Rom. 3:24
(f): Tit. 3:5; Eph 2:8,9
(g): Rom. 4:4,5; 2Cor. 5:19
(h): 1John 2:1
(i): Rom. 3:24,25
(j): 2Cor. 5:21
(k): Rom. 3:28; John 3:18
(l): Psa. 16:2; Eph. 2:8,9
(m): 1Cor. 1:30; 1Cor. 2:2
(n): 1John 5:10