Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/94

Contributor - John H. Muller

Title - Justification by Faith

Topic - Faith

There is hardly any subject which we could treat that can be more basic Biblical Christianity than this. It was the watchword of the Reformation.

How do we become Christians? How do we receive Christ? This is what our .confession is dealing with. "We believe that for us to acquire the true knowledge of this great mystery the Holy Spirit kindles in our hearts a true faith that embraces Jesus Christ, with all His merits, and makes Him its own." (Article22).

It is the function of faith to embrace Jesus Christ. Thus all His merits become ours, as we appropriate Him. The Holy Spirit kindles this faith in our hearts. The faith becomes the instrument whereby we embrace Christ as our Righteousness. Faith is primarily a trust in the promises of God. Our catechism defines it as "a knowledge and conviction that everything God reveals in His Word is true, and it is also a deep-rooted assurance - that out of sheer grace - I have had my sins forgiven - and have been granted salvation." (See Ques. 21)

Since Jesus Christ is the object of our faith and all His merits become ours, "then he who has Christ by faith has his salvation entirely." He is either a sufficient Saviour or an incomplete one. True faith looks to Christ alone for justification. This is against the Roman Catholic position that in justification, faith must be completed by obedience. Hence in the Roman Catholic position, rejected by the Reformed Church, it is not Christ alone who justifies, but Christ and the believer together. Thus justification is supposedly completed by voluntary obedience.

Calvin called justification through faith alone "the hinge of the Reformation". Faith is the only instrument we need. DeBres stated: "To say that Christ is not enough but that something else is needed as well is a most enormous blasphemy against God, for then it would follow that Jesus Christ is only half a Saviour". He then quotes Romans 3:28 where Paul says that we are justified "by faith alone, apart from works".

Justification in the Biblical sense means justification before God. He is justified whom God has accepted. God accepts those who come to Him in repentance and faith. It was true in Old Testament times. "Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness." (Gen. 15:6). The New Testament repeats this passage in Romans 4:3, and again in Galatians 3:6. The next verse (7) relates the truth directly to us. "Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham."

Isn't it wonderful that our relationship can be thus secured? The confession concludes that "Jesus Christ is our righteousness in making available to us all His merits - faith is the instrument that keeps us in communion with Him and with all His benefits. When those benefits are made ours they are more than enough to absolve us of our sins."

A great hymn states this truth well in various verses:

"Other refuge have I none; hangs my helpless soul on Thee. All my trust on Thee is stayed; all my help from Thee I bring. Thou, 0 Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find. Just and Holy is Thy name; I am all unrighteousness; Vile and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace. Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin."

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