1. What is justification?

 When a sinner believes God's promises of grace which for Christ's sake are offered to him in the Gospel, he is justified or declared righteous before God.

 "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." - Romans 3, 23-24.

2. How does Holy Scripture describe the act of justification?

 First of all, as the forgiving of sins, or a covering of sins.

 "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5, 19.

 On the other hand, it describes justification as the counting of faith for righteousness.

 "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. - Romans 4, 3.

3. Is man justified by faith alone, or do his God-pleasing deeds help?

 In this, the central doctrine of the Christian religion, Holy Scripture definitely teaches that man is jutified by faith alone.

 "We conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law." - Romans 3, 28.

 "To hom that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." - Romans 4, 5.

 "Be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but thta which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." - Philippians 3, 9.

 The Bible excludes every work of man as a cause of justification and in clear terms ascribes justification directly to faith.

4. Why is this called "the central doctrine of the Christian religion"?

 Because justification by faith alone is the teaching of Holy Scripture to which all other sacred truths of the Gospel converge.  The record of Christ's coming unto the Father, His suffering, death and resurrection is only the foundation of this central doctrine.  Therefore the Bible sets this truth forth in repeated, clear and unmistakable terms.  Read such passages as the following: Galatians 2, 16; Romans 3, 28 and Romans 4, 16.

 All of the Bible teaching points either forward to the doctrine of justification by faith alone or back to it.  It is the main theme of the Old Testament and the New Testament.

5. What kind of act is justification?

 Holy Scripture describes justification as a declarative or judicial act.  The sinner does not undergo a physical or mental change, but he is declared just because of Christ's perfect righteousness.

6. What two phrases sum up the Bible doctrine of justification by faith?

 "By faith alone" and " By grace, for Christ's sake, through faith."
 The phrase "by faith alone" has become the watchword and clarion call of the Reformation.  Today too, it is the slogan and watchword of the true Christian Church.
 All three expressions, "by grace, for Christ's sake, through faith" affirm the Scripture truth that all our righteousness rests alone on Christ the Lord.

7. What are the four effects of justification?
 a. Peace with God - Romans 5, 1 and 2.
 b. A good conscience - Romans 8, 15.
 c. Comfort and consolation under the cross - Roamsn 5, 3-5.
 d. Hope of life everlasting - Titus 3, 7.

8. What intimate relation exists between God and the justified believer?
 
 There takes place the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and of the Holy Trinity.

 "Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" - Galatians 3, 2.

 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" - 1 Corinthians 3, 16.

 Through faith the justified believer receives the Holy Spirit who dwells in his heart as in His holy temple.

 "If a man love Me, he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make our abode with him." - Saint John 14, 23.

 According to Holy Scripture, not only the Holy Spirit, but also the Holy Trinity dwells oin the believer.

9. Of which body is the justified believer a member?

 Of the invisible Christian Church, of which he also enjoys all its gifts and blessings.

Test Paper - Lesson 13

1. In your own words describe "justification" as spoken of in the Bible. ........................................
......................................................................................................................................................

2. The act of justification consists of the following two parts:
a. ..................................................................................................................................................
b. ..................................................................................................................................................

3. Cross out the incorrect statement(s) in the following:
a. Man is saved by good works plus faith.
b. Man is saved by faith alone.
c. Man is saved by his good works and upright life.

4. Complete the following Bible passage: "Therefore we conclude ................................................
......................................................................................................................" - Romans 3, 28.

5. Is the following statement true or false?  The doctrine of justification by faith is called the central doctrine of the Christian religion, because all Bible teaching points either forward to it of back to it. ........................................

6. The following two phrases sum up the Bible doctrine of justification:
a. ..................................................................................................................................................
b. ..................................................................................................................................................

7. Name any three effects of the doctrine of justification.
a. ..................................................................................................................................................
b. ..................................................................................................................................................
c. ..................................................................................................................................................

8. The justified believer is a memeber of ........................................................................................

9. What do we mean by saying that justification is a "declarative" act? ..........................................
......................................................................................................................................................

10. In what way are God and the justified believer closely united? .................................................
......................................................................................................................................................

Make every effort to fill in the answers from memory.  If you are not sure of certain answers, you may look them up in the lesson.  Your paper will be graded according to the following standard: 10 correct: perfect; 9 correct: excellent; 8 correct: very good; 7 correct: good.