Systematic Theology (Vol 3) - Hodge - VII - Chapter 17 (Faith) commenced

Required reading
Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge (Vol 3) (Available from Amazon or free here) -Commence Chapter 17 by reading up to the heading '3. Works not the ground of justification'.

My summary
Today Hodge begins teaching us about justification.

Firstly he gives us quotes from historic reformed confessions on justification.

Secondly Hodge demonstrates that justification is a forensic act, not 'the remission of sin and infusion of new habits of grace' as the Roman Catholic church claims.  This may be seen:
(1.) From the uniform usage of Scripture both in the Old and New Testament.
(2.) From the constant opposition between justification and condemnation.
(3.) From equivalent forms of expression.
(4.) From the whole design and drift of the Apostle's argument in his Epistles to the Romans and to the Galatians.
(5.) From the ground of justification, namely, the righteousness of Christ.
(6.) From the immutability of the law and the justice of God.
(7.) From the nature of our union with Christ.
(8.) From the fact that peace, reconciliation with God, and a title to eternal life which according to Scripture, are the consequences of justification, do not flow either from mere pardon or from subjective righteousness, or from sanctification.

What grabbed me
I enjoyed Hodge's comments on the peace brought through justification: 'What satisfies the justice of God, satisfies the conscience of the sinner. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin (1 John i. 7) by removing guilt, and thus producing a peace which passes all understanding. When the soul sees that Christ bore his sins upon the cross, and endured the penalty which he had incurred ; that all the demands of the law are fully satisfied ; that God is more honoured in his pardon than in his condemnation ; that all the ends of punishment are accomplished by the work of Christ, in a far higher degree than they could be by the death of the sinner ; and that he has a right to plead the infinite merit of the Son of God at the bar of divine justice, then he is satisfied. Then he has peace. He is humble ; he does not lose his sense of personal demerit, but the conscience ceases to demand satisfaction. Criminals have often been known to give themselves up to justice. They could not rest until they were punished. The infliction of the penalty incurred gave them peace. This is an element in Christian experience. The convinced sinner never finds peace until he lays his burden of sin on the Lamb of God ; until he apprehends that his sins have been punished, as the Apostle says (Rom. viii. 3), in Christ.'

The doctrine of justification is a joy to understand.

Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 17 by reading up to the heading '6.Proof of the doctrine'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.