2.9 KiB
Lord’s Day 23
59. Q. But how does it help you now that you believe all this?
A. That I am righteous in Christ before God and an heir to life everlasting.1
1 John 3:36; Rom. 1:17 (Hab. 2:4); Rom. 5:1–2
60. Q. How are you righteous before God?
A. Only by true faith in Jesus Christ.1 Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God’s commandments, of never having kept any of them,2 and of still being inclined toward all evil,3 nevertheless, without any merit of my own,4 out of sheer grace,5 God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ,6 as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, and as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me.7—if only I accept this gift with a believing heart.8
1 Rom. 3:21–28; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8–9; Phil 3:8–11 2 Rom. 3:9–10 3 Rom. 7:23 4 Titus 3:4–5 5 Rom. 3:24; Eph. 2:8 6 Rom. 4:3–5 (Gen. 15:6); 2 Cor. 5:17–19; 1 John 2:1–2 7 Rom. 4:24–25; 2 Cor. 5:21 8 John 3:18; Acts 16:30–31
61. Q. Why do you say that through faith alone you are righteous?
A. Not because I please God by the worthiness of my faith, for only Christ’s satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness are my righteousness before God,1 and I can receive this righteousness and make it mine in no other way than by faith alone.2