Justification Before and After the Cross (Chapter 11, Paragraph 2)

“Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification…”

This restates the central truth of justification by faith alone—faith does not justify by its own virtue but because it receives Christ. It is the hand that lays hold of the Savior.

“…yet it is not alone in the person justified…”

Genuine faith is never alone—it is always accompanied by repentance, love, and a transformed life. But none of those things justify—only faith does, as the sole instrument.

“…but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but works by love.”

True saving faith is living faith. It produces fruit, works by love, and manifests the inward change wrought by grace (Gal. 5:6; James 2:17).

Now, in Paragraph 2:

“Christ, by His obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are justified…”

This emphasizes the sufficiency and finality of Christ’s atonement. He paid the full debt of sin—nothing remains for the believer to satisfy.

“…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.”

Christ's substitutionary death fully satisfies God’s justice. Justification is not a legal fiction—it is grounded in a real payment and a true righteousness (Rom. 3:25–26).

“Yet, inasmuch as He was given by the Father for them…”

This reminds us of the sovereign love of the Father. Christ’s death is not an accident or plan B—it is the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose (Isa. 53:10–11).

“…and His obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead…”

God the Father accepts Christ’s obedience as ours. He is both the just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:26).

“…and both freely, not for anything in them…”

Salvation is entirely free—not earned, not foreseen, not merited.

“…their justification is only of free grace…”

We are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

“…that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.”

Here lies the beauty of the gospel: God's justice is not set aside—it is satisfied. And His grace shines all the brighter because He justifies the ungodly at great cost to Himself.

Application for the Believer:

Praise God for a salvation that glorifies both His justice and His grace. The cross is where wrath and mercy meet. You are justified not by your obedience but by Christ’s. Rejoice that your standing before God is not based on your performance but on Christ’s finished work. Let this truth lead you to daily repentance and joyful assurance. It also means that the Old Testament saints—like Abraham and David—are your brothers in the same faith. There is one Savior, one gospel, one righteousness. Trust Him completely, and never add to the perfect work of Christ.