Question 33

Have we all need to be justified?

Yes. For we are all guilty before God,^a

Is it enough if we justifie our selves?

No. If I justifie my self, my own Mouth shall condemn me,^b

Is it enough if our Neighbours justifie us?

No. For that which is highly Esteemed among Men, is Abomination in the Sight of God,^c

Must it be God’s Act then?

Yes. It is God that justifieth,^d

And his only?

Yes. For none can forgive Sins but God only,^e

And is it an Act of Free Grace?

Yes. We are justified freely by his Grace,^f

Are all that are justified discharg’d from the Sentence of the Law?

Yes. For there is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus,^g

Have they their Sins pardon’d?

Yes. We have Redemption through his Blood, the Forgiveness of Sins,^h

Doth God forgive them?

Yes. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions,ⁱ

When God forgives Sin doth he forgive all?

Yes. Having forgiven you all Trespasses,^j

Doth he forgive even great Sins?

Yes. Though your Sins have been as Scarlet, they shall be White as Snow,^k

Doth he forgive many Sins?

Yes. He will abundantly Pardon,^l

Doth he forgive freely?

Yes. I will be merciful to their Unrighteousness.

Doth he forgive fully?

Yes. Their Sins and their Iniquities I will remember no more,^m

Is he forward to forgive?

Yes. I said I will Confess, and thou Forgavest,ⁿ

Doth he forgive and forget?

Yes. Thou wilt cast all their Sins into the depths of the Sea,^o

Is the Forgiveness of Sins offer’d to all upon Gospel Terms?

Yes. For Repentance and Remission of Sins is Preached to all Nations,^p

Is it secur’d to all the chosen Remnant?

Yes. For Christ is exalted to be a Prince, and a Saviour, to give Repentance and Remission of Sins,^q

Have all Believers their Sins pardon’d?

Yes. Through him all that believe are justified,^r

Are they accepted in God’s Sight?

Yes. He hath made us accepted in the beloved,^s

Are they accepted as Righteous?

Yes. For we are made the Righteousness of God in him,^t

May those that have been ungodly be thus justified?

Yes. He justifies the ungodly,^u

Can we be justified by the Covenant of Innocency?

No. For who can say I have made my Heart clean,^v

Can we be justified by any thing in our selves?

No. How can Men be justified with God,^w

If we know no Ill by our selves will that justifie us?

No. Though I know nothing by my self, yet am I not thereby justified,^x

Will the Law of Moses justifie us?

No. We are justified from all Things from which we could not be justified by the Law of Moses,^y

Will our own Works justifie us?

No. By the Deeds of the Law shall no Flesh be justified,^z

Would the Ceremonial Sacrifices justifie Men?

No. They could not make the Comers thereunto perfect,^aa

Are we justified for the Righteousness of Christ?

Yes. By the Obedience of one shall many be made Righteous,^bb

And for that only?

Yes. Not having my own Righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the Faith of Christ,^cc

Is the Righteousness of Christ imputed to us for our Justification?

Yes. For he is made of God unto us Righteousness,^dd

Did Christ die that it might be imputed?

Yes. He shall justifie many, for he shall bear their Iniquities,^ee

Do we owe our Justification then to the Death of Christ?

Yes. The Blood of Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin,^ff

And doth that lay the Foundation of our Salvation?

Yes. Being justified by his Blood, we shall be saved from Wrath,^gg

Were we justified from Eternity?

No. For in due time Christ died for the ungodly,^hh

If Christ had dy’d, and not risen again, could he have justified us?

No. For he was delivered for our Offences, and raised again for our Justification,ⁱⁱ

Is that then our Plea for Peace and Pardon?

Yes. For who then is he that shall condemn?^jj

May we then depend upon Christ for Righteousness?

Yes. In the Lord have I Righteousness and Strength,^kk

Is it become an act of Justice in God to Pardon Sin upon the account of Christ’s Righteousness?

Yes. For he is Just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus,^ll

Are we to receive the Righteousness of Christ?

Yes. We have now received the Atonement,^mm

Do we receive it by Faith?

Yes. Through his Name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive Remission of Sins,ⁿⁿ

And by Faith only?

Yes. For being justified by Faith we have Peace with God,^oo

Did Christ’s Death satisfie the Law?

Yes. For Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law,^pp

Is that then our only Righteousness in the Law Court?

Yes. For we are reconciled to God by the Death of his Son,^qq

Do we by true Faith come up to the Terms of the Gospel?

Yes. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,^rr

Is that then our Righteousness in the Gospel Court?

Yes. For to him that believeth his Faith is counted for Righteousness,^ss

Is it therefore our Life?

Yes. For the Just shall live by his Faith,^tt

Is it so as it applies Christ’s Righteousness?

Yes. This is the Name whereby he shall be call’d, The Lord our Righteousness,^uu

Is justifying Faith a working Faith?

Yes. For by Works is Faith made perfect,^vv

And will that Faith justifie us which doth not produce good Works?

No. For by Works a Man is justified, and not by Faith only,^ww

Is Faith then dead without good Works?

Yes. For as the Body without the Spirit is dead, so Faith without Works is dead also,^xx

And are good Works dead without Faith?

Yes. For without Faith it is impossible to please God,^yy

Must they both go together then?

Yes. For that which avails is Faith, which Works by Love,^zz

Do we then make void the Law through Faith?

No. God forbid, yea, we establish the Law,^aaa

Is our Faith our own?

No. It is not of our selves, it is the Gift of God,^bbb

Are our good Works our own?

No. For thou also hast wrought all our Works in us,^ccc

Is any Room left for Boasting then?

No. It is excluded by the Law of Faith,^ddd

Must God therefore have all the Glory?

Yes. For by the Grace of God I am that I am,^eee