Question 59
Section 2: Of the Holy Ghost
How art thou righteous before God?
Only by Faith in Christ Jesus. So that although my Concience accuse me that I have grievously trespassed against all the Commandments of God, and have nota kept one of them, and further am as yetb prone to all Evil; yet notwithstanding ifc I embrace these Benefits of Christ with a true Confidence and Perswasion of mind, the full andd perfect Satisfaction, Righteousness and Holiness of Christ, without anye Merit of Mine, of thef meer Mercyg of God ish imputed and given unto me, and that so, as if neither I had committed any Sin, neither any Corruption did stick unto me; yea as if I myi self had perfectly accomplished that Obedience which Christ accomplished for me.
How are you righteous before God?
Only by Faith in Christ Jesus. So that although my Conscience accuse me that I have grievously trespassed against all the Commandments of God, and have nota kept one of them, and further am as yetb prone to all Evil; yet notwithstanding ifc I embrace these Benefits of Christ with a true Confidence and Persuasion of mind, the full andd perfect Satisfaction, Righteousness and Holiness of Christ, without anye Merit of Mine, of thef mere Mercyg of God ish imputed and given unto me, and that so, as if neither I had committed any Sin, neither any Corruption did stick unto me; yea as if I myi self had perfectly accomplished that Obedience which Christ accomplished for me.
a. Romans 3:9,&c
Romans 3:9–31
3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known: 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
3:9 What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin. 3:10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one. 3:11 There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 3:12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." 3:13 "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The venom of vipers is on their lips." 3:14 "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." 3:15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood; 3:16 ruin and misery lie in their wake, 3:17 and the way of peace they have not known." 3:18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes." 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 3:20 Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin. 3:21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets. 3:22 And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 3:24 and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 3:25 God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand. 3:26 He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus. 3:27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of works? No, but on that of faith. 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 3:29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 3:30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 3:31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Certainly not! Instead, we uphold the law.
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b. Romans 7:23
Romans 7:23
7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
7:23 But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.
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c. Romans 3:22; John 3:18
Romans 3:22
3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
3:22 And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction,
John 3:18
3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
3:18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
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d. Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:8–9
Titus 3:5
3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
3:5 He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 2:8–9
2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 2:9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
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e. 1 John 2:2
1 John 2:2
2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
2:2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
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f. Romans 3:24; Deuteronomy 9:5–6; Ezekiel 36:22
Romans 3:24
3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
3:24 and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Deuteronomy 9:5–6
9:5 Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 9:6 Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.
9:5 It is not because of your righteousness or uprightness of heart that you are going in to possess their land, but it is because of their wickedness that the LORD your God is driving out these nations before you, to keep the promise He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 9:6 Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.
Ezekiel 36:22
36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
36:22 Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went.
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g. 1 John 2:1,&c
1 John 2:1–29
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: 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 2:7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2:2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 2:3 By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. 2:4 If anyone says, "I know Him," but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 2:5 But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him: 2:6 Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked. 2:7 Beloved, I am not writing to you a new commandment, but an old one, which you have had from the beginning. This commandment is the message you have heard. 2:8 Then again, I am also writing to you a new commandment, which is true in Him and also in you. For the darkness is fading and the true light is already shining. 2:9 If anyone claims to be in the light but hates his brother, he is still in the darkness. 2:10 Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him. 2:11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 2:12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven through His name. 2:13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. 2:14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 2:16 For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life-is not from the Father but from the world. 2:17 The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever. 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. 2:19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us. 2:20 You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 2:21 I have not written to you because you lack knowledge of the truth, but because you have it, and because no lie comes from the truth. 2:22 Who is the liar, if it is not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son. 2:23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well. 2:24 As for you, let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you. If it does, you will also remain in the Son and in the Father. 2:25 And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life. 2:26 I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 2:27 And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught. 2:28 And now, little children, remain in Christ, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming. 2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.
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h. Romans 4:4–5; 2 Corinthians 5:19
Romans 4:4–5
4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
4:4 Now the wages of the worker are not credited as a gift, but as an obligation. 4:5 However, to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.
2 Corinthians 5:19
5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
5:19 that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
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i. 2 Corinthians 5:21
2 Corinthians 5:21
5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
5:21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
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