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Confession: The Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 23, QA 59-61

Scripture: Romans 3:27-4:8

Preacher: Rev. David Inks

Sermon Outline

Introduction
I. Justification Defined by Scripture Alone
II. Justified Legally by Christ Alone
III. Justified Instrumentally by Faith Alone
IV. Justified Demonstrably by Works
V. Justified to the Glory of God
VI. Justification Contradicted
Conclusion

Sermon Video

The Heidelberg Catechism

Q&A 59

Q. What good does it do you, however, to believe all this?
A. In Christ I am right before God and heir to life everlasting.

Q&A 60

Q. How are you righteous before God?
A. Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God’s commandments of never having kept any of them, and even though I am still inclined toward all evil, nevertheless, without my deserving it at all, out of sheer grace, God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, and as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me. All I need to do is to accept this gift of God with a believing heart.

Q&A 61

Q. Why do you say that by faith alone you are righteous?
A. It is not because of any value my faith has that God is pleased with me. Only Christ’s satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness make me righteous before God. And I can receive this righteousness and make it mine in no other way than by faith alone.

The Shorter Catechism

Q&A 33

Q. What is justification?
A. Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.

Scripture Reading:

Romans 3:27-4:8 King James Version (KJV)

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

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