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their own good works, but only through God's loving kindness in Christ Jesus;
for it is impossible for a sinful man to win salvation for himself by his own
merits and good works. Hence it is written in the holy Scriptures: 'What 1
saith the scripture? And 2 Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned
unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned
as of grace, but as of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him
that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.' One who
truly believes in the Lord Jesus Christ is by that faith saved. He does good
works after that, not in order thereby to obtain salvation, but because, having
received salvation, he loves God and longs to walk worthy of his holy calling.
Love and gratitude are more efficacious for good than fear of punishment and
longing for reward. Salvation cannot be purchased from God, for it is priceless;
if anyone would obtain it he must accept it as a gift, as it is written: 'The
2 wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord.' Hence it is written: ' By 4 the works of the
law shall no flesh be justified in his sight . . . . But now apart from the law
a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the
prophets; even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all
them that
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DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY TRINITY
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believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned, and fall short of
the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus: whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith,
by his blood, to shew his righteousness . . .that he might himself be just, and
the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus.' Accordingly in another passage
it is written concerning those who truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ: 'By
1 grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: not of works, that no man should glory.'
Therefore whoever with all his heart believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and
accepts him as the only Saviour and Mediator, that man's sins are forgiven
through and on account of his faith alone. This man is thus delivered from sin,
from God's wrath against sin, and from the fear of hell, the thought of which
previously filled his heart with terror and his soul with unrest. He is now
filled with the consciousness of God's approval and acceptance; and the
knowledge that he has done nothing to deserve this grace, mercy, and love, and
that salvation is God's free gift in Christ, renders him truly grateful to his
heavenly Father. He now enters into participation in the spiritual experience of
David, and can say with him:
Like 2 as a father pitieth his children,
So the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
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