Justification

“The same Spirit that convinces us of the necessity of his righteousness to cover us convinces us also of the necessity of his government to rule us.”

“By justification we are made kings and priests, are lifted above all sins and lusts, world and devil; have a right and title to heaven.”

“At the Roman Catholic Council of Trent in the sixteenth century, Rome condemned the Reformed doctrine of justification by faith alone and declared it anathema.”

“He is made the exemplar of justification to all in future ages, for whose perpetual instruction this is recorded: that he believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

“But the reward is wholly of grace to us, as it is of debt unto Christ; for "to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness," ver. 5.”

“The justified sinner is every moment dependent on his Saviour, without whom he can do nothing.”

“None but God could satisfy justice, and bring in everlasting righteousness sufficient for lost men.”

“As Christ undertook to God, so God undertakes to Christ again, to justify, adopt and forgive, sanctify and glorify those he gives him.”

“No Israelite was ever justified by works, but the nation had to keep the conditions of the law in order to remain in possession of the earthly type of the heavenly rest.”

“Now that is no righteousness, which doth not fully answer the law which is the rule of it: for the least defect destroys its nature, and turns it into unrighteousness.”

“This Covenant of Grace is propounded to us, upon a supposed impossibility of obtaining Righteousness and Justification according to the terms of the Covenant of Works.”

“Shall a man think by a penny to merit a thousand pounds; by a little performance to merit things that are above the conceit of men and angels?”

“No; dunghill sinners take heaven by violence, while the proud pharisees lose it by their own righteousness.”

“It flashes no more curse, and rolls no more condemnation over the heads of those who are in Christ Jesus.”

“That is the grace, which God hath purposed to honour with our Justification.”

“And then yet further, know, that through the righteousness of Christ, thou art looked upon thy self, in the point of Justification, without spot too.”

“This is that garment that covereth all his body mystical, and that hideth the blemishes of such members from the eye of God, and of the law.”

“His merit covers all our defects, and his intercession recommends us unto God.”

“If part of his merits be enough to save ten thousand damned souls in hell, if they had applied it, is it not enough to satisfy God for thy sins, which are far less?”

“He justified thee when thou wert ungodly, and will he cast thee off since he hath been at such pains about thee, and written in thee a counterpart of his own divine nature in the work of grace?”

“Just so, a hypocrite would spin a web of salvation out of his own righteousness.”

“The dignity of His person, put an infinite merit on His sufferings—and so His sufferings became a sufficient satisfaction to justice, and that was accepted as fully as if sinners had done it in their own persons.”

“It was, indeed, the part of the law to justify in man’s primitive state, and to that it was ordained; but Christ only attained the accomplishment of this design.”

“For one stage of our lives our hearts run after him for his blood to wash away our sins, and for his righteousness to cover us in the presence of God.”

“The Reformers taught that “justification is by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone.” True faith is never alone.”

“Lord, at the beginning of thy dealing with me, by thy law and my works I die, therefore do not so much as enter into judgment with me, O Lord.”

“You must renounce your own righteousness as imperfect and insufficient, apprehending and applying, resting and trusting in Christ's perfect righteousness. 4.”

“Well, remember this once for all, such as rest on duties, such as rest on their own righteousness, or on anything on this side Christ—such shall find them to be useless.”

“Now, then, to affirm the first (or indeed any) act of faith justifying, to be a belief that a man is justified, is to make justification the antecedent to such a faith, for a thing must be before we believe it to be.”

“In a word, the whole work of justification, and whatever goes to it, is meant by blood.”

“The Righteousness needed by us, and presented to us, is His obedience.”

“The great sacrifice has met law and righteousness at every point.”

“But this satisfaction to divine justice is not to be wrought out by believers themselves; and, therefore, whatsoever they suffer is not strictly punishment.”

“You cannot be saved by any of your own righteousness, because your righteousness is imperfect, and therefore cannot satisfy God's justice for your sins, and therefore cannot deliver you from wrath to come.”

“I need not be discontented and say, “My debt is not paid, and I am not satisfied.” Yes, you are satisfied, for he to whom you made over your debt is satisfied.”

“The saints shall be all clothed in white linen, which is the righteousness of the saints; that is, the righteousness they have by Christ, whereby they shall be righteous before God, and holy before men.”

“James speaks of justification before men, which is not only by the profession of faith, but also by works.”

“This is evident, because we are admitted, yea, commanded, to trust in the righteousness that saveth us.”

“I believe that no man can be justified by his works before God in the slightest possible degree.”

“A believing and converted person is and also always remains in a reconciled state; sins committed in the meantime can never undo this reconciliation.”

“In thy name shall they rejoice all the day; and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.”

“In their person he stood, making this covenant with his Father; in their name he acted, striking this bargain with him, as a surety to obey the law, and satisfy justice.”

“I say again, that this righteousness must be imputed first, that the sinner may stand just in God's sight from the curse, and that God might deal with him both in a way of justice as well as mercy, and yet do the sinner no harm.”

“It was the love of Christ which made Him to fulfill all righteousness for you.”

“That popish conceit deprives a man of the true comfort of the Spirit in this work of mercy; none but Christ by His obedience could ever merit at God’s hands.”

“Earning eternal life has forever been taken out of his hands.”

“But sayest thou, I will be righteous in myself that I may have wherewith to commend me to God, when I go to him for mercy?”

“Why have you been taught to look to Jesus, while others are looking to their own goodness, or resting on some mere form of religion?”

“The weight of sin is taken off from you, and in the eye of the law transferred to the mighty Sufferer on Calvary.”

“What is the blood of beasts to God? the blood of all the men in the world can do nothing in this case.”

“He works out an infinite worthiness, that He may be to us all that His name imports, "The Lord our Righteousness." How precious is this well of truth!”

“And as Paul contends that men are justified without the aid of works, so James will not allow any to be regarded as justified who are destitute of good works. [33] At issue here is the question of genuine faith.”

“Whensoever we would go down into our own hearts, and take a view of our graces, let us be sure first to look wholly out of ourselves unto Christ, as our justification, and to close with him immediately.”

“That which I have here endeavoured is to set forth to all sorts of believers, whether they have assurance or not, Christ as he is the object of our faith as justifying, and as the cause of justification to us.”

“Whoever prospers in winning souls, is first convinced that it is the arm of Jehovah only can do the work.”

“This grace of God that is so dear to God, comes good cheap to us; it cost us nothing.”

“Working for life, a man naturally understands; but believing for life, he understands not.”