The London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689: A Little Study of Chapter 11: Of Justification

1.  Those whom God effectually calleth, he also freely justifieth, not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone; not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing Christ's active obedience unto the whole law, and passive obedience in his death for their whole and sole righteousness by faith, which faith they have not of themselves; it is the gift of God.  (Romans 3:24; Romans 8:30; Romans 4:5-8; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:30, 31; Romans 5:17-19; Philippians 3:8, 9; Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; Romans 5:17)

Every believer is called into Christ by His Spirit and Word.   Everyone called unto regeneration God justifies, but this justification does not come by infusing righteousness into them.  It consists of pardoning our sins and accounting and accepting our persons as righteous.  It’s not because of our works but because of Christ’s sake alone.  Faith is not imputed to us that is the act of believing or any other evangelical obedience.  Nothing in us is righteous.  It’s the Spirit of God and the Word of God that applies the imputed righteousness of His obedience unto the whole law and His obedience in His death for our dependable and sole righteousness that is by faith which is the gift of God.  

2.  Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification; yet it is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.
(Romans 3:28; Galatians 5:6; James 2:17, 22, 26)

Faith is receiving Christ and His righteousness.  Faith is resting on Christ and His righteousness.  Faith alone is the sole instrument of justification, but it is never alone in the person justified.  It is accompanied with many other saving graces.  It is no dead faith but works by love.  

3.  Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are justified; and did, by the sacrifice of himself in the blood of his cross, undergoing in their stead the penalty due unto them, make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God's justice in their behalf; yet, inasmuch as he was given by the Father for them, and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead, and both freely, not for anything in them, their justification is only of free grace, that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners. (Hebrews 10:14; 1 Peter 1:18, 19; Isaiah 53:5, 6; Romans 8:32; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:26; Ephesians 1:6,7; Ephesians 2:7)

By His obedience and death Christ freely and fully took away the debt of all those that are justified.  By the death of Christ in their stead He paid the penalty due unto them and made a thorough satisfaction to God’s justice in their behalf.  Our Lord Jesus Christ was given by the Father for them, and His obedience and satisfaction was accepted in their stead.  It was free because there is nothing in us that attracted Him to us.  Their justification is freely of grace.  Christ took full justice upon Himself at the Cross and paid the exact justice of God for them by Himself and God is glorified in the justification of sinners.  

4.  God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect, and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their justification; nevertheless, they are not justified personally, until the Holy Spirit doth in time due actually apply Christ unto them.  (Galatians 3:8; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Timothy 2:6; Romans 4:25; Colossians 1:21,22; Titus 3:4-7)

The justification of all the elect was decreed by God.  In the fullness of time Christ died for their sins and rose again for their justification.  The Holy Spirit must apply Christ unto them for the justification of sinners. 

5.  God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified, and although they can never fall from the state of justification, yet they may, by their sins, fall under God's fatherly displeasure; and in that condition they have not usually the light of his countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance. (Matthew 6:12; 1 John 1:7, 9; John 10:28; Psalms 89:31-33; Psalms 32:5; Psalms 51; Matthew 26:75)

The sinners justified are always forgiven and He continues to forgive them.  God’s people can never fall from the state of justification; however, they may fall into God’s fatherly displeasure.  At times the light of His countenance are not restored unto us.  We must humble ourselves and confess our sins and beg pardon unto a renewed faith and repentance.  

6.  The justification of believers under the Old Testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the New Testament.  (Galatians 3:9; Romans 4:22-24)

The Old Testament believers were justified in the same way in all respects as the justification of the New Testament believers in Christ.