1: Those whom God effectually calls, He also freely justifies;[234] not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for any thing wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ’s sake alone; nor by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them,[235] they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God.[236]
2: Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification:[237] yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but works by love.[238]
3: Christ, by His obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are thus justified, and did make a proper, real and full satisfaction to His Father’s justice in their behalf.[239] Yet, in as much as He was given by the Father for them;[240] and His obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead;[241] and both, freely, not for any thing in them; their justification is only of free grace;[242] that both the exact justice, and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.[243]
Daily Confession 