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Date: Thu, 3 Aug 1995 09:23:28 +0200
Reply-To: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: Catechism, 28
To: Multiple recipients of list CHR-EXP
Q. What does it profit thee now that you believe all this?
A. That I am righteous in Christ before God. Rom. 5:1.
In the previous questions, we have dealt with the main points of our
belief. These points are contained in twelve articles. Here they follow
again:
1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth;
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord;
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary;
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried, he
descended into hell;
5. The third day he rose again from the dead;
6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the
Father Almighty;
7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost.
9. I believe a holy catholic church; the communion of saints;
10. The forgiveness of sins;
11. The resurrection of the body;
12. And the life everlasting.
These twelve articles deal with God the Father, God the Son, God the
Holy Ghost, church, resurrection and everlasting life. Now the question
is: What does it profit you now that you believe all this? The answer
is: Through the belief of all these points, I am righteous before God.
"Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ". (Romans 5:1)
Q. How art you righteous before God?
A. Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ.
Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ, you are righteous before God.
There is no other means, whereby you are righteous before God. Yes,
through works, you can be righteous before men but not before God.
Abraham appeared to be righteous in men's eyes by his good works, but
only the faith in the future Messiah saved him. "And he (Abram) believed
in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness". (Genesis 15:6)
To be righteous before God, all other means except faith are excluded.
Further, all forms of faith in Jesus, except *true* faith, are also
excluded. Not by a dead "faith", but by a true, living faith in Christ,
you are righteous before God. "Therefore we conclude that a man is
justified by faith without the deeds of the law". (Romans 3:28)
Q. How is it to be understood that you art justified by faith only?
A. Thus: that the perfect satisfaction and righteousness of Christ alone
are imputed to me of God, by which my sins are forgiven me, I become an
heir of everlasting life; and that I cannot receive that righteousness
by any other means than by faith.
Many know that you are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, but also many
don't know how that must be understood. Cannot only righteous deeds make
one righteous? How is it that faith justifies a man? And when you are
justified by faith, how does that go? This will be explained here:
Christ was without sin.
Moreover, he perfectly obeyed the commandments.
He was punished for the sins of others.
His perfect righteousness was so great, that it would be enough for the
whole world.
I am a sinner, and am summoned before God's court of justice.
The Judge, God, acquits me because of the imputation to me of Christ's
perfect righteousness.
This imputation is done by God, and I receive it through faith.
In this way, He forgives my sins.
I inherit everlasting life, because now I am righteous.
So, in short, it is God Who counts me righteous, on ground of
Christ's obedience, and only by faith I receive that righteousness.
Q. Why cannot our good works be our righteousness before God, or some
part thereof?
A. Because even our best works, in this life, are imperfect, and
polluted with sins.
Even our best works, we do in this life, are imperfect. And, how can
something imperfect be righteousness? That cannot be. Something
imperfect is sin, and not righteousness. Some examples follow now, which
show that our good works are polluted with sins.
Let's imagine, John goes to help his friend. When done, he
afterwards says to one, that he has helped his friend. And in his heart,
John thinks that he isn't such a bad fellow, for he has helped someone.
He speaks about it, and is proud on it. Now, it is clear, that he is
sinning in doing so.
Another example. You daily help your old mother with getting
dressed. She is old, and needs some help to do this. When in company,
you hear the people saying that you daily help your mother. You feel in
your heart, that you are proud on it.
It is a sure thing, therefore, that even our best works, in this
life, are imperfect, and polluted with sins. That is why those good
works cannot be our righteousness before God.
Q. Do our good works then merit nothing, which yet God will reward in
this, and in a future life?
A. This reward is not given out of merit, but of grace.
We read in Scripture about reward, given to righteous people. How is
that? When we read about reward, why is then said that our good works
merit nothing? Isn't this against Scripture? The answer is easy. When
God gives us reward, He does not so according to the merit of our works,
but He gives it of grace.
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Teus Benschop | t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl | editor of the list Chr-Exp
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