Question 60
Section 23: Lord’s Day 23
How art thou righteous before God?
Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ:a so that, though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the commands of God, and kept none of them,b and am still inclined to all evil;c notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine,d but only of mere grace,e grantsf and imputes to me,g the perfect satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ;h even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ hath accomplished for me;i inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart.j
a. Romans 3:22ff; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8–9
Romans 3:22–31
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.
3:22 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.
Galatians 2:16
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.
2:16 know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
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.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
b. Romans 3:9ff
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.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
c. 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.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
d. Romans 3:24
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.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
e. 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.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
f. 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.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
g. 1 John 2:1
1 John 2:1
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:
2:1 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.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
h. Romans 3:24–25
Romans 3:24–25
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;
3:24 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.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
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.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
j. Romans 3:28; John 3:18
Romans 3:28
3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
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.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
