The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 395

;

JUSTIFICATION

355

by faith " boldly and clearly in opposition to the meritorious works of Rome." " Justification by faith" was in those days the shibboleth of the heroes of faith, Martin Luther in

trine of

"

justification

"

the van.

And when, presented

in the present century,

itself again,

as the actual

a self-wrought sanctification

power

of redemption,

it

was

the not insignificant merit of Kohlbrugge, that he, tho less compre-

hensively than the reformers, fastened this matter of justification,

with penetrating earnestness, upon the conscience of Christendom. It

may have been

superfluous for the churches

still

truly Reformed,

was exceedingly opportune for the circles where the garland of truth was less closely woven, and the sense of justice had been allowed to become weak, as partially in our own country, but especially beyond our borders. There are in Switzerland and in Bohemia groups of men who have heard, for the first time, of the necessity of justification by faith, through the labors of Kohlbrugge. Through the grace of God, our people did not go so far astray and where the Ethicals, largely from principle, surrendered this point of doctrine, the Reformed did and do oppose them, admonishing them with all energy, and as often as possible, not to merge but

it

justification in sanctification.

Regarding the question, how hand, from

"

conversion,"

justification differs,

regeneration," and, on the other, from

we answer

"

on the one calling and

that justification emphasizes the idea of

right.

Right regulates the relations between two persons. Where is but one there is no right, simply because there are no relations to regulate. Hence by right we understand either the right of man in relation to man, or the claim of God upon man. It is in there

this last sense that

The Lord

we

use the word right.

our Lawgiver, our Judge, our King. Hence He is absolutely Sovereign as Lawgiver determining what is right; as is

:

Judge judging our being and doing; as King dispensing rewards and punishments. This sheds light upon the difference between justification and regeneration. The new birth and the call and conversion have to do with our being as sinners or as regenerate

men; but

justification with the relation

which we sustain

to God,

either as sinners or as those born again.

Apart from the question of

right, the sinner

may

be considered

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