Required reading
Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge (Vol 3) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 17 by reading up to the heading '8. Relation of faith to justification'.
My summary
Now Hodge gives us proofs for the Protestant view of justification. We see that the doctrine is proven by:
(i) the Greek words used for justification;
(ii) the argument of Romans;
(iii) the parallel between Adam and Christ;
(iv) the doctrine's constant assertion or implication in the Word of God;
(v) the doctrine's pervasiveness through the whole Scriptures.
Then Hodge tells us of the consequences of the imputation of righteousness:
(i) the remission of sin and the acceptance of the believer as righteous;
(ii) a title to eternal life.
What grabbed me
I enjoyed the reminder that Christ cleanses us from all sin: 'The sins which are pardoned in justification include all sins, past, present, and future. It does indeed seem to be a solecism that sins should be forgiven before they are committed. Forgiveness involves remission of penalty. But how can a penalty be remitted before it is incurred ? This is only an apparent difficulty arising out of the inadequacy of human language. The righteousness of Christ is a perpetual donation. It is a robe which hides, or as the Bible expresses it, covers from the eye of justice the sins of the believer. They are sins ; they deserve the wrath and curse of God, but the necessity for the infliction of that curse no longer exists. The believer feels the constant necessity for confession and prayer for pardon, but the ground of pardon is ever present for him to offer and plead. So that it would perhaps be a more correct statement to say that in justification the believer receives the promise that God will not deal with him according to his transgressions, rather than to say that sins are forgiven before they are committed.'
We are cleansed from our past sins, our present sins and our future sins. What a wonderful Saviour!
Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 17 by reading up to the heading '10. Departures from the Protestant Doctrine. Osiander'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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