Divine Deliverance
But what does it profit thee now that thou believest all this?
That I am righteous in Christ, before God, and an heir of eternal life. 1
How are thou righteous before God?
Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; 2 so that, though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them, 3 and am still inclined to all evil; 4 notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine, 5 but only of mere grace, 6 grants and imputes to me, 7 the perfect satisfaction, 8 righteousness and holiness of Christ; 9 even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me; 10 inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart. 11
Why sayest thou, that thou art righteous by faith only?
Not that I am acceptable to God, on account of the worthiness of my faith; but because only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, is my righteousness before God; 12 and that I cannot receive and apply the same to myself any other way than by faith only. 13