The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 493

:

CHRIST OUR SANCTIFICATION

;

453

Since the justification of the ungodly is at once finished, and the sanctification of the regenerate proceeds but slowly and gradually, St. Paul writes to the Corinthians with perfect precision that Christ is to

him and them no more

eovisness; on the contrary, He holiness, but only hoXy-making.

vighteons-makin^', but right-

had not yet become

to

them

This being well understood, it is impossible to be mistaken. If the apostle had intended to enumerate in the abstract all that a lost sinner possesses in Christ, he would have said " ^N\sQ->nakirig, righteons-f/iah'/!g, and holy-making" ; for a lost sinner walks still in his :

But he describes his of God had arisen in his dark soul that for Christ's sake he has obtained pardon and satisfaction, wherefore he stands perfectly righteous before God; and that now he is being made holy and being redeemed. He is not yet redeemed entirely the Greek " apoliitrosis " denotes also here a continued action of being made free from inward and outward foolishness, is not yet

own experience,

made

righteous, etc.

saying, that like a star the

wisdom

;

;

misery.

The Heidelberg Catechism (q. 60) describes the righteous standing of the soul before God in the following striking manner "Q.

How

art thou righteous before

God?

"A. Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ: so that, tho my conscience accuse me that I have grossly transgressed all the commands of God, and kept none of them, and am still inclined to all evil notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine, but only of mere grace, grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ even ;

;

never had had, nor committed any sin yes, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ hath accomplished for me so as

if I

inasmuch as

The

:

I

embrace such benefit with a believing heart."

fact that this

answer makes righteousness to include

men

ness has led less thoughtful justification are the

same

thing.

to infer that sanctification

Discussed at

the Synod

holi-

and

of Dort,

Conall His us to imputing Jesus Christ fession the following clause and in for us done has He merits, and so many holy works, which our stead, is our Righteousness." What does justification then include? Not the sanctification of our persons, but the sum-total of the holy works which we owe God this question

was

settled

by inserting into :

according to the law.

article 22 of the

"

Question 60 calls this

The difference between the two

is

"

our holiness."

clearly seen in

Adam and Eve

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